Legat, Nikolai Gustavovich 1869-1937
Russian dancer, teacher, ballet master and choreographer

Born in St Petersburg, he studied with his father at the Imperial Ballet School, graduating in 1888. He joined the Maryinsky Theatre, where he spent 20 years as a principal, dancing in major works including the first performance of Lev Ivanov's The Nutcracker (1892). He took over the directorship of the company in 1905, dropping choreography for teaching. His pupils there included Tamara Karsavina, Michel Fokine and Nijinsky. In 1923 he moved to the USA to become Ballet Master of Sergei Diaghilev's company, but finally settled in London where he opened his own school and taught Alexandra Danilova, Margot Fonteyn, Ninette de Valois, Anton Dolin and Serge Lifar. His school continues to function at Mark Cross, Sussex.