Mia Arbatova () (, ; 4 March 1911 – 1990) was an Israeli ballet dancer and teacher. In

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, she was one of the leading pioneers of

classical ballet Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its f ...

Life

Arbatova was born in the Russian Empire in 1911. She was one of three daughters of chemist Ze’ev Hirschwald and Zila Schmulian-Hirschwald. Her father died when she was five. Arbatova danced as the soloist in the

Riga Opera The Latvian National Opera and Ballet (LNOB) is an opera house and opera company at Aspazijas boulevard 3 in Riga. Its repertoire includes performances of opera and ballet presented during the season which lasts from mid-September to the end of Ma ...

Ballet for several years before she relocated to

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East J ...

in 1938. Arbatova opened her own first ballet studio in a laundry in 1943 in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...

. Arbatova was honored by the Municipality of

Tel Aviv-Yafo Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...

in 1985 with awarding her the title of ''Honorary Citizen of Tel Aviv'' for her contributions and continued efforts to the art of dance. In 1989 Nira Paaz founded a ballet school in Arbatova's name. Arbatova died the following year, donating her body to science.

Gallery

File:Mia Arbatova dance.jpg, Mia Arbatova dance File:Mia Arbatova memorial plaque in Tel Aviv.JPG, Mia Arbatova memorial plaque in Tel Aviv

References

Israeli ballerinas Soviet emigrants to Mandatory Palestine Israeli people of Russian-Jewish descent Ballet teachers 1911 births 1990 deaths Burials at Yarkon Cemetery {{Israel-bio-stub