Wojcikowska, Sonia (1919 - )

Hollywood Studios (Melbourne): Sonia Woizikowska as Frivolity in 'Les Presages', Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, Australian tour 1936-1937

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Sonia Wojcikowska was born in London to a Polish father (Leon Woizikowsky) and a Russian mother (Elena Antonova). Both her parents were dancers and Wojcikowska had a theatrical childhood even beginning her career as a little girl with a walk-on part in a production of Petrouchka with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. She studied dance with several teachers, notably Lubov Egorova in Paris, and appeared with a variety of companies including Egorova's Ballet de la Jeunesse, the Ida Rubinstein company, Leon Woizikowsky's Ballet Russe, the Original Ballet Russe and Ballet Theatre.

Wojcikowska came to Australia in 1936 with the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet. Both her parents were dancers in the company and her father was also the company ballet master and regisseur. Arnold Haskell wrote about her dancing during that tour in his book Dancing round the World describing her as 'a major talent' and adding that 'With discipline ... [she] should find real fame as a demi-charactere dancer'. He also remarked:

In addition she has a strong technique that enables her to do Frivolity in Les Presages with great merit. Actually, the first time, she danced it at a few hours' notice, and the fact that she was improvising brilliantly could only be noticed by those who knew the role well. It was a very remarkable performance that only someone who was practically born on the stage would have the necessary confidence to attempt.

After retiring from dancing Wojcikowska taught extensively in the United States until her retirement in 1975.

Bibliography:

Note alternative spellings- Sonia Woizikovska and Sonia Woizikowska.

See also: Ballets Russes Australian tours ; Presages, Les ; Woizikowsky, Leon

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Research Materials

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Find more about Wojcikowska, Sonia in:

• Internet - Google
• Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
• Pictures - Picture Australia