Mistress Matilda Kshesinskaya Russian Ballet Dancer Tsar Nicholas Real Photo Postcard

Mathilde Kschessinska (Kschessinskaya), a celebrated Russian ballerina, achieved the unprecedented title of *Prima Ballerina Assoluta* in the Imperial Russian Ballet, becoming a pivotal figure in late 19th and early 20th-century classical dance. Renowned for her formidable technique, including her famous 32 fouettés, she dominated the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, premiering roles in ballets by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Her talent and connections, notably with the Romanov imperial family, afforded her significant influence over the repertoire and artistic direction of the Imperial Theatres.