Dancing Genius ― The Stardom of Vaslav Nijinsky

Dancing Genius is the first book-length critical study on Vaslav Nijinsky as a star dancer of the Ballets Russes company. Through looking into definitions of virtuosity, stardom and genius, Hanna Jarvinen contrasts contemporary materials from Russia, France, England and the United States with later, hegemonic interpretations. Nijinsky emerges as a celebrity figure whose dancing was attributed with genius in order to raise the prestige of the art form, but a figure also attributed with 'racial' characteristics in a thoroughly Orientalist manner. Tracing the historical figure in contemporary documents and later reminiscences, the book opens up questions about authorship in dance, about critical evaluation of performance practice, and the manner in which past events are turned into history.

Hanna Jarvinen is a Lecturer in Dance and Performance Studies at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland. Also working as a scholar of cultural history, Hanna has published articles for publications including The Senses and Society, Dance Research, and Dance Research Journal.