Varvara P. Mey is a former prima ballerina, ballet

Ballet

Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...

 instructor and author. Mey was one of the students of the russian ballet

Russian ballet

Russian ballet is a form of ballet characteristic of or originating from Russia. In the early 19th century, the theaters were opened up to anyone who could afford a ticket. There was a seating section called a rayok, or 'paradise gallery', that consisted of simple wooden benches...

 dance method founder, Agrippina Vaganova

Agrippina Vaganova

Agrippina Yakovlevna Vaganova was an outstanding Russian ballet teacher who developed the Vaganova method - the technique which derived from the teaching methods of the old Imperial Ballet School under the Premier Maître de Ballet Marius Petipa throughout the mid to late 19th century, though...

. She graduated from Vaganova in 1929, and then started her dancing career. She danced at the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad

Leningrad

Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...

, Russia for many years. She taught many of Russian ballet's biggest stars at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet

Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet

The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a school of classical ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The school was previously known as the Imperial Ballet School, becoming the Leningrad State Choreographic Institute during the Soviet era...

.

Mey co-wrote the book Alphabet of Classical Dance: 12th to 19th Century

Alphabet of Classical Dance: 12th to 19th Century

Alphabet of Classical Dance: 12th to 19th Century is a book co-written by Russian ballet teachers, Varvara P. Mey and Nadezhda Bazarova.This book was originally published in Russian but was later translated into many different languages...

with Nadezhda Bazarova. Her book gives insight on ballet and is used by millions to learn ballet technique from the beginning. Her book was originally printed in Russian, but was later translated and is now available in many different languages.