The image of Europe in the memoirs of M. F. Kschessinska and T. P. Karsavina

Mathilde Kschessinska and Tamara Karsavina are ballerinas whose names were world famous in the early 20th century. Their destinies have much in common: both actively toured around Europe both with Diaghilev’s “Ballets Russes” and with their solo performances, conquering the best European stages one after another. They both emigrated after the Revolution in 1917 and lived long years abroad. They both left memoirs with very interesting events described in them and both of which undoubtedly possess artistic value. In this article the author analyzes the image of Europe in the memoirs of the two ballerinas (“Memoirs” by Kschessinska and “The Theatre Street” by Karsavina). The author reveals the stereotypes of their Europe’s perception and traces the dynamics of this perception’s change.