Matilda Felixovna Kshesinskaya, a renowned Russian ballerina, became famous not only for her magnificent technique and performance of 32 fouettés. Contemporaries noted her immense love for life, grand plans, and a combination of talent, charm, and strong character. Her success was also explained by her tremendous inner energy.

Close ones called her Maley. She was born in 1872 in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. She received her first dance lessons at home and then entered the St. Petersburg Theatre School. Alexander III attended her graduation exam and predicted a successful future for her. During the ceremonial dinner, she met Nicholas II, and a mutual affection arose between them. "I don’t remember what we talked about, but I immediately fell in love with the heir," Kshesinskaya recalled. They had a romantic relationship, but in April 1894, Nicholas's engagement to another was announced. This was a blow for Matilda, and she found solace in creativity and work. By the age of 22, she was already a soloist performing leading roles.

The ballerina always had many admirers. Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich repeatedly proposed to her, but she chose another, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich. They met at her benefit performance in 1899 and married only in the 1920s in Paris, which fulfilled her dream. She received the title of the Most Serene Princess Romanova-Krzhesinskaya.

Before the revolution, Matilda possessed great wealth, admirers, and a beloved son, but all of this collapsed in an instant. The prima ballerina of the Imperial Theatres refused to "entertain the new masters of life" and emigrated to France.

Her savings quickly ran out, and she took up teaching. At the age of 50, in another country, Matilda opened her own ballet studio, which quickly gained fame and trained many celebrities.

Kshesinskaya always remained a star of Russian ballet. She passed away in 1971 in Paris, living to the age of 99.