Alexander Sakharoff

Alexander Sakharoff (also spelled Sakharov and Sacharoff; ; 13 May 1886 – 25 September 1963) was a Russian dancer, teacher, and choreographer who immigrated to France.

Life Sakharoff was born Alexander Zuckermann on 13 May 1886 in Mariupol, Russian Empire, to a Jewish family.

Alexander was one of the most innovative soloist dancers of the first decades of the 20th century. He trained as a painter at the Academie de Beaux Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris. His androgynous appearance led to him being painted by painters including Jawlensky and Marianne von Werefkin in 1909.

He married the German dancer Clotilde von der Planitz (1893–1974), and they had a successful career together. Their 1921 portrait by George Barbier to advertise their work was seen as showing a "mutually complementary androgynous couple" "united in dance" joined together in an act of "artistic creation."

They were living in Paris between the wars,

Using the name "The Sakharoffs" they toured widely visiting China and Japan which was so successful that they returned again in 1934. They and their extravagant costumes visited both North and South America. They found themselves in Spain when France was invaded by Germany. They returned to South America making a new base in Buenos Aires until 1949. They toured Italy the following year and they took up an invitation to teach in Rome by Guido Chigi-Saracini. They taught at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena for Saracini and they also opened their own dance school in Rome.

He died in Siena, Italy 25 September 1963. He is buried in Cimitero Acattolico in Rome.

Legacy His wife gave and sold many of their remaining writings and costumes to museums and auctions. She eventually sold the 1909 painting of Sakharoff by Alexej von Jawlensky. Dansmuseet in Stockholm has 23 Sakharoff costumes in their collection since 1973. In 1997 the German Dance Archive Cologne purchased many remaining items relating to the couple. They have 65 costumes, 300 set and costume designs and 500 photographs.