Boris Kniaseff
Boris Kniaseff | |
|---|---|
Борис Алексеевич Князев | |
Kniaseff in 1927 | |
| Born | 1 July 1900 |
| Died | 7 October 1975 (aged 75) Paris, France |
| Education | Ballet training in Moscow and Saint Petersburg |
| Occupations | Ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet pedagogue |
| Years active | c. 1916–1970s |
| Known for | Inventor of Barre au sol (floor barre) |
| Spouse(s) | Olga Spesivtseva; Nina Vyroubova |
| Children | Yura Kniaseff |
Boris Kniaseff (Russian: Борис Князев; 1 July 1900 – 7 October 1975) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer.
Kniaseff is credited with originating Barre au sol (floor barre), a ballet training method in which traditional barre exercises are adapted for execution on the floor. According to multiple dance history and technique sources, Knyazev developed this approach in the mid-20th century after being unable to install fixed barres in his studio, prompting him to transpose classical warm-up exercises to a floor-based format.