Alex Cherniavsky

CHERNIAVSKY, Alex. (Alexander) (b 1896 - ?) Impresiaro, dancer. Born in Odessa, Russia, son of Abraham and Rosa Cherniavsky. Largely responsible for the emergence of ballet in South Africa.

Contribution to South African Theatre

Arrived in 1912 and formed the first dance trio with his brothers Leo. Jan and Michel, known as the Cherniavsky Trio, and made their first concert tour of South Africa in 1908. The second group, also known as Cherniavsky Trio, consisted of his sister Marion, himself, and his cousin, Boris. This group gave their first tour in 1912 and gave no less than 600 performances. After the tour he settled in South Africa and because of his family's fame in Europe, he became a formidable impresiaro. He also brought Anna Pavlova to South Africa in 1925. He also brought Jascha Heifez, Benno Moiseiwitsch and Amalita Galli Curci. Later became involved with I.W. Schlesinger and African Theatres Ltd. He personally managed Mimi Coertse and Hanlie van Niekerk. He taught Marian Friedman from the age of seven and presented her first concert in 1963.

Sources

South African Jewry 1965, Edited by Leon Felberg.

Tucker, 1997.

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