Alicia Markova

Alicia Markova is the first ballet dancer on the list of the best ballet dancers of all time. Dame Alicia Markova, whose original name was Lilian Alicia Marks, was a British ballerina. She is best known for her ethereal lightness and poetic delicacy. She was born on December 1, 1910, in London, England, and died on December 2, 2004, in Bath.

Alicia Markova was the first woman to be named "prima ballerina assoluta" in the history of ballet. She made her debut with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes at the age of 14 and was regarded as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the twentieth century. Alicia Markova starred in a number of leading roles, including Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. Moreover, Alicia Markova was a member of the Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, and American Ballet Theatre's founding companies.

Born: December 1, 1910
Died: December 2, 2004
Aged: 94
Nationality: British