Vladimir Kostenko (Ukrainian, Ð'олодимир ÐšÐ¾Ñ Ñ‚ÐµÐ½ÐºÐ¾,
Russian, Ð'ладимир ÐšÐ¾Ñ Ñ‚ÐµÐ½ÐºÐ¾) (June 11, 1903 â€"
November 7, 1967) was a Ukrainian-born American ballet dancer
primarily remembered for his long association with the Rodgers and
Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!.Kostenko was born on June 11, 1903 near
the city of Kiev during the time the Ukraine was under the dominion of
the Russian Empire. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1938.Soon after his
arrival, he began performing with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
under the directorship of Léonide Massine. In February 1940, Kostenko
married ballerina Maria Dmitrievna Korjinska (1912â€"1994), a native
Muscovite of Yugoslavian descent, while the Ballet Russe de Monte
Carlo was touring the American West Coast.Kostenko took over the role
of Dream Jud on June 1, 1943, after George Church left the cast of
Oklahoma! just two months into the musical's long run. Church had let
the show’s producers know, months earlier, that he wanted to leave,
but he was persuaded to stay past the show’s Broadway premier.
Kostenko continued to play the part of Dream Jud on Broadway for the
following six years before reprising the role in London and later in
touring productions across America. During the musical’s long run
Kostenko also filled in to play the part of Jess and as supervisor of
ballet. His wife Maria also joined the cast of Oklahoma for its entire
Broadway run and later as one of the postcard dancers.
Russian, Ð'ладимир ÐšÐ¾Ñ Ñ‚ÐµÐ½ÐºÐ¾) (June 11, 1903 â€"
November 7, 1967) was a Ukrainian-born American ballet dancer
primarily remembered for his long association with the Rodgers and
Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!.Kostenko was born on June 11, 1903 near
the city of Kiev during the time the Ukraine was under the dominion of
the Russian Empire. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1938.Soon after his
arrival, he began performing with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
under the directorship of Léonide Massine. In February 1940, Kostenko
married ballerina Maria Dmitrievna Korjinska (1912â€"1994), a native
Muscovite of Yugoslavian descent, while the Ballet Russe de Monte
Carlo was touring the American West Coast.Kostenko took over the role
of Dream Jud on June 1, 1943, after George Church left the cast of
Oklahoma! just two months into the musical's long run. Church had let
the show’s producers know, months earlier, that he wanted to leave,
but he was persuaded to stay past the show’s Broadway premier.
Kostenko continued to play the part of Dream Jud on Broadway for the
following six years before reprising the role in London and later in
touring productions across America. During the musical’s long run
Kostenko also filled in to play the part of Jess and as supervisor of
ballet. His wife Maria also joined the cast of Oklahoma for its entire
Broadway run and later as one of the postcard dancers.
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