Ida Rubinstein: Dancer, Patroness, and Inspiration for Boléro
by Emily E. Hogstad Dancer, actress, and arts patron Ida Rubinstein was a trailblazing figure in the arts, and her impact on early twentieth century music was profound. A gifted performer, she knew how to captivate audiences with her beauty, stage presence, and creative moxie. Whether starring in controversial productions or commissioning classics like Ravel’s Boléro , Rubinstein’s influence extended far beyond the stage and continues to resonate even today. Great Wealth and Great Tragedy Ida Rubinstein, 1912 Ida Rubinstein was born in October 1885 in Kharkov in present-day Ukraine, the youngest of the four children of Lev Rubinstein and his wife Ernestina. The Rubinsteins were a hugely wealthy family, overseeing mills, breweries, and banks. However, their extraordinary wealth couldn’t insulate them from tragedy. Ernestina died in 1888, then Lev died in 1892, possibly of cholera. After their parents’ deaths, the Rubinstein children were split up. Ida...