Ella Ilbak
Born
Ella Ilbak in 1938

(1895-11-12)November 12, 1895
Saksaveski farm, Karksi Parish, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
DiedAugust 8, 1997(1997-08-08) (aged 101)
Pontiac, Michigan, United States
NationalityEstonian
Occupation(s)Dancer, writer

Ella Ilbak (November 12 [O.S. October 31] 1895 – August 8, 1997) was an Estonian dancer and writer.[1][2][3]

Family

Ilbak was born at the Saksaveski farm in Karksi Parish in the Governorate of Livonia in the Russian Empire,[4][5] the daughter of Juhan Ilbak (born 1857) and Tina Ilbak (born 1858) and the twin sister of Hilda Ilbak.[6]

Education

She attended primary schools in Tartu and Tartu Pushkin Girls' High School. From 1915 to 1917, she studied at Claudia Issatchenko's School of Plastic and Theater Arts in Petrograd, and in the eurhythmics courses of Serge Wolkonsky and Émile Jaques-Dalcroze.[7]

Career

In 1918 she performed at dance evenings in Estonia. From 1918 to 1919, she did further training in Paris at Maria Rutkowska's ballet studio, Raymond Duncan's academy, and Georges Hébert's acrobatic school.[8]

Her best-known dance, Leek (The Flame), was set to the music of Richard Wagner's opera Die Walküre.[9]

In the 1920s and 1930s, Ilbak performed extensively outside Estonia, primarily in Europe, but also in Jerusalem and Haifa.[10] In the postwar years, she lived in France, and from there she moved to the United States in 1955,[5] where she also pursued dance. She worked at a hospital for two years. Her last known performance was in 1967 in New York. Later she lectured at the Estonian House on the importance of beauty.[1]

In addition, Ilbak published three autobiographical works in her later years: Otsekui hirv kisendab (1953) and a pair of novels, Tuvi Malm (1955) and Kumisev kannel (1966).

Ella Ilbak died at a nursing home in Pontiac, Michigan on August 8, 1997.[4] In 1998, her ashes were laid to rest in Tallinn at Metsakalmistu (Forest Cemetery).[4]

Bibliography

  • 1918: "Tants ja tantsjanna." In: Postimees (May 10, page 1)
  • 1933: "Et, mis, kuidas..." In: Päewaleht (April 5, page 4)
  • 1953: Otsekui hirv kisendab...: mälestusi ja tõekspidamisi (Lund: Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv)
  • 1955: Tuvi Malm: romaan (Lund: Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv)
  • 1966: Kumisev kannel: romaan (New York: Kultuur)

References

  1. 1 2 "Eesti lugu. Must suvi. Tantsukultuuri teerajajad". Vikerraadio. Eesti Rahvusringhääling. June 2, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ Haan, Kalju (2000). Eesti teatri biograafiline leksikon. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus. p. 129.
  3. ↑ "Dance Program". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, MD. June 7, 1985. p. 13. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. 1 2 3 "Ilbak, Ella". Väliseesti isikulooline andmebaas. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Ilbak, Ella". Eesti Entsüklopeedia. MTÜ Entsüklopeedia. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Estonia, Lutheran Church Family Lists, 1603-1980", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DTH-FBCN : Tue Oct 03 12:56:12 UTC 2023), Entry for Ella Ilbak, from 1814 to 1934.
  7. ↑ Nordisk Familjebok: Konversationslexikon och Realencyklopedi. Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förlags aktiebolag. 1924. p. 587. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Dancing Free: Free Dance in Estonia 1913–1944". Virtuaalmuuseum. Tallinn: Estonian Theatre and Music Museum. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ Ilbak, Ella (1990). Otsekui hirv kisendab ... : mälestusi ja tõekspidamisi. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat. ISBN 978-9985-62-831-7.
  10. ↑ "Ella Ilbak 95". Vaaba Eestlane. No. 96. December 27, 1990. p. 13. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
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