Roman Jasinski

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Roman Jasinski (1907- 16 April 1991, aged 83-84) was born in Warsaw, Poland and died in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Roman, commonly known as Yasha within the dance community, was a Polish ballet dancer who discovered his love for dance at a very young age. He performed from 1933–1950 with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and then became the ballet master and manager for a smaller company under Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo's concert company. A premier danseur, he was recognized for his elegance and style, in both his dancing and choreography, which was fused with unorthodox ballet movements and port de bras that he learned from previous teachers, such as Balanchine. After his son, Roman L. Jasinski, was born, Roman decided to retire from performing and in 1956 he founded a ballet school in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Moscelyne Larkin, the Tulsa Ballet. It is one of numerous regional companies founded by former members of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and is currently a premiere ballet company in the United States.