The Polajenko Family Archive

Into the Light

A life on stage, decade by decade — the dancers Anne & Nicholas Polajenko, stepping out of the dark.

Nicholas Polajenko · 1930–2015 Anne France Polajenko · 1942–2025
1930 · 1942

Overture

Two beginnings

Nicholas is born in 1930; Anne France Saint-Pol, in Shanghai in 1942. Two dancers, a continent and a generation apart — not yet aware of each other.

Color film still of Nicholas Polajenko in a red military jacket with two other dancers in Trio con Brio
Trio con Brio, Jacob's Pillow, 1952 — Nicholas at left, with Tatiana Grantzeva and Ralph McWilliams. (John Lindquist / Jacob's Pillow Archives)
1952

Nicholas

Trio con Brio

After Broadway's Music in My Heart, Nicholas dances the world premiere of Antony Tudor's showpiece at Jacob's Pillow.

1955

Nicholas

Cuevas & Festival Ballet

A principal with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas — partnering Rosella Hightower — and touring the United States with London's Festival Ballet.

1962

Anne

Rome · La Scala · Geneva

Anne trains in Rome and at Milan's La Scala, then dances Balanchine as a soloist and principal with the Geneva Grand Théâtre — where, one day, she will meet Nicholas.

Nicholas Polajenko partnering ballerina Marjorie Tallchief on stage in the East Room of the White House before a formal seated audience
The Harkness Ballet in the East Room of the White House, October 5, 1964. (LBJ Presidential Library)
1964

Nicholas · Harkness Ballet

The White House

Nicholas partners Marjorie Tallchief before President Johnson and his guests — the company's most storied night.

Nicholas Polajenko lifting a ballerina on stage with the Harkness Ballet
Nicholas Polajenko partnering with the Harkness Ballet, mid-1960s. (Roger Pic / Bibliothèque nationale de France)
1965

Nicholas · Harkness Ballet

Leading man

The dramatic, athletic Harkness repertory, captured by the photographer Roger Pic in Paris.

Nicholas Polajenko and a ballerina in a dramatic pose on stage with the Harkness Ballet
Nicholas Polajenko on stage with the Harkness Ballet, mid-1960s. (Roger Pic / Bibliothèque nationale de France)

Harkness Ballet

In performance

Nicholas Polajenko partnering a ballerina with the Harkness Ballet
Nicholas Polajenko with the Harkness Ballet, mid-1960s. (Roger Pic / Bibliothèque nationale de France)

Harkness Ballet

Partnered

The Harkness Ballet company on stage, with Nicholas Polajenko at far left
The Harkness Ballet on stage — Nicholas at far left, mid-1960s. (Roger Pic / Bibliothèque nationale de France)

Harkness Ballet

The whole company

Black-and-white portrait of Anne and Nicholas Polajenko smiling together
Anne and Nicholas — a partnership that began at the Geneva Grand Théâtre Ballet.
1973

Together

To America — as one

Anne and Nicholas cross to the United States together and begin a second act: the Houston Dance Center, the HARID Conservatory, Miami City Ballet — a generation of dancers raised in their studios.

Anne Polajenko resting her head on Nicholas Polajenko's shoulder in a restaurant booth, their hands together on the table, May 2015
Anne and Nicholas Polajenko, 10 May 2015.
2015

Together

The last spring

Forty-two years after they crossed the Atlantic together, Anne and Nicholas over lunch in Florida — a spring afternoon, her head on his shoulder. Nicholas died that August. Anne, ten years after him.

Curtain

Nicholas Polajenko · 1930–2015

Anne France Polajenko · 1942–2025

“A Life in Dance”