A major event took place in Kyiv’s cultural life when Serge Lifar’s Golden Shoe was presented to the Museum of Historical Treasures in the course of the Fourth International Ballet Festival, Serge Lifar de la Dance. Henceforth the world-famous choreographer’s Shoe will be in the museum stock ad infinitum.
This highest choreography award was conferred Serge Lifar in acknowledgment of his meritorious 25-year performance with the French National Opera. Since 1955, the trophy was kept at his home and after his passing his widow, Lillan Ahlefeldt, transferred it to a Swiss bank (it was valued by experts at $1 million). Interestingly, the countess brought the Shoe with her on her first visit to Kyiv just over five years ago. Rumor has it that the trophy did not get across the border due to complications with the Ukrainian customs authorities. In 1994, however, she did the right paperwork and was able to present the objet d’art to President Kuchma.
And on April 11, in the Hall of Modern Art of the Museum of Historical Treasures, she stressed, “All his life my husband longed for his native land. I am sure that he can hear and see this, and that he is happy that this small part of him will remain in Kyiv forever, because he was born here and cherished its memories for as long as he lived abroad. In this case there are two shoes. The one made of the cloth he used when dancing before his passing. It is worn with time and sweat. In it there is not only his glory, but also the pain of lifelong disillusionment. The second of the pair is stored at the Grand Opera Museum where he staged more than 200 ballets. And the Golden Shoe, his triumph. I would like you to do me a great favor: do not keep these items separately.” At an impromptu news conference, Mrs. Ahlefeldt spoke, smiling sadly, about how she had first met Serge Lifar and that the 31 years they had spent together were the best years of her life. “Serge was a remarkably bright and handsome man,” she stressed, adding that he was very ill the last two years of his life (with cancer), yet he never complained. The gravestone has the legend: “Serge Lifar from Kyiv,” for that was his last will and testament.
Mrs. Lillan seemed tireless, visiting Baikove Cemetery with her husband’s parents’ graves, and attended a rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet at the National Opera; she presented books from Serge Lifar’s private collection to the Museum of the Return of the Cultural Heritage. That same night she opened the festival, Serge Lifar de la Dance, presenting honorary diplomas and envelopes with cash awards to Natalia Kalynychenko and Yevhen Kolesnyk as the first to dance Juliet and Romeo’s parts in Lifar’s stage rendition at the Ukrainian National Opera.
