Léonide Massine
The other principal dancers cast in the film included Léonide Massine (who also served as a choreographer for his role as the shoemaker in "The Ballet of the Red Shoes"), portraying dancer Grischa Ljubov, and Ludmilla Tchérina as dancer Irina Boronskaya; the latter was cast by Powell, who was captivated by her unconventional beauty.