Boris Knyazev

Boris Kniaseff (Russian: Борис Князев; 1 July 1900 – 7 October 1975) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer.

Kniaseff is credited with originating Barre au sol (floor barre), a ballet training method in which traditional barre exercises are adapted for execution on the floor. According to multiple dance history and technique sources, Knyazev developed this approach in the mid-20th century after being unable to install fixed barres in his studio, prompting him to transpose classical warm-up exercises to a floor-based format.