| Mia Arbatova | |
| Birth Name: | Mia Hirschwald |
| Birth Date: | 4 March 1911 |
| Death Date: | 1990 |
Mia Arbatova (; 4 March 1911 – 1990) was an Israeli ballet dancer and teacher. In Israel, she was one of the leading pioneers of classical ballet.[1]
Arbatova was born in the Russian Empire in 1911. She was one of three daughters of chemist Ze’ev Hirschwald and Zila Schmulian-Hirschwald. Her father died when she was five.
Arbatova danced as the soloist in the Riga Opera Ballet for several years before she relocated to Palestine in 1938.[2] Arbatova opened her own first ballet studio in a laundry[3] in 1943 in Tel Aviv.[1] Arbatova was honored by the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo in 1985 with awarding her the title of Honorary Citizen of Tel Aviv for her contributions and continued efforts to the art of dance.[1]
In 1989 Nira Paaz founded a ballet school in Arbatova's name.[4] Arbatova died the following year, donating her body to science.[2]