Born in Warsaw, Novak settled in the United States in the late 1940s.
She gained a reputation as a leading dancer appearing on American stages, with principal roles in productions of The Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppélia and The Nutcracker.
Novak was a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, danced on Broadway, and worked as a fashion model.
In 1962, she took residence in Caracas with her Venezuelan husband and ran a ballet school there.
A few years ago, due to an economic crisis in Venezuela, she returned to the United States.
Novak attended the Warsaw Opera Ballet School before World War II. From 1937 to 1939, she danced with the Polish National Ballet.
She gave guest performances in Poland in 1961 and 1978. In 2017, she was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Reborn Poland.
She was also an honorary citizen of five American cities.
(mk/gs)