Maya Plisetskaya, a famous Russian ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet director and actress, is celebrating her 89th birthday on November 20. She is considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century.
Maya Plisetskaya, a famous Russian ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet director and actress, celebrates her 89th birthday on November 20.
She is considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya (left), lead dancer at the Bolshoi Theater and People's Artist of the USSR, and Azary Plisetsky, her brother, a ballet dancer at the same theater, relaxing.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya (left), lead dancer at the Bolshoi Theater and People's Artist of the USSR, and Azary Plisetsky, her brother, a ballet dancer at the same theater, relaxing.
Maya Plisetskaya was born into an extended family - she had a total of 11 aunts and uncles, all of whom were somehow involved in ballet.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya (left) before a performance.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya (left) before a performance.
After her father was arrested and executed in 1938 and her mother was sent to a prison camp in Kazakhstan, Maya was adopted by her maternal aunt, ballerina Sulamith Messerer.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya in 'Carmen-suite', Bolshoi Theater.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya in 'Carmen-suite', Bolshoi Theater.
In 1943 Maya Plisetskaya graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya in "The Dying Swan" by Camille Saint-Saens, Bolshoi Theatre, 1959.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya in "The Dying Swan" by Camille Saint-Saens, Bolshoi Theatre, 1959.
After a short tenure as a member of ballet corps, she was selected as a solo artist.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya as Tsar Maiden in a scene from the ballet "Little Hunchbacked Horse" to the music of Rodion Shchedrin, Bolshoi Theater.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya as Tsar Maiden in a scene from the ballet "Little Hunchbacked Horse" to the music of Rodion Shchedrin, Bolshoi Theater.
In 1947 Plisetskaya performed the role of Odile-Odette in "Swan Lake." It became one of her most acclaimed roles.
Above: A figurine "Ballet dancer Maiya Plisetskaya" manufactured at the the Mikhail Lomonosov Leningrad Porcelain Plant by sculptor Matvei Manizer.
Above: A figurine "Ballet dancer Maiya Plisetskaya" manufactured at the the Mikhail Lomonosov Leningrad Porcelain Plant by sculptor Matvei Manizer.
In 1958 Maya Plisetskaya married Rodion Shchedrin, a notable composer who wrote the score to a number of her ballets.
Above: Composer Rodion Shchedrin (left) and his wife, ballerina Maya Plisetskaya (right).
Above: Composer Rodion Shchedrin (left) and his wife, ballerina Maya Plisetskaya (right).
After Galina Ulanova retired in 1962, Plisetskaya replaced her as the prima ballerina assoluto of the Bolshoi Theater.
Above: A scene from Ludwig Minkus ballet "Don Quixote". Plisetskaya plays the roll of Kitri. The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre.
Above: A scene from Ludwig Minkus ballet "Don Quixote". Plisetskaya plays the roll of Kitri. The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre.
In 1967 Maya Plisetskaya made her debut as an actress in the film adaptation of "Anna Karenina."
Above: Maya Plisetskaya as Betsyi Tverskaya in the film "Anna Karenina."
Above: Maya Plisetskaya as Betsyi Tverskaya in the film "Anna Karenina."
While participating in a number of international tours, Maya Plisetskaya always refused to defect.
Above: Bolshoi Theater Tour in America. Maya Plisetskaya familiarizes herself with newspaper reviews.
Above: Bolshoi Theater Tour in America. Maya Plisetskaya familiarizes herself with newspaper reviews.
"Anna Karenina", a ballet by Rodion Shchedrin published in 1972 marked Plisetskaya's debut as a choreographer.
Above: Maya Plisetskaya as Anna Karenina in Rodion Shchedrin's ballet "Anna Karenina".
Above: Maya Plisetskaya as Anna Karenina in Rodion Shchedrin's ballet "Anna Karenina".
Over her career Plisetskaya received a great number of awards. Among them are three Orders of Lenin (1967, 1976 and 1985), the title of Hero of Socialist Labor (1985) and People's Artist of the USSR (1959), the Order of the Legion of Honor (France, 1986), and many others.
Above: President Vladimir Putin and ballerina Maya Plisetskaya following the award-giving ceremony in the Kremlin's Catherine hall
Above: President Vladimir Putin and ballerina Maya Plisetskaya following the award-giving ceremony in the Kremlin's Catherine hall
In 1990 Maya Plisetskaya ended her career as a ballet dancer amid arguments with the Bolshoi Theater's management. Her last performance took place on January 4.
Above: World ballet star Maya Plisetskaya attends the farewell recital of prima ballerina and People's Artist of Russia Tatiana Chernobrovkina at the Moscow Academic Musical Theater (MAMT).
Above: World ballet star Maya Plisetskaya attends the farewell recital of prima ballerina and People's Artist of Russia Tatiana Chernobrovkina at the Moscow Academic Musical Theater (MAMT).
