Yuri Grigorovich
Born in Leningrad in 1927, Yuri Grigorovich, is a dancer, artistic director,
and choreographer whose ballets set a trend that for many years determined the
development of ballet in Russia. He trained at the Leningrad Choreographic
School before joining the Kirov Ballet as a soloist in 1946. While at the Kirov,
he created his first major ballet, The Stone Flower (1957) and became
ballet master of the company in 1962. He was also a soloist at the Maryinsky
Theater and for a short time headed its ballet.In 1964 Grigorovich was appointed choreographer-in-chief of the Bolshoi Theatre
and was with the prestigious Moscow company for over 30 years.
Born in Leningrad in 1927, Yuri Grigorovich, is a dancer, artistic director,
and choreographer whose ballets set a trend that for many years determined the
development of ballet in Russia.. He trained at the Leningrad Choreographic
School before joining the Kirov Ballet as a soloist in 1946. While at the Kirov,
he created his first major ballet, The Stone Flower (1957) and became
ballet master of the company in 1962. He was also a soloist at the Maryinsky
Theater and for a short time headed its ballet.
In 1964 Grigorovich was appointed choreographer-in-chief of the Bolshoi Theatre
and was with the prestigious Moscow company for over 30 years. With him at the
head, the leadership of Russian classic ballet was established worldwide. Ballets
he created there include The Nutcracker (1966), Spartacus (1968),
Ivan the Terrible (1975), Angara (1976), Romeo and Juliet
and The Golden Age. He also choreographed new versions of masterpieces
of the past, such as The Sleeping Beauty (1963, 1973) and Swan Lake,
Raymonda (1984), La Bayadere (1991) and Don Quixote, Giselle
(1987) and Le Corsaire (1994). During this time, the Bolshoi Theatre
made more than 90 international tours, bringing to the stage many brilliant
dancers.
In addition to staging ballets, Grigorovich has served on the juries of international
competitions. He is a Member of the Vienna Music Society, Honorable Chairman
of the International Theatre Institute, Chairman of the International Choreography
Association and Honorable Chairman of the Ukrainian Dance Academy.
