Russian ballet loses two legends in one day

Choreographer Yury Grigorovich and dancer Yury Vladimirov, both iconic figures at the Bolshoi, have passed away

Two iconic figures of Russian ballet, celebrated choreographer Yury Grigorovich and acclaimed Bolshoi dancer and teacher Yury Vladimirov, have passed away.

Grigorovich died in Moscow on Monday aged 98, his assistant confirmed to Russian media. The Bolshoi Theater has issued a separate statement, describing the ballet master as “one of the key figures in the world of ballet in the second half of the 20th century.”

Grigorovich began his career in 1946 as a soloist with the Kirov Ballet (now the Mariinsky Theatre). He was the chief choreographer of the Bolshoi Theater from 1964 to 1988 and then served as its artistic director from 1988 to 1995. His acclaimed productions included The Stone Flower and Ivan the Terrible by Prokofiev, as well as The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. He also choreographed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Grigorovich went on to lead juries at international competitions and served as president of the Benois de la Danse award—often dubbed the “ballet Oscar.” He also held a senior position in UNESCO’s International Dance Council and was honored with titles such as People’s Artist of the USSR, the highest honorary title awarded in the Soviet Union for exceptional achievements in the performing arts.

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Valery Gergiev, head of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres, told Izvestia newspaper that Grigorovich was “a legendary figure who will continue to command respect and admiration for decades to come.”

Later on Monday, the Bolshoi announced the death of 83-year-old Yury Vladimirov, a principal dancer best known for his roles in Spartacus and Ivan the Terrible—both choreographed by Grigorovich. His powerful portrayal of Ivan in the ballet’s 1975 premiere became a defining moment in his career.

Vladimirov toured internationally with the Bolshoi and performed to acclaim alongside his wife, prima ballerina Nina Sorokina. Together, they were one of the most admired partnerships in Soviet ballet.