Maya Plisetskaya: prima ballerina dies at 89 – SPIEGEL ONLINE

It is considered one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. However, your road to stardom was anything but straightforward. In her personal history, the history of the Soviet dictatorship reflects: The father of Maya Plisetskaya disappeared in 1938 during the repression under Josef Stalin. Only 52 years later, she found out that he was already shot dead shortly after his arrest. When Maja was eleven, her mother, a famous actress, was deported to Kazakhstan

As a “daughter of enemies of the people” it was only six years after Stalin’s death -. 1959 with almost 34 years – with the Bolshoi Theatre for the first time on US tour go.

She had danced at the famous theater since 1943 – and then took over until 1989, the most important roles. With appearances in “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty” it became world famous. In addition, she set out in her more than 60-year career as a choreographer a name. For their work they have deliberately avoided children, and she did not regret, she once said. “As long as I get offers, I’ll dance.”

between Moscow and Munich

In recent years, she is with her husband, the composer Rodion Shchedrin between the residences Moscow and Munich commuted. “I love Munich because it has three world-class orchestra – which city can say that” the artist once said

Now, Maya Plisetskaya has died at the age of 89 years in Germany.. “She died of a massive heart attack. The doctors were still fighting, but they could not save”, the director of Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, Vladimir urine said on Saturday Russian agencies According to.

“Russia mourns a great woman and an artist,” said the prominent Russian politician Mikhail Shvydkoi culture. Plisetskaya was a “divine and passionate dancer and actress”. President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the relatives. “With her death, an era comes to an end,” said Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The dancer was “a genius full of noblesse” been.

According to the urine Bolshoi is the 90th birthday of Plisetskaya on November 20, stage a memorial evening. The dancer is to be buried in Moscow, it said.