Māris Rūdolfs Liepa(27 July 1936 – 26 March 1989) was aSovietLatvianballet dancer who was born inRigaand died inMoscow.He graduated from Riga Choreography School where he was taught by Valentin Blinov (Russian:Валентин Блинов). He performed inMoscowfor the first time in 1950. At the height of career, Liepa was considered one of the finest male dancers in the world[1]and one of the most versatile, at home in a wide range of roles.[2]
Māris Liepa | |
|---|---|
 Marina Kondratyevaas Giselle and Maris Liepa as Albrecht in a scene from Act 1 ofAdolphe Charles Adam's balletGisellestaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theaterof theUSSR.1 January 1972 | |
| Born | Māris Rūdolfs Liepa 27 July 1936 |
| Died | 26 March 1989(aged 52) |
| Resting place | Vagankovo Cemetery,Moscow |
| Occupation | Dancer |
| Employer(s) | Latvian Opera and Ballet Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre |
| Known for | Spartacus,Swan Lake |
| Children | Andris LiepaandIlze Liepa |
| Awards | People's Artist of the USSR |
| Website | http://liepa.ru/ |
In 1953 Liepa began studies in Moscow Choreography School in a class taught by Nikolay Tarasov and initially was developing as character-role dancer, yet upon graduation transformed into a classic ballet dancer.
After graduation from Moscow Choreography School in 1955 he returned toRigaand theLatvian Opera and Ballet Theatre.The company of theatre went on road-show to Moscow during December of the same year, where Liepa was noticed by one of the Bolshoi's prima ballerinas,Maya Plisetskaya.She invited Liepa to join her ballet company on a tour in Budapest in 1956. He accepted the invitation to become a part of theStanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre,and after four seasons he became one of the lead artists.
Liepa was invited to become a part of the Moscow State AcademicBolshoi Theatretroupe that touredPoland,and shortly after this tour Liepa was offered a place in the company by the Theatre's Ballet MasterLeonid Lavrovsky.In his debut on the stage of the Moscow State Academic Bolshoi Theatre he performed Basil inDon Quixote,again withMaya Plisetskaya.In the early 1960s and shortly after he played the most crucial role of his career, Count Albert in a staging ofGiselle.Collaboration with the new Ballet Master of the State Academic Bolshoi TheatreYuri Grigorovichbegan in 1964. In 1966 Liepa had his first performance in a re-staging of Fokin'sLe Spectre de la rose,and in 1968 he played a part in the new version of "Spartacus", and received the highest accolades for the role of Crassus in 1970.
The relationship of Liepa and the Ballet Master of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre flattened during the 1970s and he remained off the list of performers of the new productions staged byGrigorovich.Liepa danced his last large role with the theater in 1977, in a staging ofChipollino.After leaving, he staged and organized several of his own creative performances and actively cooperated with the new ballet troupe ofBoris Eifman.
Liepa resigned from the Bolshoi in 1982, but the end of his ballet and artistic career was to come much later. He worked as a ballet teacher and became the artistic director ofSofia National Operabetween 1983 and 1985. In 1989 Liepa created his own ballet theatre in Moscow.
The repertoire of Liepa included many roles, fromSwan LaketoSpartacus,and he performed on stages in both Europe and the United States. Liepa also played roles in movies and TV, inHamletandSpartacus.A book,I Want to Dance for a Hundred Years,written by Māris Liepa, was published in Riga in 1981. Liepa was a winner of many distinguished Soviet Union awards, prizes and bestowals, including theKonstsantin Stanislavskimedal, Paris Ballet AcademyVaslav Nijinskyaward andMarius PetipaPrize.
Latvian National Operahosts the annual Māris Liepa memorial concerts that are organized by his children: his son Andris and daughtersIlze(ballet dancer) and Maria (actress and singer).
Film and television
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^Hayter, William.The Kremlin and the Embassy.Macmillan, 1967[page needed]
- ^Mackler, Tina.To Dance, To Live.Dance Horizons, 1977[page needed]