Aivars Leimanis was a Latvian

ballet dancer A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

and is now the Artistic Director of Latvia’s National Ballet. His daughter is the ballet dancer,

Elza Leimane Elza Leimane (born 2 July 1984) is a Latvian ballet dancer. She graduated from the Riga Choreography School in 2001 and has been a member of the Latvian National Ballet Company since her graduation. She has been a principal dancer with the com ...

. From 1968-1976, he trained at the Riga School of Choreography. From 1978-1980, he taught at the Riga Choreography School. After graduating, Aivars Leimanis became a soloist in the Ballet Company of the

Latvian National Opera The Latvian National Opera and Ballet (LNOB) is an opera house and opera company at Aspazijas boulevard 3 in Riga. Its repertoire includes performances of opera and ballet presented during the season which lasts from mid-September to the end of Ma ...

. He has danced the leading roles in such ballets as the "Nutcracker", "Giselle" "Don Quixote", and "The Sleeping Beauty". From 1989-1993, he danced in the Star Group of

Vladimir Vasilyev Vladimir Vasiliev may refer to: * Vladimir Vasiliev (dancer) (born 1940), dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet * Vladimir Vasilyev (rower) (born 1948), Soviet Olympic rower * Vladimir Vasilyev (politician) (born 1949), Russian politician * Vladimir Vas ...

and Yekaterina Maksimova. In 1993, he retired from dancing and became the Artistic Director of the Latvian National Opera Ballet Company. From 1989-1995, he studied choreography at The Faculty of Ballet Masters of the

Russian Academy of Theatre Arts The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) (russian: Российский институт театрального искусства – ГИТИС) is the largest and oldest independent drama school, theatrical arts school in Russia. Locat ...

, and in 1995 he obtained the degree of Master of Arts. In 1998, he was elected as a Member of

Riga City Council Riga City Council ( lv, Rīgas dome) is the government of the city of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Its meeting place is in the Riga Town Hall (''Rīgas rātsnams)'' at the Town Hall Square (''Rātslaukums'') in the very heart of Riga. The Riga C ...

. From 1999-2001, he was the Chairman of the Committee of Culture, Art and Religion at the Riga City Council and Board Member of the Riga City Council. In 2003 he was awarded the Latvian Three-Star Order. He has choreographed and staged the following ballets: Le Corsaire (Adam), Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Francesca da Rimini, Sleeping Beauty (Tchaikovsky), The Life (Dvorak's Symphony No.9), Coppelia (Delibes), Atlantis (Janis Ivanovs), Concerto Grosso (Arturs Maskats), as well as ballet miniatures (Award of the Best Choreographer in Budapest '98); dances for Verdi's opera Aida and Zigmars Liepins' opera Rose and Blood; has represented Latvian art in more than 40 countries including the USA, France, China, Great Britain.

References

1958 births Living people Latvian male ballet dancers Dancers from Riga Latvian choreographers {{Latvia-bio-stub