![RIAN archive 503726 Yekaterina Maksimova and Vladimir Vasilyev performing at Bolshoi Theater](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/RIAN_archive_503726_Yekaterina_Maksimova_and_Vladimir_Vasilyev_performing_at_Bolshoi_Theater.jpg)
Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova (russian: Екатерина Сергеевна Максимова; 1 February 1939 – 28 April 2009)
was a
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
and
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n
ballerina
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 ...
of the second part of the 20th century who was internationally recognised. She was a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre for 30 years, a ballet pedagogue, People's Artist of the USSR and Russian Federation, winner of international ballet competitions, Laureate of many prestigious International and Russian awards, a professor in
GITIS
The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) (russian: Российский институт театрального искусства – ГИТИС) is the largest and oldest independent theatrical arts school in Russia. Located in Moscow, ...
, Honorary professor at the Moscow State University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, and an Executive Committee member of the Russian Center of Counseil International De La Danse, UNESCO
Early life
Maximova was born in Moscow on 1 February 1939 to a highly educated family. Her maternal grandfather was
Gustav Shpet, a
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
philosopher
A philosopher is a person who practices or investigates philosophy. The term ''philosopher'' comes from the grc, φιλόσοφος, , translit=philosophos, meaning 'lover of wisdom'. The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek th ...
,
historian of philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
, psychologist, art theoretician, and interpreter (he knew 17 languages) of
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
-
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent
* Polish chicken
*Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
descent. Her mother Tatiana Maximova (née Shpet) was a journalist and publishing house editor and her father Sergey Maximov was an engineer.
She was admitted to Moscow Ballet School (now Moscow Ballet Academy) and the age of 10 and the same year as her future partner and husband
Vladimir Vasiliev. Their ballet partnership started at school.
Former ballerina of Mariinsky Ballet
Elizaveta Gerdt
Elizaveta Pavlovna Gerdt (russian: Елизавета Павловна Гердт; – 6 November 1975) was a Russian dancer and teacher whose career links the Russian imperial and Soviet schools of classical dance.
A daughter of celebrated ...
was Maximova's instructor at the ballet school. Maximova graduated from Moscow ballet school in 1958 and joined Bolshoi Ballet the same year. She won first prize at the National Ballet competition in 1957 while still a ballet student.
Career
In the Bolshoi Theater
Maximova's first ballet as a Bolshoi ballet dancer was ''
The Stone Flower
"The Stone Flower" ( rus, Каменный цветок, Kamennyj tsvetok, p=ˈkamʲɪnːɨj tsvʲɪˈtok), also known as "The Flower of Stone", is a folk tale (also known as ''skaz'') of the Ural region of Russia collected and reworked by Pave ...
'' (in the leading role of Katerina). Her performance was so impressive that she was chosen to go on the first Bolshoi tour in the US in 1959. The American press called her "a little elf" and complemented her technique, grace and artistic style even though legendary
Galina Ulanova
Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova (russian: Галина Сергеевна Уланова, ; 21 March 1998) was a Russian ballet dancer. She is frequently cited as being one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century.
Biography
Ulanova was born ...
was the real sensation of that tour. Later Ulanova became Maximova's ballet coach in the Bolshoi for many years.
In 1961, as a young ballerina Maximova starred along with Vladimir Vasiliev in the film for European and American viewers ''The USSR with an Open Heart'', where they played ballet dancers. The premiere took place in Paris, France where Maximova and Vasiliev arrived as newlyweds.
According to ballet professionals, Maximova possessed ideal ballet body lines, effortless jumps and spins and flawless technical clarity. She started as a lyrical ballerina dancing title roles in classical ballets Giselle, Nutcracker (Marie), Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Maria), Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora), but extended her breathtaking artistic talent and technical virtuosity through her hard work and devotion to her art. This enabled her to widen her artistic range with playful Kitri (Don Quixote), comic Eliza Doolittle (Galatea) and dramatic roles of Juliet, Phrigia (Spartacus), Anyuta (Chekov's story "Anna on the neck") Tatiana (Onegin) that tested her dramatic skills as an actress most completely.
Maximova seriously injured her spine during a rehearsal in 1975 and some doctors did not believe that she would walk again, but she returned on the stage in 1976.
She was known to decline roles she felt unable to perform, which earned her the sobriquet "Madame No".
She did this because she did not believe in herself and her skills. She always questioned herself if she was good enough to dance even better than before. She had a very few interviews in her entire life and always stressed that she was a hardworking ballerina permanently trying to improve her skills. She could keep a very high level of performance and youthful dancing style through her 40-year career In 2003 she wrote her autobiography and named it "Madame No".
Maximova danced many duets with Vladimir Vasiliev, who is regarded by some as one of the greatest male dancers of all time. They took part in numerous Bolshoi ballet tours in USA, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Argentine, Japan, and dozens of other countries in the world as well as in a Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Ballet) tour in Paris, France. She was one of the Bolshoi stars who danced in the last program presented at the old Metropolitan Opera House on Thirty-ninth Street and Broadway on 8 May 1966. Maximova and Vasiliev started dancing abroad as guest stars in 1978. Fortunately, many of their performances have been preserved on film and prove a lasting testament to one of the greatest ballet partnerships in the history of dance.
Among her other ballet partners were
M. Liepa,
M. Lavrovsky, and A. Bogatyrev.
Ballet achievements with other ballet companies
Maximova was invited to work with famous contemporary choreographers including
Maurice Bejart Maurice may refer to:
People
*Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr
*Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor
*Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and Lo ...
,
Roland Petit
Roland Petit (13 January 192410 July 2011) was a French ballet company director, choreographer and dancer. He trained at the Paris Opera Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets.
Life and work
The son of shoe designer Ros ...
,
Kasyan Goleizovsky
Kasyan Yaroslavich Goleizovsky (5 March 1892 – 4 May 1970) was a Russian choreographer and dancer. He was a pioneer in the Moscow avant-garde ballet scene in the 1920s. His innovative and acrobatic routines heavily influenced artists like G ...
,
Pierre Lacotte
Pierre Lacotte (born 4 April 1932) is a French ballet dancer and choreographer who specialised in the reconstruction of lost choreographies of romantic ballets. His mother was an affirmed musician and he manifested very early his interest for da ...
,
Gerald Arpino
Gerald Arpino (January 14, 1923 – October 29, 2008) was an American dancer and choreographer. He was co-founder of the Joffrey Ballet and succeeded Robert Joffrey as its artistic director in 1988.
Life and career
Born on Staten Island, New Yo ...
, Tom Schilling,
Martha Clarke
Martha Clarke (born June 3, 1944) is an American theater director and choreographer noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theatre, dance, and opera productions. Her best-known original work is ''The Garden of Earthly Delights'' (1984, re-im ...
, Lorca Massine and appeared in their ballet productions and ballet excerpts for gala concert performances.
She also started dancing in Moscow Classical Ballet productions in 1980 where she performed the title role in Pierre Lacotte's ''Nathalie'' and roles of Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet'', and Eve in the ''Creation of the World.'' She danced the title role in Cinderella in the Kremlin Ballet choreographed by her husband, Vladimir Vasiliev who also choreographed a great number of ballet compositions for her through her career.
Maximova graduated from GITIS (now The Russian Academy of Theater Arts) in 1980 with a diploma of ballet master and started teaching classical choreography and dance composition there in 1982 while she was still dancing in the Bolshoi Theater.
After retiring from the Bolshoi Theater as a prima ballerina in 1988, Maximova continued dancing the role of Anyuta at the Bolshoi through 1994 and in addition she had more opportunities to tour and to work for other Russian ballet troupes and ballet companies abroad as a guest star for following 10 years performing some classical ballets with new choreography and modern ballets that did not appear in the Bolshoi repertoire.
Throughout her career she danced on the famous stages in the world such as Covent Garden (London), Grand Opera (Paris), La Scala (Milan), Metropolitan Opera (New York), Rome Opera (Rome), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and performed with international ballet companies Maurice Bejart's The 20th Century Ballet (Belgium) (1977–1978), St. Carlo Theater (Italy) (1986, 1988–1989) Roland Petit's Ballet National de Marseille (France) (1987) English National Ballet (Great Britain) (1989), American Ballet Theater (USA) (1990) National Ballet of Canada (1993) and others.
Ballet pedagogical and professional activities
In 1990 she started coaching the leading soloists in ballet roles in the Kremlin Ballet (such as N. Balakhnicheva, T. Predeina, Z. Bogoroditskaya) and in 1996 with the Bolshoi Ballet (such as
G. Stepanenko,
S. Lunkina,
M. Ryzhkina, A. Nukulina) along with teaching in GITIS where she became a professor in 1996.
Maximova and Vasiliev were the founding organizers for the ''Arabesque'' ballet competition in Perm, Russia in 1990 and established their prize for "The best duet" there in 1992. She was a jury member at Arabesque through 2008.
Maximova taught masterclasses throughout the world, served as a member of various committees and councils for creative arts in Russia and abroad and was invited to be a jury member at ballet competitions (the Chairman of the jury in 5th International Ballet competition "Premia Rome", Italy and Arabesque ballet competition 1996–2008, Russia, and the juror of the ballet competitions in Jackson USA, Paris France, Lausanne Switzerland, Nagoya Japan, Seoul Korea and others).
While Vasiliev was the Bolshoi Theater director, he and Maximova took an active part in opening the first (outside Moscow) Bolshoi Theater ballet school in Joinville, Brazil in 2000. Both of them were awarded the highest Brazilian awards in 2004.
Her last ballet performance was at the gala dedicated to her 60th birthday on 1 February 1999 in the Bolshoi Theater.
Over the years, Maximova has received many of the most prestigious Soviet, Russian and foreign prizes, orders, medals and highest awards of the countries.
She appeared in a great number of Russian movies, video ballet productions, TV ballet and musical films as well as in international ones. Several TV ballet films were made for her by the movie director A. Belinsky (''Galatea, Old Tango, Anyuta, Chapliniana'') Maximova's art of dance was an inspiration for several ballets, movies, documentaries, books and even poems. She and her husband also gained wide exposure for their appearances in
Franco Zeffirelli
Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli (12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019), was an Italian stage and film director, producer, production designer and politician. He was one of the most significant opera and theatre directors of the post-World War II era, ...
's filmed version of
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...
's
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
''La traviata'' (1982). Both performed in Spanish costumes in the ''divertissements'' composed for the equivalent of Act II, scene 2.
Ballet roles
Selected ballet roles in the Bolshoi Theater (the first interpreter* and the first interpreter in the Bolshoi **)
* Katerina in ''The Stone Flower,'' S. Prokofiev, choreography Grigorovich (1959)**
* Prelude and Waltz in ''Chopiniana,'' F. Chopine, choreography Fokine (1960)
* Title role in ''
Giselle
''Giselle'' (; ), originally titled ''Giselle, ou les Wilis'' (, ''Giselle, or The Wilis''), is a romantic ballet (" ballet-pantomime") in two acts with music by Adolphe Adam. Considered a masterwork in the classical ballet performance canon, ...
'' A. Adam, choreography Coralli/Perrot/
Petipa (1960)
* Jeanne in ''
Flames of Paris
''Flames of Paris'' or ''The Flames of Paris'' (russian: Пла́мя Пари́жа) is a full-length ballet in four acts, choreographed by Vasily Vainonen with the stage director Sergei Radlov to music by Boris Asafyev based on songs of the F ...
,'' B. Asafyev, choreography Vainonen (1961)
* Muse in ''Paganini,'' S. Rachmaninov, choreography
Lavrovsky (1962)
* Masha in ''
The Nutcracker
''The Nutcracker'' ( rus, Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik, links=no ) is an 1892 two-act ballet (""; russian: балет-феерия, link=no, ), originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaiko ...
,'' P.Tchaikovsky choreography
Vainonen Vainonen is a Finnish surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Leo Vainonen (born 1952), Swedish boxer
*Mikko Vainonen (born 1994), Finnish ice hockey player
*Vasili Vainonen
Vasili Ivanovich Vainonen, also spelled Vasily (russian: В ...
(1962)
* Maria in ''
The Fountain of Bakhchisarai
''The Fountain of Bakhchisaray'' (russian: «Бахчисарайский фонтан», ''Bakhchisaraiskiy fontan'') is a poem by Alexander Pushkin, written during the years 1821 to 1823.
Pushkin began writing ''The Fountain of Bakhchisa ...
'' B. Asafyev choreography Zakharov (1962)
* Bacchante in ''Walpurgis Night,'' C. Gounod choreography Lavrovsky (1962)
* Florina in
''The'' ''Sleeping Beauty'''','' P. Tchaikovsky, choreography Petipa/Grigorovich (1963)**
* Soloist in variation in ''School of Ballet,'' D. Shostakovich, A Glazunov, choreography Messerer (1963)*
* Title role in ''
Cinderella
"Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
,'' S. Prokofiev, choreography Zakharov (1964)
* Aurora in ''The Sleeping Beauty,'' P. Tchaikovsky, choreography Petipa/Grigorovich (1964) revised choreography Petipa/ Grigorovich (1973)**
* Ballerina in ''
Petrushka
Petrushka ( rus, Петру́шка, p=pʲɪtˈruʂkə, a=Ru-петрушка.ogg) is a stock character of Russian folk puppetry. Italian puppeteers introduced it in the first third of the 19th century. While most core characters came from Italy ...
,'' I. Stravinsky, choreography Fokine/Boyarsky (1964)**
* Kitri in ''
Don Quixote
is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...
,'' L. Minkus, choreography Gorsky (1965)
* Masha in ''The Nutcracker,'' P.Tchaikovsky, choreography Grigorovich (1966)**
* Phrygia in ''
Spartacus
Spartacus ( el, Σπάρτακος '; la, Spartacus; c. 103–71 BC) was a Thracian gladiator who, along with Crixus, Gannicus, Castus, and Oenomaus, was one of the escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising ...
,'' A. Khachaturian, choreography Grigorovich (1968)*
* Young girl in ''
Le Spectre de la Rose,'' C. Weber, choreography
Fokine (1968)
* Odette/Odile in ''
Swan Lake
''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...
,'' P. Tchaikovsky, choreography Petipa/Ivanov/Gorsky (1968)
* Young girl in ''Icarus,'' S. Slonimsky, choreography Vasiliev (1971)* Aoela (revised choreography) (1976)*
* Juliet in ''
Romeo and Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
,'' S. Prokofiev, choreography Lavrovsky (1973)
* Soloist in ''Those Charming Sounds'' ,A. Corelli, G. Torelli, V. Mozart, choreography Vasiliev (1978)*
* Shoura Azarova in ''The Hussar's Ballad,'' T. Khrennikov, choreography Briantzev (1980)*
* Title role in ''Anyuta'' ,V. Gavrilin, choreography Vasiliev (1986)*
Leading ballet roles with other ballet companies (first interpreter in Russia*)
* ''Match'' Pas de deux choreography T. Schilling (1972)*
* Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet'' H. Berlioz, choreography M. Béjart (with Ballet of the 20th Century) (1977–1978)*
* Pas de deux from ''
Sylvia'' L. Delibes, choreography
F. Ashton (at M. Liepa's gala) (1979)*
* Title role in ''
Nathalie
Nathalie is a female given name. It is a variant of the name Natalie/ Natalia which is found in many languages, and is especially common in French and English speaking countries.
Notable people with the name include:
* Nathalie, Italian singer
* ...
'' A. Gyrowetz, choreography
P. Taglioni/P. Lacotte (with Moscow Classical Ballet) (1980) *
* Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet'' S. Prokofiev choreography Kasatkina/Vasilyov (with Moscow Classical Ballet) (1981)
* Eve in ''The Creation of the World'' A. Petrov, choreography Kasatkina/Vasilyov (with Moscow Classical Ballet) (1981)
* Rose in ''Blue Angel'' M. Constant, choreography R. Petit (with Ballet de Marseille) (1987)*
* Glove seller in ''
Gaieté Parisienne'' J. Offenbach choreography
L. Massine (St. Carlo Theater, Naples) (1988)*
* Tatiana in ''
Onegin'' P. Tchaikovsky choreography
J. Cranko (with English National Ballet) (1989)*
* Romola in ''Nijinsky'' selected music by various composers, director B. Menegatti choreography V.Vasiliev) (St. Carlo Theater, Naples) (1989)*
* Title role in ''Cinderella'' S. Prokofiev, choreography V.Vasiliev (with Kremlin Ballet) (1991)*
* Girl in ''Round of Angels'' G. Mahler, choreography G. Arpino (1994)*
* Soloist in ''The Gardens of Villandry'', F. Schubert choreography M. Clarke (1999)*
Awards
Ballet, Theater and Film awards
1957 Gold medal All-Union Ballet competition Moscow, USSR
1959 1st prize and Gold medal VII International Youth Festival Vienna, Austria
1964 1st prize 1st Varna International Ballet Competition, Bulgaria
1969 Anna Pavlova Prize "The Best Dancer of the World" from Paris Dance Academy, France
1972 Marius Petipa Prize "The Best Duet of the World" with Vladimir Vasiliev from Paris Dance Academy, France
1980 ''InterVision'' Prize for the best actress in the leading role for TV film "Old tango" at International Festival "Zlata Praha", Czechoslovakia
1984 Premio SIMBA, Accademia SIMBA, Italy
1984
Vasiliev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR for the leading role in TV film-ballet "Anyuta"
1989 Gino Tani Prize for the Art of Dance (Premio Internazionale Gino Tani, Italy) for "The Best Duet" with Vladimir Vasiliev
1990 Sergey Dyagilev Prize, Russia
1993 Leonide Massine Prize for Art of Dance (Positano Premia la Danza Leonide Massine), Italy
1993
Crystal Turandot Award
The Crystal Turandot Awards are Russian theatre awards created in 1991. They are awarded at the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, where the winner receives a crystal figurine of Princess Turandot, the main character of ''Turandot'', a play first staged ...
for theater arts with Vladimir Vasiliev (Golden Duet) Russia
Honorary Soviet, Russian and International awards
1969
People's Artist of Russian Federation
1973
People's Artist of USSR
People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union.
Nomenclature and significan ...
1971
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour (russian: Орден Трудового Красного Знамени, translit=Orden Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni) was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to th ...
, USSR
1976 Order of Lenin, USSR
1981
Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...
, USSR
1981
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize (russian: links=no, Государственная премия СССР, Gosudarstvennaya premiya SSSR) was the Soviet Union's state honor. It was established on 9 September 1966. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, t ...
1989 Member of International Academy of Creative Endeavors- Russian Section
1990 UNESCO Pablo Picasso Medal
1990 Member of the Executive Committee of Counseil International De La Danse, UNESCO (International Dance Council)
1991
Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR The Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR (Государственная премия РСФСР имени М.И. Глинки) was a prize awarded to musicians of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1965–1991.
To be distinguished f ...
1992 -2009 Jury member for Russian Independent Theater Award "Triumph"
1994 Second Order of Friendship of Peoples, Russia
1995 Honorary Professor,
Moscow State University
M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU; russian: Московский государственный университет имени М. В. Ломоносова) is a public research university in Moscow, Russia and the most prestigious ...
, Russia
1995 Academician of the
Russian Academy of Arts
Russian Academy of Arts (RAKh / rus. РАХ, Росси́йская акаде́мия худо́жеств) is the State scientific Institution of Russian Federation, eligible heir to the USSR Academy of Arts. RAKh is the public cultural Insti ...
1999
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
The Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (russian: Орден «За заслуги перед Отечеством», ''Orden "Za zaslugi pered Otechestvom"'') is a state decoration of the Russian Federation. It was instituted on 2 March 1994 by P ...
III degree
2004
Order of Rio Branco
The Order of Rio Branco (''Ordem de Rio Branco'') is an honorific order of Brazil instituted by decree 51.697 of February 5, 1963. It is named in honor of the Brazilian diplomat José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco.
The President of Brazil serves ...
, Brazil
2004 Soul of Dance Award, Russian Magazine "Ballet"
2008
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
The Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (russian: Орден «За заслуги перед Отечеством», ''Orden "Za zaslugi pered Otechestvom"'') is a state decoration of the Russian Federation. It was instituted on 2 March 1994 by P ...
IV degree
Film, television and books
List of leading roles in full length ballet videos
1970 Phrigia in ''Spartacus,'' A. Khachaturian, choreography Grogorovich, Bolshoi Theater
1974 Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet,'' S. Prokofiev choreography, Lavrovsky, Bolshoi Theater
1978 Masha in ''Nutcracker,'' P. Tchaikovsky, choreography Grigorovich, Bolshoi Theater
1978 Katerina in ''the Stone Flower'' ,S. Prokofiev, choreography Grigorovich, Bolshoi Theater
1980 Title role in
Nathalie or Swiss Milkmaid'' A. Gyrowetz, choreography Talioni/Lacotte, Moscow Classical Ballet
1987 Masha in ''Nutcracker'', P. Tchaikovsky, choreography Grigorovich, Bolshoi Theater
1994 Title role in ''Cinderella,'' S. Prokofiev, choreography Vasiliev, Kremlin Ballet
List of selected appearances in TV film ballets, musical films and documentaries
* Ballet dancer in ''The USSR with an open heart,'' directors V Katanian & L Christie, Mosfilm, USSR 1961
* Self ''in The Best of Bolshoi'' (Bolshoi Ballet), TV miniseries, Skiatron, USA 1965
* Soloist in
Moscow in Notes'' film-concert, director N. Gostev, Mosfilm and Heinz Liesendahl, Bavaria-Atelier GmbH USSR & BRD 1969
* Girl in
Trapeze'' TV film-ballet, director F. Slidovker, choreography Ryzhenko, Central TV, USSR 1970
* Ballet dancer in ''Parad attraktsionov,'' musical film, director A. Andriyevsky, Gorky movie studio, USSR 1971
* Soloist in
World of Dance'' TV documentary, director Y. Aldokhin, Tsentrnauchfilm, USSR 1972
* Self in ''Le grand échiquier,'' TV series, 2 episodes 1972-1973 Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF), France
* Soloist (Don Quixote)
Masters of the Bolshoi in concert'' musical film, USSR 1973
* Eve in
Choreography Novellas'' TV film'','' Central TV, USSR 1973
* Bacchante in
Walpurgis Night'' documentary, USSR 1974
* Soloist in ''Bolshoi Ballet and Japan,'' documentary, director Y. Aldokhin, Tsentrnauchfilm, USSR, 1974
* Eliza in
Galatea TV film,'' director A. Belinsky, choreography Briantzev, Lentelefilm, USSR 1977
* Francesca/Peter in
Old Tango TV film,'' director A. Belinsky, choreography Briantzev, Lentelefilm, USSR 1979
* Juliet in
Romeo and Juliet', choreography M. Bejart, Central TV USSR 1979
* Self in
The World of Galina Ulanova'' documentary, director A. Simonov, Central TV, USSR 1981
* Soloist in
That charming sounds'' documentary, director F. Slivdoker choreography Vasiliev Gosteleradio 1981
* Title role in ''Anyuta'', TV film, director A. Belinsky, choreography Vasiliev, Lentelefilm, 1982
* Soloist in Spanish dance in ''La Traviata'', musical film, director Franco Zeffirelli, choreography Vasiliev, Accent Film B.V., Italy, 1983
* Soloist in
Fragments of one biography'' TV film, director N. Shevchenko, choreography Vasiliev, Central TV, USSR 1985
* Soloist in
Grand Pas in the White Night'' TV film ballet, director M. Bejart and O. Vinogradov, Lentelefilm, USSR 1987
* Primadonna in ''Chapliniana'' TV, film, director A. Belinsky, choreography Abaydulov Lentelefilm, USSR 1987
*Soloist in
Stars of the Russian Ballet', documentary, director F. Slidovker, Gosteleradio, Russia 1991
*Soloist in ''The Glory of the Bolshoi'' (''Nutcracker'', ''Don Quixote'', ''Spartacus'', ''Paganini: Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 18),'' documentary, MIRIS/NYC ARTS, Russia &USA 1995
Leading roles in movies
Stella Cotman in
Gigolo and Gigolette'' director A. Belinsky, choreography V. Vasiliev, Central TV, USSR 1980
Elena Knyazeva in ''Fuete,'' (''Fouetté'') director B. Yermolaev, choreography for ballet excerpts V. Vasiliev, Lenfilm, USSR 1986
Nalalia Davydovna in
Klassnaya Dama'' director A. Belinsky, Lentelefilm, Russia, 1994
Documentaries and books about Ekaterina Maximova
''Composition of dances'' Part II documentary, director Y. Aldokhin, Tsentrnauchfilm, USSR 1967
Duet: Ekaterina Maximova Vladimir Vasiliev'' TV film, director F. Slidovker T/O Ekran, USSR 1973
N Avaliani, L Jdanov. ''Bolshoi's young dancers, p.60-107 (''London, Central books 1975)
S. Montague. ''Pas de Deux,'' p.93-97 (N-Y., Universe books 1981)
M. Konstantinova. ''Ekaterina Maximova'' (M., Iskusstvo 1982)
G. Smakov. The Great Russian Dancers, p. 180-185 (N-Y., Knopt 1984)
''Katia et Volodia,'' documentary, director D. Delouche, Les Films du Prieure, Paris, France 1989
And as always, something was left unsaid'' Part I
Part II TV documentary, 2 episodes, Central TV, Russia 1990
R. Lazzarini. ''Maximova & Vasiliev at the Bolshoi,'' photo album (London: Dance Books, 1995)
''Katya,'' documentary, director N. Tikhonov, Bolshoi Theater video studio, Russia, 1999
E. Fetisova ''Ekaterina Maximova Vladimir Vasiliev,'' photo album (М., 1999)
Ekaterina Maximova: When dancing becomes one's life'' documentary, director N. Tikhonov, Bolshoi Theater video studio, Russia, 2004
Fouette along the life'' documentary, director N. Tikhonov, Bolshoi Theater video studio, Russia, 2009
Vasiliev Maximova: Dance of fate'' TV documentary, Central TV, Russia, 2010
''Katya. A letter from the past,'' documentary, director V. Vasiliev, Russia-K, Russia, 2019
Tributes
1980 An asteroid that was discovered by Crimea Astrophysical Observatory was named MAXIMOVA in her honor.
1994 Maximova Benefit performance for her 55th birthday was held in the Kremlin Palace. She performed in ''the Round of Angels'' choreographed by Gerald Arpino as his gift for her birthday.
1999 The Gala in honor of her 60th birthday was held in the Bolshoi Theater. Maximova performed in the ''Gardens of Villandry'' that was choreographed by Martha Clarke as her gift for Maximova's gala.
2002 Annual Ballet festival in Maximova's honor started in Chelyabinsk Ballet theater with the premier of Prokofiev's Cinderella choreographed by Vladimir Vasiliev. Maximova's student Tatiana Predeina danced Cinderella and the exhibition "E. Maximova and her students" was opened. Maximova's students S. Lunkina, M. Ryzhkina and others from the Bolshoi Theater and N. Balakhnicheva and Z. Bogoroditskaya from the Kremlin Ballet took part in the festival in the following years.
2008 The Bolshoi Theater celebrated Maximova's and Vladimir Vasiliev's "50 years on stage" with a five day festival of gala performances in their honor.
2009 The Gala performance in Maximova's honor was held to celebrate her 70th birthday on 1 February in the Kremlin Palace.
2010 XI ''Arabesque'' International ballet competition in Perm, Russia was dedicated to her memory.
2012 ''Arabesque'' Ballet competition and the Grand Prix were named after Maximova.
2014 In honor of Maximova's 75th birthday the exhibition in Moscow Bakhrushev Theater Museum has recreated a dressing room of Maximova with her tutus, shoes, make-up mirror (which had belonged to the great theater actress Vera Komissarzhevskaya), bottles, combs, and other items she had to prepare for going on stage.
2014 The Bolshoi gala to celebrate Maximova's 75th birthday was held on February 21st.
2019 The Bolshoi Theater organized the Ballet Gala Night in Commemoration of Maximova's 80th birthday. Best ballet excerpts were performed by the Bolshoi Ballet Stars.
Personal life
Maximova was married to
Vladimir Vasiliev for almost 50 years. They had no children.
She died of heart failure on 28 April 2009, at the age of 70.
See also
*
List of Russian ballet dancers
This is a list of ballet dancers from the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and Russian Federation, including both ethnic Russians and people of other ethnicities. This list includes as well those who were born in these three states but later emigra ...
References
Obituaries
Daily Telegraph, 28 April 2009
External links
*
Official Website for Ekaterina Maximova*
Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maximova, Ekaterina
1939 births
2009 deaths
Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery
Dancers from Moscow
People's Artists of the USSR
Prima ballerinas
Russian ballerinas
Soviet ballerinas
Recipients of the USSR State Prize
Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class