Rafiga Haji gizi Akhundova ( az, Rəfiqə Hacı qızı Axundova, born 7 August 1931) is an Azerbaijani ballet dancer, ballet master. People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1970).

Biography

Rafiga Akhundova graduated from Baku Choreography School in 1951. Completed an advanced course at the

Bolshoi Theater The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, literally "Big Theater", p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈatər) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds ballet and ope ...

(1951–1952,

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

). From 1951 to 1971, she was a soloist of the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater. Since 1971, she has been the ballet master of that theater, and since 1990, she has been the chief ballet master. Together with her husband Magsud Mammadov, she staged the ballets "Caspian ballad" (1968, T. Bakikhanov), "Shadows of Gobustan" (1969, F. Garayev), "Yalli" and "Azerbaijan Suite" (1969, R. Hajiyev), " The Path of Thunder" and "

Seven Beauties ''Seven Beauties'' ( it, Pasqualino Settebellezze, "Pasqualino Sevenbeauties") is a 1975 Italian language film written and directed by Lina Wertmüller and starring Giancarlo Giannini, Fernando Rey, and Shirley Stoler. Written by Wertmüller, the ...

" (1975, 1978, G. Garayev), " Babek" (1986, A. Alizadeh), "

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 ...

" (1988, P. Tchaikovsky) at the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as " The Path of Thunder" (1976, G. Garayev) at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater. She worked as a teacher-ballet master in

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. "Caspian Ballad", "Shadows of Gobustan" and "Azerbaijani Suite" were presented at the 7th International Dance Festival held in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

in 1969 and were awarded the diploma of the Paris Dance Academy. In 1994, she staged the ballet "Seven Beauties" in

Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, maki ...

(together with Magsud Mammadov). Rafiga Akhundova is the wife of ballet master Magsud Mammadov. On 26 April 1958 she received the honorary title of "

Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (; ) was an honorary title awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (Azerbaijan SSR) and was one of the forms of recognition by the state and society of the mer ...

" and, on 21 May 1970, the honorary title of "People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR". On 9 June 1959 she was awarded the

Order of the Badge of Honour The Order of the Badge of Honour (russian: орден «Знак Почёта», orden "Znak Pochyota") was a civilian award of the Soviet Union. It was established on 25 November 1935, and was conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding ...

, and on 6 August 2021 the

Shohrat Order Shohrat Order ( az, Şöhrət ordeni), translated as ''Order of Glory'', is an award presented by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. History and status The order was created by the Decree No. 757 of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar ...

References

Source

* Cabir, S. "Gənc istedadlar" üəllim-aktrisa, "Qızmar günəş altında" kino-filmində Gülpəri rolunu oynayan Sürəyya Qasımova və Opera və Balet Teatrının gənc balet artisti Rəfiqə Axundova haqqında//Ədəbiyyat və incəsənət.- 1957.- 28 dekabr.
Şəhriyar Cəfərov: "Bu ölkədə vətənpərvərlik yad janra çevrilib"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhundova, Rafiga 1931 births Living people Honored Artists of the Azerbaijan SSR Recipients of the Shohrat Order Azerbaijani ballerinas Azerbaijani ballet masters