- Bessmertnova, Natalya Igoryevna
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▪ 2009Russian ballerinaborn July 19, 1941, Moscow, U.S.S.R.died Feb. 19, 2008, Moscow, Russiabrought elegance, technical expertise, and a deeply romantic style to some 30 different roles during her long career (1961–95) with the Bolshoi Ballet. Bessmertnova was particularly admired for her subtle interpretation of the title character in Giselle (which she first performed in 1963) and for the roles created for her by the Bolshoi's artistic director and chief choreographer Yury Grigorovich, whom she married in 1968. An internal dispute at the Bolshoi in 1995 led to Grigorovich's resignation and a one-day strike by some of the dancers (including Bessmertnova) that forced the ballet company's first canceled performance. Bessmertnova was fined and dismissed, though she later returned as a teacher and coach.
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Universalium. 2010.