Overview

• Juri Grigorowitsch, born in 1927 in Leningrad, was a towering figure in Soviet and global ballet, shaping the Bolshoi Theatre's legacy for decades.
• He choreographed landmark productions such as Spartacus, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty, which remain central to ballet repertoire worldwide.
• Grigorowitsch served as the Bolshoi's chief choreographer from 1964 to 1995, leaving after disputes over artistic direction, but returned in 2008 as a mentor.
• He founded the Benois de la Danse Prize in 1991, often referred to as the 'Oscars of Ballet,' to honor excellence in dance globally.
• His death, announced by the Bolshoi Theatre and the State Central Theater Museum, has prompted widespread tributes from institutions and artists, marking the end of an era in ballet.