Russian ballet legend, Maya Plisetskaya, had her 80th birthday marked with a grand gala at the Kremlin Place in Moscow on sunday.
Stars from the Bolshoi, Berlin State Ballet, the Royal Ballet and Cuba's National Ballet were invited to perform Don Quixote.
Plisetskaya herself defied her advanced years and took to the stage for a three-minute tribute piece, choreographed by France's Maurice Bejart.
The ballerina was a member of the Bolshoi for five decades, winning international fame in the 1960s for her performances in classic productions such as Swan Lake.
Other renowned international performers, such as flamenco star Joaquin Cortes and China's Sao Lin monks, also entertained the audience; and, adding a modern twist, breakdancers put their own interpretation on the music of Ludwig Minkus' Don Quixote.
A congratulatory speech from Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he described Plisetskaya as "a great ballerina of modernity - celebrated on all continents", was read out at the gala.
Events to celebrate the legendary dancer's birthday are to also be held in London and Paris in February. |