Russian ballerina, 70, dies unexpectedly
The internationally acclaimed Russian ballerina Ekaterina Maximova, who performed at the Bolshoi Theater for 30 years, died unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 70, according to the Associated Press.
No cause of death was immediately determined and Maximova was not known to be suffering from poor health.
Maximova was known for dancing the main ballerina roles in classical ballets, including her debut performance in ìThe Nutcracker” in 1958. She was married to fellow dancer Vladmir Vasiliev, who served as artistic director of the Bolshoi after the end of his dancing career.
ìYou lost someone near and dear, but Russian art lost a great ballerina, whose rare multifaceted talent is rightfully deemed to belong to world culture,” Medvedev wrote in a telegram. ìWith her brilliant dancing, astonishing grace and beauty she literally charmed audiences.”
Maximova is survived by her husband and mother.