The staff of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography has received with deep sorrow the news of the death of the great master of the stage, outstanding choreographer, legend of world ballet, People's Artist of the USSR, winner of State Prizes — Yuri Nikolaevich Grigorovich.

The name of Yuri Nikolaevich is forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of world choreographic art. His innovative productions, deep psychological imagery and amazing sense of style have forever changed the perception of classical ballet. He became the architect of an era in dance, having managed to combine drama, music and sculpture into a single expressive whole. Thanks to him, classical ballet has gained a new lease of life, has become closer to the modern audience and has acquired a truly global significance.

Yuri Nikolaevich began his creative career in Leningrad, where he already proved himself to be a talented innovator and a fine choreographer, where he staged the ballet “The Stone Flower”, then “The Legend of Love”, which became a breakthrough of their time and glorified his name in the ballet world. These performances became the pinnacle of Soviet ballet art, where the stars of the world stage shone.

Since 1964, Yuri Grigorovich became the Chief choreographer of the Bolshoi Theater, where for more than two decades he created a gallery of masterpieces: "The Nutcracker", "Spartacus", "Ivan the Terrible", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Golden Age". His original editions of classical ballets — "Sleeping Beauty", "Swan Lake", "Raymonde", "Giselle", "La Bayadere", "Don Quixote" and "Le Corsaire" — have gained a new stage breath and still adorn the repertoires of the world's leading theaters.

Since 2008, Yuri Nikolaevich has become the choreographer of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia again, continuing to work on the restoration and updating of legendary productions.

Grigorovich's era is one of the brightest and most outstanding periods in the history of the Bolshoi Theatre. His aesthetics, the scale of his stage decisions and attention to drama have defined the face of the theater for many decades and influenced the development of world ballet.

The pedagogical activity of Yuri Nikolaevich was of particular importance. He passed on his rich experience to young artists, forming not only technically impeccable dancers, but also deep creative personalities. For more than forty years, he headed the jury of the International Ballet Competition in Moscow, influenced the formation of young talents around the world. His choreographic school has become a model that theaters and academies in different countries strive for.

The work of Yuri Grigorovich had a significant impact on the development of ballet art in Kazakhstan. His productions inspired Russian masters, became an example of high taste and professional excellence. He served as a guide for a generation of Kazakhstani dancers, teachers and choreographers, leaving a deep mark in the cultural memory of our people.

For young artists and teachers, Yuri Nikolaevich was not only an outstanding master of the stage, but also a moral guideline, an example of dedication, artistic ideal and absolute love for art.

The bright memory of Yuri Nikolaevich Grigorovich will forever remain in our hearts. On behalf of the staff of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, we express our sincere condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and all those who knew, loved and appreciated the great talent of the Master.