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A. Budberg, V. Midinsky, A. Ixanov, G. Stepanenko.

After the morning rehearsal of La Bayadère, the Interim Artistic Director of Ballet, People’s Artist of Russia Galina Stepanenko, was presented to the Company. This is the first time in Bolshoi Ballet history that a woman has been appointed to this post. Most of Galina Stepanenko’s professional life has been linked to the Theatre. Recently she has begun teaching.

As Director of Ballet, she will remain in close contact with Sergei Filin during his rehabilitation period. It was the latter, indeed, who put forward her name as candidate for the post in which he was supported by Bolshoi Theatre General Director Anatoly Iksanov.

Present at the introduction of Galina Stepanenko to the Ballet Company were Vladimir Medinsky, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, and Alexander Budberg, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Council of Trustees. Both of the latter expressed confidence that the Ballet Company and the Interim Director of Ballet would work together in mutual understanding.

And, in informing the Ballet Company, of the new appointment, both Vladimir Medinsky and Bolshoi Theatre General Director Anatoly Iksanov emphasized their respect for the steadfastness shown by Artistic Director of Ballet Sergei Filin in coping with his misfortune.

Anatoly Iksanov requested of the Ballet Company dancers that, in waiting for Sergei Filin to regain his health and return to work, they should show even more self-discipline than usual and that, if necessary, they should be ready to sacrifice their personal interests to the benefit of the common cause, which would be tantamount to supporting their artistic director who had been victim of such a barbaric attack and emerging with honor from the situation which had arisen thus showing that the Bolshoi Ballet ises above all provocation.


Photos by Damir Yusupov.