By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — When Maya Mikhaylovna Plisetskaya was eleven years old her father was executed as an “enemy of the people” by the Stalinist regime governing the USSR. Her mother was sent to a prison camp. Though the family was originally from Lithuania, Maya was born in Moscow on November 20, 1925.
Talent flowed like water throughout this Jewish family. Her mother was a famous actress in silent film, her father an engineer, diplomat and for a time a rising star in the Communist Party. In addition, her aunt, Sulamith Messerer, and uncle, Asaf Messerer, with whom she and her brother lived, were both master ballet teachers and dancers at the Bolshoi Ballet. The tradition of talent continued through the next generation to include Maya and brother, Azari.
Maya began the study of ballet at the age of nine at the world famous school of the Bolshoi Ballet and it became her refuge during the chaos and war of the next decades. She joined the Company after graduation and was swiftly recognized as a rising star. Her dynamic virtuosity and deeply felt emotive dancing propelled her to the top ranks in a company of legendary dancers. She eventually became the personification of The Bolshoi Ballet. Her name graced the top of theatre marquees around the world.
But it wasn’t always so wonderful. For decades because of her Jewish heritage and her refusal to join the communist party she was specifically excluded from touring abroad with the Bolshoi Ballet. Instead, she was forced to tour the provinces under trying circumstances and made to dance for visiting diplomats. Finally, in 1959 after sixteen years of humiliation, Khrushchev lifted the travel ban and Prima Ballerina Maya Plisetskaya was revealed to the world stage.
In 1960, “Assoluta” was added to her title of “Prima Ballerina.” What does “Assoluta” mean? It is a title bestowed usually toward the end of a ballerina’s career in recognition of a lifetime of unique artistry. It is an acclamation of having danced the leading roles in the classical repertoire on the stages of the world’s most renowned theatres – and opened those roles to new visions of content.
Plisetskaya conquered the constraints of gravity as she sailed through huge jumps splitting the air. That same force and steely strength were hidden but present in the weeping of her Odette in “Swan Lake.” Her “Carmen” vamped and teased while as “Juliet” she was both tender and courageous. As Kitri in “Don Quixote” she whiplashed her way across the stage – the fan in her hand as much a dancer as the hand which held it. Plisetskaya was both a bravura as well as a deeply dramatic dancer.
However, it was probably her role as “Dying Swan” that she was most widely known in the West. It guaranteed ticket sales for the Bolshoi and there were tours in which she had to dance this role at every performance. It was magic from another time and place. But, Plisetskaya’s artistic reach was much more – much wider than this and one can only wish that we in the West had seen more of it.
On May 2, 2015, Prima Ballerina Assoluta Maya Plisetskaya died of a heart attack at 89 years of age. She is survived by her husband, composer Rodion Shchedrin. Heaven is now surely an even more beautiful place.
As Odette in “Swan Lake”:
As Kitri in “Don Quixote”:
In the “Dying Swan”:
In “Carmen”:
And in a very rare occurrence – two Prima Ballerinas Assolutas – Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya – dancing together in “Fountains of Bakhchisaray” (start watching at 5:52):
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San Diego Jewish World’s eulogy series is sponsored by Marc and Margaret Cohen in memory of Molly Cohen, and by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.
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Orysiek is a freelance writer who specializes in arts and literature. Comments may be made in the space provided below this article or sent to the author at sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com