Lavrovsky Leonid Mikhailovich ( June,18th 1905 – November 27th, 1967) – Distinguished Choreographer of the 20th Century, the People’s Artist of the Soviet Union, the State Prize Laureate.
His artistic career heralds an entire stage in history of domestic ballet.
In 1922 L.M Lavrovsky graduated from Choreography College and was invited to join the Company of the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre, where he was performing major parts in classical ballet.
In the middle of 30’s L.M. Lavrovsky leaves the stage and devotes himself to ballet-master work. In 1935 he creates for Choreography College the graduation performance called «Katherine» in which were shown searches for psychological depth and historical truth. In 1938 L.M.Lavrovsky creates performance «The Prisoner of the Caucaus», which became a phenomenon in theatre life of that time. L.M.Lavrovsky also created the ballet “Romeo and Juliet» by Shakespeare. This ballet is the top of the pedagogical creative work of the choreographer; this is a new stage in history of the world choreographic art. Ballet creators were awarded with the USSR State Prize.
L.Lavrovsky successfully created bright, dramatic performance. Lavrovsky’s choreographic script still remains the best example of plastic embodiment of Shakespeare’s tragedy on the ballet stage.
Since 1936 – 1938 L.M. Lavrovsky is the art director of Maly Opera Theatre and since 1938 – 1944 – the art director of the Kirov State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
As the general ballet-master of the Bolshoi Theatre (1944 – 1964), L.M. Lavrovskiy creates such ballets as «The Red Poppy», «Walpurgis Night», «Fadette», «The Tale of the Stone Flower», «Paganini», « The Night Town», «The Pages of Life». Such ballets as «Gizelle», «Les Sylphides», «Raymonda» were also on stage in Lavrovsky’s interpretation.
Combining choreographic and pedagogical activities, L.M.Lavrovsky was teaching in Russian Academy of Theatre Arts and in Moscow State Choreography School. Students admired Lavrovsky, they noted his adherence to principles, exactingness, goodwill. His every lesson was a true holiday for them. Lavrovsky’s students preserved and developed his messages in every aspect of choreographic art.
The first triumphal trip abroad of the Bolshoi Theatre ballet under the direction of L.M.Lavrovsky happened in 1956 It was in London that the ballet was called The Bolshoi Ballet. The period of L.M. Lavrovsky being the director of the Bolshoi Theatre is one of the significant pages in history of the ballet art.