Maya Mikhailovna Plisetskaya was a Soviet and Russian ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet director, and actress. In post-Soviet times, she held both Lithuanian and Spanish citizenship. She danced during the Soviet era at the Bolshoi Theatre under the directorships of Leonid Lavrovsky, then of Yury Grigorovich; later she moved into direct confrontation with him. In 1960, when famed Russian ballerina Galina Ulanova retired, Plisetskaya became prima ballerina assoluta of the company.
Plisetskaya performing in Carmen (1974)
In Swan Lake with the Bolshoi Ballet, 1966
In Romeo and Juliet, 1961
Performing in Don Quixote in 1974
Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova was a Russian ballet dancer. She is frequently cited as being one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century.
Galina Ulanova in 1968
Ulanova with Yuri Zhdanov in Romeo and Juliet
Ulanova on a Russian 3-ruble postage stamp issued in 2000.