Soloist of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, People's Artist of Russia Alexander Eduardovich Kuimov has died at 62 following a long illness.

He has served in the theatre since the first day it opened: from September 1, 1977. On December 21, 1978, he performed the role of Siegfried in the legendary Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky - the first ballet performance on the theatre’s stage.

Alexander Eduardovich was born in Perm in 1958, raised in a working-class family. He was brought to the Perm Choreography College by his sister who herself dreamed of a ballet dancer career. In 1977, Alexander Kuimov graduated from the College where he was the best student in the class of Mars Mirgaripov and one of the five best graduates among the seniors. He began working at the Perm the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre; two months later, he went on the theatre’s tour to Austria. However, the young dancer returned from the tour not to Perm but Krasnoyarsk ...

Alexander Kuimov dedicated almost 45 years of his life to the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. Over the years, he has performed about 50 leading parts: Albrecht and Hilarion in Giselle by Adam, Don José and Toreador in Carmen by Bizet, Basilio and Matador in Don Quixote by Minkus, Prince Désiré and Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky, Spartacus and Crassus in Spartacus by Khachaturian, and many, many others.

According to ballet critics, the creative manner of Alexander Kuimov comprised strong dance technique, expressive plastics and genuine acting talent.
 Alexander represented the Krasnoyarsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre on all tours. The artist's talent and skills were appreciated by the audience in the UK, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Taiwan, Japan, Cyprus, and other countries of the world.

In 1986, Alexander Kuimov was awarded the title of Honoured Artist of the RSFSR, and in 1994 - People's Artist of Russia.

For five years, Alexander Kuimov has been the head of the theatre’s ballet company. Artists knew him as a gifted and thoughtful teacher: he taught for two years at the Krasnoyarsk Choreography School; in the last 10 years, he worked as a tutor preparing and rehearsing many performances of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Alexander Kuimov will be remembered as a great artist, talented teacher, responsive person. It is impossible to overemphasize his contribution to the development of ballet. A whole era of ballet passed when Alexander Eduardovich deceased.