The legendary ballet dancer, choreographer,  winner of the Lenin and State Prizes of the USSR, People's Artist of the USSR Mikhail Lavrovsky has celebrated his 80th birthday in Krasnoyarsk.

The first of the festive events was a meet-the-artist session at the Krasnoyarsk Choreography School on November 15. It brought together teachers and students of this educational institution. They watched the film Mikhail Lavrovsky. To be continued ..., in which the artist talks about his artistic journey. The film was commissioned by the TV channel Kultura and directed by Natalia Ivanova. There was also face-to-face communication with Mikhail Lavrovsky. Mikhail Leonidovich's son, choreographer Leonid Lavrovsky-Garcia took part in the conversation.

A masterclass was also held for students of the Krasnoyarsk Choreography College and dancers of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. The hero of the day handed a part of his experience on to the young dancers and impressed the audience with his energy and youth.

On November 17, the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre hosted the Gala Night dedicated to Mikhail Lavrovsky. Krasnoyarsk residents saw excerpts from his ballet productions: Amok by Alexander Simonenko, Two Women by Sergei Banevich, the one-act ballet Nijinsky to music by Sergei Rachmaninoff (with the participation of ex-soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre and principal dancers of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre).

“Why did I come to Krasnoyarsk? I have already worked with the Artistic Director of the Krasnoyarsk Theatre Sergei Bobrov on the set of my ballet film Day-Dreamer: Sergei not only danced there but also staged a dance piece for the film - a variation with a torch. He is extremely gifted. Moreover, I was on a tour with the Bolshoi Theatre in your city about half a century ago, of which I had very pleasant memories. So have I now: the ballet company of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre is hefty and outstanding. I did enjoy communicating with the students of the Choreography School. In my opinion, they are solid and conscientious people who know what they want. They say that only then a person will achieve something when he believes in himself. Young dancers have such confidence, and it's great.” Mikhail Leonidovich shared his impressions of his stay in Krasnoyarsk.