Russian choreographer Igor Moiseyev dies at age 101
{{date|November 2, 2007}}
[[Image:Moiseev igor 1932.jpg|thumb|right|Igor Moiseyev in 1932]]
{{w|Igor Moiseyev}}, who has been widely acclaimed as the greatest 20th-century choreographer of {{w|folk dance}}, has died today after a long illness. He was 101 years old.

Born Igor Alexandrovich Moiseyev on January 21, 1906  in {{w|Kiev}}, Moiseyev graduated from the {{w|Bolshoi Theatre ballet}} school in 1924 and danced in the theatre until 1939. His first choreography in the Bolshoi was Footballer in 1930 and the last was {{w|Spartacus}} in 1954.

Since the early 1930s, he staged acrobatic {{w|parades}} on {{w|Red Square}} and finally came up with the idea of establishing the Theatre of Folk Art. In 1936, {{w|Vyacheslav Molotov}} put him in charge of the new dance company, which has since been known as the Moiseyev Ballet. Among about 200 dances he created for his company, some humorously represented the game of {{w|football}} and {{w|guerrilla warfare}}. After visiting [[Belarus]] he choreographed a Belarusian "folk" dance {{w|Bulba}} ("Potato"), which over the years indeed became a Belarusian folk dance. According to the {{w|Encyclopædia Britannica}}, Moiseyev's work has been especially admired "for the balance that it maintained between authentic folk dance and theatrical effectiveness".

Moiseyev was named {{w|People's Artist of the USSR}} in 1953, {{w|Hero of Socialist Labor}} in 1976, received the {{w|Lenin Prize}} (1967, for the dance show A Road to the Dance), four {{w|USSR State Prizes}} (1942, 1947, 1952, 1985), Russian Federation State Prize (1996), was awarded numerous orders and medals of the Soviet Union, [[Spain]], and many other countries. On the day of his centenary, Moiseyev became the first [[Russia]]n to receive Order for the Merits before the Fatherland, 1st class — the highest civilian decoration of the {{w|Russian Federation}}.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/02/europe/EU-GEN-Russia-Obit-Moiseyev.php|title=Igor Moiseyev, Russia's king of folk dance, died at age 101|author=Associated Press|pub=International Herald Tribune|date=November 2, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/03/arts/dance/02cnd-moiseyev.html|title=Igor Moiseyev, Choreographer, Is Dead at 101|author=Jack Anderson|pub=The New York Times|date=November 2, 2007}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
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[[Category:Obituaries]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]

[[Category:Theatre]]
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[[Category:Ukraine]]
Igor Moiseyev in 1932
folk dance, has died today after a long illness. He was 101 years old.

Born Igor Alexandrovich Moiseyev on January 21, 1906  in Bolshoi Theatre ballet school in 1924 and danced in the theatre until 1939. His first choreography in the Bolshoi was Footballer in 1930 and the last was  in 1954.

Since the early 1930s, he staged acrobatic Red Square and finally came up with the idea of establishing the Theatre of Folk Art. In 1936, football and Bulba ("Potato"), which over the years indeed became a Belarusian folk dance. According to the , Moiseyev's work has been especially admired "for the balance that it maintained between authentic folk dance and theatrical effectiveness".

Moiseyev was named Hero of Socialist Labor in 1976, received the USSR State Prizes (1942, 1947, 1952, 1985), Russian Federation State Prize (1996), was awarded numerous orders and medals of the Soviet Union, Spain, and many other countries. On the day of his centenary, Moiseyev became the first Russian to receive Order for the Merits before the Fatherland, 1st class — the highest civilian decoration of the .
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