Leyla Vakilova
Encyclopedia
Leyla Mahad qizi Vakilova (27 January 1927, Baku
– 21 February 1999, Baku
) was an Azerbaijan
i ballerina
and ballet instructor.
and took ballet lessons at the Baku School of Choreography from prominent Azerbaijani ballerina Gamar Almaszadeh
. In 1945, she left for Moscow
to gain experience in the field of ballet at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography
. After returning to Baku in 1946, she made her first ballet performance as Tao Khoa in The Red Poppy
by Reinhold Glière
at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
where she worked for the next 30 years. Her early performances in Azerbaijani ballets by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
, Soltan Hajibeyov
, Gara Garayev
, Fikrat Amirov and Arif Malikov
brought her great fame, which was recognized by the awarding of the Order of Lenin
to her. In 1967, Vakilova was granted the title of the People's Artist of the USSR
. She also became head of the Azerbaijan State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble founded by her teacher Gamar Almaszadeh. From 1953, she taught ballet at the Baku School of Choreography. In 1972, at the age of 45, Leyla Vakilova retired from ballet, even though she continued her teaching career at the School of Choreography until her death in 1999.
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
– 21 February 1999, Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
) was an Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
and ballet instructor.
Career
Leyla Vakilova was born in BakuBaku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
and took ballet lessons at the Baku School of Choreography from prominent Azerbaijani ballerina Gamar Almaszadeh
Gamar Almaszadeh
Gamar Hajiaga qizi Almaszadeh was an Azerbaijani ballerina and ballet instructor. She's considered the first ballerina of the Muslim world. -Early life:...
. In 1945, she left for Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to gain experience in the field of ballet at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography
Moscow State Academy of Choreography
The Moscow State Academy of Choreography , commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ballet in the world, located in Moscow, Russia. It is the affiliate school of the Bolshoi Ballet....
. After returning to Baku in 1946, she made her first ballet performance as Tao Khoa in The Red Poppy
The Red Poppy
The Red Poppy or sometimes The Red Flower is a ballet in three acts and an apotheosis; score written by Reinhold Glière and a scenario by Mikhail Kurilko. This ballet was created in 1927 as the first Soviet ballet with a modern revolutionary theme....
by Reinhold Glière
Reinhold Glière
Reinhold Moritzevich Glière was a Russian and Soviet composer of German–Polish descent.- Biography :Glière was born in Kiev, Ukraine...
at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
The Akhundov Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is a theatre in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was built in 1911.-History:...
where she worked for the next 30 years. Her early performances in Azerbaijani ballets by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
Afrasiyab Badal oglu Badalbeyli was a Soviet Azerbaijani composer, conductor and music critic. The author of music and the libretto of the first Azerbaijani Ballet and the first ballet in the Muslim East Giz Galasi .-Life:Afrasiyab Badalbeyli was born to Shusha natives Badal and Rahima Badalbeyli...
, Soltan Hajibeyov
Soltan Hajibeyov
Soltan Ismayil ogli Hajibeyov, was an Azerbaijani composer and People's Artist of the USSR.Soltan Hajibeyov was Uzeyir Hajibeyov's cousin. Soltan was a composer who contributed greatly to the formation of national symphonic music of Azerbaijan...
, Gara Garayev
Gara Garayev
Gara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev , also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara [Abulfazovich] Karayev, was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period...
, Fikrat Amirov and Arif Malikov
Arif Malikov
Arif Malikov is an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer. He graduated from the Baku Conservatory as a music composer in 1958. He shot to fame in 1961 when his first major composition "Legend of Love" was staged at the Kirov State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Leningrad and received...
brought her great fame, which was recognized by the awarding of the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
to her. In 1967, Vakilova was granted the title of the People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
. She also became head of the Azerbaijan State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble founded by her teacher Gamar Almaszadeh. From 1953, she taught ballet at the Baku School of Choreography. In 1972, at the age of 45, Leyla Vakilova retired from ballet, even though she continued her teaching career at the School of Choreography until her death in 1999.