An Evening in Memory of the Outstanding Dancer Cholponbek Bazarbaev to Be Held in Bishkek

The Kyrgyz National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after A. Maldybaev is preparing for an evening in memory of the outstanding dancer, People's Artist of the USSR Cholponbek Bazarbaev. On Thursday, February 4, soloists and ballet artists will take to the stage in his honor, as well as students from the Bishkek Choreographic School, which bears his name.

For more than twenty years, Cholponbek Bazarbaev was the premier of the national ballet troupe. His creative repertoire includes over thirty leading roles in performances of world ballet classics: from Siegfried ("Swan Lake" by P.I. Tchaikovsky) and Albert ("Giselle" by A. Adam) to José ("Carmen Suite" by G. Bizet-R. Shchedrin), Spartacus from the eponymous ballet by A. Khachaturian, Kasym ("Mother's Field" by K. Moldobasanov), Nurdin ("Cholpon" by M. Raukhverger), and Kuiruchuk from the eponymous ballet by K. Moldobasanov.

- A storm of applause and enthusiastic exclamations were evoked by his masterful performances both in solo variations and in duets with his constant partner – People's Artist of the USSR Aysulu Tokombaev. A dancer of a heroic-romantic nature, Cholponbek Bazarbaev possessed genuine artistry, perfection of technique, dazzling virtuosity, captivating temperament, astonishing weightlessness, and a "flight" in his jumps; rather, Bazarbaev simply soared above the stage… More than one generation of young artists has been and will be nurtured on the beautiful images created by the great maestro! says Elena Myagkova, head of the literary and dramaturgical department of the theater.

After finishing his career as a dancer, he began working as the director of his native theater, and then, after the republic gained independence, he was appointed Minister of Culture of Kyrgyzstan, worked as the director of the culture department, but soon returned to the position of general director of the theater. At the same time, Cholponbek Bazarbaevich headed the Society of Friendship of Kyrgyzstan with foreign countries. His life was cut short at the age of 54 in a major car accident. In 2004, in the framework of commemorating the great artist and considering his outstanding contributions to the Kyrgyz people, his name was assigned to the Bishkek Choreographic School. Every year on his birthday, February 4, memorial events are held. In 2016, as part of the memorial evening, there will be a joint concert of soloists and ballet artists and students from the Bishkek Choreographic School named after Bazarbaev. The audience will be able to see excerpts and performances from world ballet classics, as well as works of contemporary choreography.

Start at 18:30. Admission is free.