Rostislav Zakharov
Rostislav Vladimirovich Zakharov was a Russian choreographer, ballet dancer and opera director. He was a professor at the Russian Academy of the Arts in Moscow, was awarded the USSR State Prize twice and designated the People's Artist of the USSR.
Zakharov is best known for choreographing The Fountain of Bakhchisaray and Cinderella.Biography
Zakharov was born on September 7, 1907 in Astrakhan. He studied acting and dance in Saint Petersburg. In 1926–1929 he was a soloist and choreographer at both Kharkiv and Kiev ballet, while continuing to study at the Leningrad Theatre Institute. During the period of 1930–1936, Zakharov was an actor and choreographer at Kirov Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Saint Petersburg, where he choreographed Cinderella with music composed by Sergei Prokofiev and The Fountain of Bakhchisarai. In 1936–1960 he was a principal choreographer at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, where he directed and choreographed the definitive version of Prokofiev's Cinderella. This production was adapted to film Khrustalnyy bashmachok Zolushki starring Raisa Struchkova in the main title role. Zakharov was a co-director of the movie and also contributed to the script and choreography.
He died on January 15, 1984 in Moscow.
