Larisa Petrovna Sakhianova

Born Feb. 13, 1930, in the village of Kyren, in what is now Kyren Raion, Buriat ASSR. Soviet ballerina. People’s Artist of the USSR (1963).

Sakh’ianova studied at the Moscow Choreographic School from 1937 to 1942 and in 1945 and 1946. In 1946 she became a soloist with the Buriat Theater of Opera and Ballet in Ulan-Ude. She has danced leading roles in many modern and classical ballets; these roles have included Siuimbike in Iarullin’s Shurale, Seseg in Riauzov’s Light Above the Valley, the title role in Adam’s Giselle, and Odette-Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. For her performance as Angara in Knipper and Iampi-lov’s Beautiful Angara, Sakh’ianova was awarded the Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR in 1972.

In 1966, Sakh’ianova started teaching and directing the Choreographic School in Ulan-Ude. She has toured many countries. She was a deputy to the seventh convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Sakh’ianova has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.