Maya Plisetskaya

Russian ballerina regarded as one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century who was for many years prevented from appearing in the westMaya Plisetskaya, who has died aged 89, was one of the most important ballerinas of the Soviet era, becoming, on the retirement of Galina Ulanova, the leading ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet. Slender, with long legs and blazing red hair, she had a dazzling technique, a huge, almost masculine, jump and remarkably flexible back and arms. She claimed that she inhe