This day in Russian history and the History of the world.

November 20

November 20, 1925: Maya Plisetskaya, of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th Century was born.

Plisetskaya played leading part is most know ballets: Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake", Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty", Cramen in "Carmen" and took over Ulanova as a as principal of the Bolshoi in 1960.

Plisetskaya is a holder of numerous awards and honours including First prize, Budapest International Competition, 1949, People's Artist of the RSFSR, 1951, People's Artist of the USSR, 1959, Anna Pavlova Prize, 1962, Lenin Prize, 1964, Hero of Socialist Labour, 1985, Chevalier de la Lgion d'Honneur, 1986, Triumph Prize, 2000.

She changed the world of ballet forever, setting the bar higher for ballerinas everywhere, both in terms of technical brilliance and dramatic presence.

---