★ Maya Plisetskaya is a divinely gifted spirit born for dance, a bird destined from birth to soar. Her name has long been synonymous with elegance, strength, and beauty.
★ This panoramic account traces the legendary life of the “Queen of Ballet,” from an orphan in a state-run home to a global ballet icon. Her tumultuous journey brims with inspiring resilience and profound emotional impact.
★ A tribute marking the 100th anniversary of Maya Plisetskaya’s birth, this landmark new work carries both commemorative significance and wide-reaching appeal, poised to become the literary event of the year for readers who cherish the arts, are fascinated by history, and aspire to lives of courage and purpose.
★ Perfect for enthusiasts of art and history as well as general readers, it offers not only a deep appreciation of ballet’s beauty but also the courage and strength to face life head-on.

Maya Plisetskaya was a divinely gifted spirit born for dance, a bird destined from birth to soar. Her name has long been synonymous with elegance, power, and beauty. Following in the footsteps of Pavlova and Ulanova, she is Russia’s “national treasure” and a world-renowned ballet master—a towering figure in the history of Russian and global ballet. As ballet critic Tatyana Kuznetsova put it: “In the annals of dance, no other performer has remained the center of public attention for sixty years as she has. She possesses an extraordinary charisma; whenever she appears, audiences instantly recognize what true grace means.”

Plisetskaya’s most celebrated role is Odette/Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Her exquisitely lyrical portrayal of the twin sisters captivated audiences completely. Over more than thirty years, she danced Swan Lake over eight hundred times. It is said that Premier Zhou Enlai, after witnessing one of her performances, expressed his profound admiration. In addition, she performed Carmen Suite more than three hundred and fifty times around the world, earning her the title of “the most beautiful Carmen” on earth. In 2005, at the age of eighty, Plisetskaya returned to the stage to perform a brief, roughly three-minute ballet titled “Hail, Maya,” specially created for her by the renowned French choreographer Maurice Béjart.

To mark the centenary of Maya Plisetskaya’s birth, this landmark work has now been lovingly published, destined to become the literary event of the year for all those who cherish art, are fascinated by history, and aspire to live inspiring lives. It is a heartfelt and candid account of the fears, sorrows, and countless hardships she endured during her youth. The book contains precious recollections of her family—those who saved the future ballet superstar—and recounts her debut performance, staged behind a curtain facing away from the audience during the arduous evacuation years in Sverdlovsk. This volume stands as a tender yet moving tribute to the great ballerina. Through its pages, readers will come to understand both the legendary glory of a ballet master who conquered the world and the remarkable journey of a girl from an orphanage who, through her aunt’s love and the magic of ballet, was reborn.

Rodion Shchedrin occupies a prominent place within these pages. A brilliant composer, he was her husband, closest friend, kindred spirit, and the sole spiritual anchor of her life. For more than half a century, they stood together, embodying a rare harmony and unwavering devotion. The warmth and strength this deep bond bestowed upon Maya surpassed all the thunderous applause the world could offer. This book is dedicated to everyone who believes in the miracle of ballet and who will forever remember her regal presence and her resolute, fearless gaze.