• Yuri Grigorovich, the renowned Russian ballet choreographer, has passed away at 98.
• He was the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre from 1964 to 1995.
• Grigorovich's productions included classics like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
• His leadership in ballet profoundly changed male dance roles and styles.
• His death coincided with the passing of celebrated dancer Yuri Vladimirov.

Yuri Grigorovich, a central figure in Russian ballet, died at 98, having spent over three decades as the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre, where he was noted for his strict leadership style. Under his guidance, the Bolshoi became known for innovative productions, including The Nutcracker and Ivan the Terrible, which significantly impacted Soviet ballet, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

Born in Leningrad in 1927 to a ballet family, Grigorovich's career as a dancer and later as a choreographer spanned 80 years. His interpretation of the classic The Stone Flower was particularly acclaimed, blending Russian folk tales with Sergei Prokofiev's music. Valery Gergiev described him as "a legendary figure" who influenced many in the ballet community, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.

Grigorovich not only redefined female roles but also revitalized male dance, challenging the traditional dynamics of ballet. His controversial departure from the Bolshoi in 1995 due to disputes over contracts sparked the theater's first dancers' strike, marking a significant moment in the institution's history, as noted by South China Morning Post and BBC.

Following this, he founded a new ballet company in Krasnodar but returned to the Bolshoi in 2008. His passing coincided with that of one of his notable collaborators, dancer Yuri Vladimirov, which added to the profound loss felt in the ballet community, as remarked by Reuters and Le Monde.