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Boyishly cute, diminutive and strong as a bull, but as graceful as any gazelle or swan, Mikhail Baryshnikov is a household name even to non-balletomanes. Widely considered to be one of the greatest and biggest names in dance.

Mikhail began his ballet studies in his native Riga, Latvia. He was accepted by the Leningrad Choreographic School, the associate school of the Kirov Ballet. One of his instructors there was [=nlinkm0701090], who had taught Rudolf Nureyev - who defected in Paris and was already making a name for himself in America. Among Baryshnikov's friends at the school were Alexander Godunov (nicknamed Sasha) and "ballerina assoluta" Natalia Makarova.

Mikhail joined the Kirov Ballet of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and his technique and balletic abilities were so great, he skipped the corps and was immediately put in a soloist position. While doing quite well in Russia, even finding an audience fan-base, the government and dance seemed to be too limiting and frustrating for him. Like other Russian dancers before him and after him, he would soon defect.

When the Kirov was touring in Canada, Baryshnikov defected and then quickly became a member of the National Ballet of Canada. Later on, he joined the American Ballet Theatre becoming one of the company's principal dancers. During this time he was reintroduced to 'Gelsey Kirkland' of New York City Ballet, whom he had previously met in Russia, becoming partners both on the stage and in real life. The celebrated partnership went on to become legendary, with their most well-known work being Baryshnikov's version of Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker".

In 1977, Mikhail made his film debut in The Turning Point (1977), a part written especially for him, where he played Yuri, a superstar ballet defector from Russia who beds more ballerinas than he dances with. Gelsey was also slated to co-star, but she wanted "no part of Hollywood", had objections to the story-line and soon after the two split. The movie went on to be nominated for 11 Oscars, including one for Mikhail.

Throughout his life Mikhail had idolized George Balanchine, the great choreographer and ballet master of the early 20th century for his innovation within the art of modern ballet. Thus, in addition to his occasional casting in films, Baryshnikov applied to and became a student of the great Balanchine, learning his choreography styles, taking a sabbatical from the ABT. Mikhail danced "Prodigal Son" and numerous other ballets at NYCB under Balanchine's direction and continued with NYCB until he was offered the position of Artistic Director at ABT. He briefly resumed the role of principal dancer, but was forced to quit professional ballet due to injuries. In the 1990's, he co-founded the White Oak Dance Project, and in 2000 received a lifetime of achievement award at the Kennedy Center Honor Awards.

Baryshnikov has been called the greatest male dancer of the 20th century and continues to dance, model and act, both in film and in the theater.

Rutanya Alda was born on 13 October 1942 in Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union. She is an actress and writer, known for The Deer Hunter (1978), Mommie Dearest (1981) and Amityville II: The Possession (1982). She was previously married to Richard Bright.

Gleb Savchenko is a Russian dancer, choreographer and model. He started dancing at the age of 8. Graduated from the Russian University of Theater Arts with a master's degree in choreography. In 2012, Gleb took part in the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars (2004), paired with model Erin McNaught. They were the first couple to leave the project. In 2013, Gleb took part in the 16th season of Dancing with the Stars (2005) together with actress Lisa Vanderpump. They became the second couple to be eliminated from the competition. Gleb returned to the show for the 23rd season. He was the partner of singer and actress Jana Kramer. They reached the finals and took fourth place. In season 28, Savchenko was paired with singer Lauren Alaina. They reached the finals and took 4th place there. In 2016, Savchenko took part in the cooking show Celebrity Masterchef (2006).

Sabine Jemeljanova is a British actress and model, born in Riga, Latvia, and raised in London, Great Britain. She was scouted at the age of seventeen by renowned British photographer Eliot Siegel while studying at Plymouth College of Art. Sabine began her modeling career working with Body London and iMM London modeling agencies, both of which have been at the forefront of providing models for the commercial, advertising, and fashion industries.

Sabine gained recognition as one of the most popular The Sun Page 3 models among UK audiences, becoming a notable Sex Symbol of the 2010s. She has appeared on the covers of magazines such as FHM, Maxim, Loaded, Front, and The Times, and has also been featured in the pages of Tatler, Vogue, Elle, GQ, Glamour, and others.

In addition to her modeling career, Sabine has participated in various projects, including music videos, commercials, and advertising campaigns for brands such as Vivienne Westwood, L'Oréal, Garnier, Barbour, and Schwarzkopf. She has made several television appearances, including on Britain's Got Talent, and has been featured in various TV commercials.

Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov born 20 September 1988 is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. With 29 wins and no losses, he retired with an undefeated record.

A two-time Combat Sambo World Champion, Nurmagomedov has a background in the disciplines of Sambo, Judo and Wrestling. Nurmagomedov was ranked #1 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings at the time of his retirement, until being removed following his title vacation in March 2021. Fight Matrix ranks him as the #1 lightweight of all time.

Hailing from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, Nurmagomedov is the first Muslim to win a UFC title. He is the most-followed Russian on Instagram, with more than 33 million followers as of February 2022. He is also a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, known for promoting the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC). Since retirement, he has transitioned to a mixed martial arts coach and corner-man.

Artjom Gilz was born in 1987 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor and producer, known for Without Remorse (2021), 100 Things (2018) and The Final Journey (2017).

Aleksandr Konstantinov was born on 15 August 1980 in Dzhankoi, Ukraine, Soviet Union. He is an actor, known for Bessonnitsa (2014), Derevenshchina (2014) and Psikhologini (2017).

Irina Potapenko was born in 1986 in Krim, Soviet Union. She is an actress, known for Revanche (2008), Princess (2006) and Anduni - Fremde Heimat (2011).

Anna Popelyukh (Maruv) is a Ukrainian pop singer, composer, poetess, music producer. Graduated from music school, piano class. She also studied vocals and dancing, studied at the studio, with whose team she performed a lot in various competitions and festivals. However, in her youth she did not plan to become an artist. And after graduating from school, Anna went to Kharkov, where she entered the Polytechnic Institute at the Faculty of Automation and Instrumentation. She graduated from the university in 2014, receiving two diplomas at once - in the specialties 'radiophysics and electronics' and 'specialist in the field of intellectual property'.

It was while studying at the Kharkov Polytechnic University that she seriously thought about a career as a singer. She took vocal lessons from a professional teacher. In 2013, the group 'The Pringlez' was formed as a student project, in which she became a soloist. 'The Pringlez' won first place in the 2013 Pepsi Stars of Now competition. They performed cover versions of songs by famous world groups and singers. Anna took part in the Ukrainian projects The Voice of Ukraine (2011) and The X Factor (2010), but did not reach the finals.

From February 2017 to March 2018, a musical project with her participation, the heir to the group 'The Pringlez', performed under the name Maruv. Later, Anna gave an interview in which she explained that now she personally acts under the Maruv brand. On September 28, 2018, Maruv's debut album, Black Water, was released.

Svetlana Smirnova-Martsinkevich is a Russian theater and film actress. She was born in Kazan in a family of artists. Her father held the position of administrator at the Kazan Theater of Young Spectators for many years, and her mother runs the Autograph Theater. From early childhood, Svetlana saw herself as an actress, a continuer of family traditions. After the ninth grade, she decided to enroll in the course of director Grigoriy Dityatkovskiy, but when the applicant was ready to enroll in the academy, it turned out that she did not have a certificate of secondary education. In 2009, Svetlana Smirnova-Martsinkevich graduated from the St. Petersburg State Academy of Theater Arts (SpbGATI), course of Semyon Spivak. After graduation she joined the troupe of the Youth Theater on Fontanka.

Her film debut took place in an episode of the fourth season of the multi-part television project Vsegda govori «vsegda» (2003) in 2007. And the actress became widely known for her role as Vera in the film Innocent Saturday (2011). The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2011. The film, directed by Aleksandr Mindadze, is dedicated to the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Svetlana Smirnova-Martsinkevich played two notable roles in the TV series - Doroga v pustotu (2012) and ,Obratnaya storona Luny (2012) which brought her widespread love from the audience.

Lubomir Mykytiuk was born in the Soviet Union. He is known for North of 60 (1992), The Sum of All Fears (2002) and Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002).

Aleksey Rozin was born on 4 February 1978 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor and director, known for Loveless (2017), Leviathan (2014) and Nastoyashcheye budushcheye (2020).

Marija Mauer was born on 8 January 1991 in Moscow, Soviet Union. She is an actress, known for Über die Grenze (2017), Das Traumschiff (1981) and What You Want Is Gone Forever (2015).

Natalya Petrova is a Russian actress, director, screenwriter. In 1992 she graduated from the Theater School named after Boris Shchukin, workshop of Yuri Avsharov. From 1992 to 1993 she worked at the 'Uchyonaya obezyana' Theater. Since 1998, she has played in the Moscow Theater 'Players' based on the Theater named after Nikolay Gogol. In 1999 she graduated from the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors (Higher Directing at Goskino), workshop of Aleksandr Mitta. She made her directorial debut in 2001 with the film Doroga (2002), also acting as a screenwriter and leading actress.

Petrova started acting while still a student. She made her debut in cinema, playing the main role in Valeriy Todorovskiy's film Love (1991). The film received numerous awards, including the Best Actress Prize at the Montpellier Film Festival (France) in 1992 and the Sorento Festival Prize (Italy) in 1994.

The role of the charming Frenchwoman Michelle Berthomier in the 1993 spy film Doroga v ray (1993) became notable.

Author of the novels "Homo Ludus", "Rimanoa", the "Struggle" saga: "Prisoners of Darkness", "The Path to Power", "The Taste of Power", "Retribution in the Twilight", "Grip of Steel" and the "Abandoned world" saga: "the Awakening", "the Awareness".

Born beneath the stars of Moscow, our protagonist is a writer whose craft is shrouded in the mystique of his native city. From early years, he absorbed the atmosphere of cultural richness and incredible diversity that undoubtedly influenced his creative ascent.

Graduating from the history faculty of a prestigious university, our writer swiftly became a prominent figure among the new generation of literati. His words are not mere lines on paper; they are a kaleidoscope of emotions, highs, and lows, guiding the reader through the thickets of the human soul.

The first literary triumph came with the release of his debut novel, which instantly captivated readers with its depth and sophistication. Since then, each of his works is a journey into a unique world where every word, like an artist's brush, creates vivid images and evokes myriad emotions.

Our writer is not just a wordsmith but a thinker with a unique perspective on the world. His creations serve as a guiding star for those seeking to understand the depths of human existence.

Today, the name of this writer resonates with special reverence in literary circles, and his works continue to captivate and inspire new generations of readers. Born in Moscow, 14.01.1987, he has become the voice of his generation, and his pen is the magical key to the enchanting realm of literature.

Mischa Zverev was born on 22 August 1987 in Moscow, Soviet Union (now: Russia). He has been married to Evgenia Zverev since 2017. They have two children.

Vsevolod Abdulov is a Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, master of dubbing. Vsevolod Abdulov was born into the family of People's Artist of the Russian SFSR Osip Abdulov and Elizaveta Metelskaya. His famous father instilled a love for theater in Seva. In 1960, Abdulov submitted documents to all theater universities in Moscow. He has already been accepted through competition into GITIS and the Theater School named after Boris Shchukin. But he couldn't get into the Moscow Art Theater School (where he wanted most of all). At one of the consultations, he met Vladimir Vysotskiy - he, already an undergraduate student, noticed the young applicant and taught him something. This helped Vsevolod and he was enrolled in the Moscow Art Theater School. After graduation, Abdulov played at the Moscow Taganka Theater, on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater.

As a film actor, Vsevolod Abdulov is best known for his serial television film directed by Stanislav Govorukhin - The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (1979).

Sulev Keedus was born on 21 July 1957 in Tallinn, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union [now Estonia]. He is a director and writer, known for Georgica (1998), Mehetapja/Süütu/Vari (2017) and Letters to Angel (2011).

Anatoliy Drizhenko is a Soviet and Ukrainian theater and film actor, TV presenter. In 1964 he graduated from the acting department of Kiev University named after I.K. Karpenko-Karyy, course of V. Bykovets. In the same year he began working in the troupe of the Odessa Ukrainian Musical and Drama Theater. Played more than a hundred roles. In addition to the theater, Anatoliy Drizhenko acted in films. In the early 2000s, he taught speech development and acting in one of the Odessa schools. Hosted the children's TV show 'Tales of Grandfather Panas'.

Aleksandr Gudkov was born on 24 February 1983 in Stupino, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union [now Russia]. He is an actor and writer, known for The Marathon of Desires (2020), Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) and Little Big Feat. Ruki Vverh!: Slemyatsya patsany (2018).

Aleksey Fateev was born on 30 November 1974 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor, known for Loveless (2017), Trassa (2024) and Metro (2013).

Vladimir Tarasov is a Soviet and Russian animated film director, artist. Honored Artist of the Russian SFSR. In 1965-1970 studied at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute. He worked at the Soyuzmultfilm film studio since 1957: first in the graphic workshops, then as an animator, production designer (in the groups of directors Vitold Bordzilovskiy, Mikhail Botov and Vladimir Degtyaryov), then, from 1973, as a director.

Vladimir Tarasov is one of the few Soviet animators who constantly developed science fiction themes in his films: Contact (1978); awards at festivals in Italy and France), Tir (1979), a film adaptation of the tragic story The Pass (1988) by Kir Bulychyov.

Vladimir Nabatov was born on 9 February 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union [now Russia]. Vladimir is a producer and executive, known for Leo the Truck (2014).

Mark Filatov was born in 1990 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor and director, known for Slavik - Auf Staats Nacken (2019), School of Slavik (2021) and Import Export (2020).

Oleg Tikhomirov is a German actor with Russian origin. After finishing studies of dramatic arts at Berlin University of Arts, he signed with the Volkstheater Munich in 2017. He is known for several national TV productions as well as some appearances in international big budget projects. Oleg Tikhomirov lives and works in Berlin and Munich.