Published on: 2026-10-15
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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In the Aram Khachaturian square in Bryusov Lane, a monument was erected to the ballet artist, teacher, and film actor, People’s Artist of the USSR, Lenin Prize laureate Maris Liepa. The monument is installed next to house 17, where he lived from 1963 to 1981.
“The Monument to Maris Liepa will not only be a tribute to his talent but also a new landmark on the city’s cultural map. It is made of bronze and depicts the figure of the artist dressed as the Roman general Crassus from the famous ballet ‘Spartacus.’ Next to him are young ballerinas presenting him with a basket of flowers from grateful fans of the legend of domestic ballet,” said the head of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the city of Moscow.
The monument was created by an authorial team led by the sculptor, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Alexander Rukavishnikov. The initiative to install the monument came from the charitable foundation supporting the development of choreographic and visual arts “Ilze Liepa”.
Representatives of federal and city authorities, mass media, public organizations and cultural institutions, as well as citizens and tourists, took part in the opening ceremony of the monument.
“The unveiling of the monument to Maris Liepa is an important event for the cultural life of Moscow. Maris Liepa was an outstanding ballet artist whose work left a deep mark on the history of national art. Bryusov Lane is associated with the names of many great masters of the Bolshoi Theatre, and now this monument will become a visible reminder of Liepa’s contribution to the development of the ballet tradition. The continuity of generations helps preserve these traditions, pass on experience to young artists, and move forward,” noted Igor Shuvalov, chairman of the state development corporation VEB.RF.
Maris-Rudolf Liepa is an outstanding Soviet ballet artist, ballet teacher, and film actor whose name has become a symbol of the highest artistry. He possessed a unique dramatic talent and virtuoso technique.
Maris Liepa was born on July 27, 1936, in Riga. From childhood, he grew up in a theatrical environment, sang in a children’s choir, and at the age of seven enrolled in a ballet studio, later transformed into the Riga Choreographic School. In 1953, the gifted young man continued his studies at the Moscow Choreographic School, which he graduated from with honors. After graduation, Liepa worked briefly as a soloist in his homeland. Soon, the brilliant dancer was invited to Moscow—to the K.S. Stanislavsky and Vl.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre, where he quickly won the audience’s recognition.
All-Union and worldwide fame came to Maris Liepa after his transfer to the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR in 1960, where he became one of the principal dancers. The pinnacle of his performing art and a genuine triumph was his portrayal of Crassus in the ballet “Spartacus” in Yuri Grigorovich’s production (1968). Among the artist’s other legendary roles on the country’s main stage are Basilio in “Don Quixote,” Count Albert in “Giselle,” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.”
Leaving the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, Maris Liepa did not sever his connection with art. He was actively engaged in choreographic productions and teaching, passing on his experience to the younger generation.
The outstanding artist passed away in 1989 and was buried at the Vagankovo Cemetery in Moscow.
Photographs and other information about Moscow’s cultural heritage can also be found in the “Cultural Heritage” section of the city media bank “Mosphoto”.
The portal mos.ru features a large-scale special project, dedicated to the development of key areas of Moscow. These include transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and the construction sector. The special project helps to learn how the capital has changed in recent years, what initiatives aimed at making residents’ lives even more comfortable are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its inhabitants in the near future.
On the project page “Culture, Heritage, and Leisure Industry” you can learn about how architectural monuments are preserved in the capital.
Moscow is the cultural center of the country and ranks among the leading metropolises in the number of museums and exhibition halls. The city has established a film cluster that unites the “Moskino” film factory on Ryazansky Avenue, the Gorky Film Studio, and the “Moskino” film park.
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