Famous parents often outshine their talented children. Andris Liepa has adequately overcome the troubles and dangers of such situations. He had the strength and ability to pave his own route in creativity.
Childhood and youth
Ballet is considered an elite art form. Before going on stage, performers have to prepare for a long time and thoroughly. Andris Marisovich Liepa proved by his daily work that he possesses talent and adequately took over the baton from his famous father. The future ballet dancer was born on January 6, 1962 into an acting family. Parents by that time lived in Moscow. My father served in the Bolshoi Ballet Company. Mother worked as an actress at the Pushkin Drama Theater. A year later, a younger sister appeared in the house, who was named Ilze.
Andris spent the first three years of his life in Riga with his grandparents. After returning to the parental home, the boy took a long time to adapt to the new conditions. He almost did not know how to speak Russian. On the street I adapted much faster. Andris made friends with whom he spent his free time. During his school years, he attended the figure skating section, studied music and studied in a dance studio. After the tenth grade, the young man decided to follow in his father's footsteps and get an education at the Moscow Choreographic School.
Professional activity
In 1980, Liepa graduated from college and entered the service at the Bolshoi Theater. The role of Salieri in the play "Mozart and Salieri" became a serious test of professionalism for the young dancer. Andris demonstrated not only excellent dance technique, but also acting skills. In the following years, he took part in all repertoire productions. After performing the role of the Prince in the play "The Nutcracker" Liepa became one of the leading performers of the theater. He went on tour abroad many times. Has performed in Paris, London and New York.
Liepa's stage career was developing successfully. In the late 1980s, he was allowed to dance on stage outside the USSR. For more than a year, Andris worked with his partner Nina Ananiashvili in the United States. During this period, he gained new knowledge and invaluable experience. Has performed various roles in forty performances. After returning home, Liepa joined the troupe of the Kirov Leningrad Theater. And here he quickly established himself in the group of leaders. A serious leg injury forced the dancer to leave the stage. Andris stopped dancing and took up directing.
Recognition and privacy
The creativity of the People's Artist of Russia did not remain in the storerooms. For seventeen years Liepa acted as artistic director and choreographer at the Kremlin Ballet Theater. He is regularly invited to cooperate by the leading theaters of the CIS countries and the European Union. Since January 2019, Liepa has been in charge of the Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan.
Andris Liepa's personal life was not very smooth. He married twice. With his second wife Ekaterina Katkovskaya he lived under the same roof for almost fifteen years. The husband and wife announced the divorce to a surprise for the fans. Catherine was the initiator of the divorce. Already an adult daughter, Ksenia, was going through the separation procedure hard. At the moment Andris is free.
