Aivars Leimanis was a Latvian

ballet dancer A ballet dancer is a person who practices the Art (skill), art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. B ...

and is now the Artistic Director of Latvia’s National Ballet. His daughter is the ballet dancer, Elza Leimane. From 1968-1976, he trained at the Riga School of Choreography. From 1978-1980, he taught at the Riga Choreography School. After graduating, Aivars Leimanis became a soloist in the Ballet Company of the

Latvian National Opera The Latvian National Opera and Ballet (LNOB) is an opera house and opera company at Aspazijas boulevard 3 in Riga. Its repertoire includes performances of opera and ballet presented during the season which lasts from mid-September to the end of ...

. He has danced the leading roles in such ballets as the "Nutcracker", "Giselle" "Don Quixote", and "The Sleeping Beauty". From 1989-1993, he danced in the Star Group of Vladimir Vasilyev and Yekaterina Maksimova. In 1993, he retired from dancing and became the Artistic Director of the Latvian National Opera Ballet Company. From 1989-1995, he studied choreography at The Faculty of Ballet Masters of the

Russian Academy of Theatre Arts The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) () is the largest and oldest independent theatrical arts school in Russia. Located in Moscow, the school was founded on 22 September 1878 as the Shostakovsky Music School. It became the School of Mu ...

, and in 1995 he obtained the degree of Master of Arts. In 1998, he was elected as a Member of

Riga City Council Riga City Council () is the government of the city of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Its meeting place is in the Riga Town Hall (''Rīgas rātsnams)'' at the Town Hall Square (''Rātslaukums'') in the very heart of Riga. The Riga City Council con ...

. From 1999-2001, he was the Chairman of the Committee of Culture, Art and Religion at the Riga City Council and Board Member of the Riga City Council. In 2003 he was awarded the Latvian Three-Star Order. He has choreographed and staged the following ballets: Le Corsaire (Adam), Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Francesca da Rimini, Sleeping Beauty (Tchaikovsky), The Life (Dvorak's Symphony No.9), Coppelia (Delibes), Atlantis (Janis Ivanovs), Concerto Grosso (Arturs Maskats), as well as ballet miniatures (Award of the Best Choreographer in Budapest '98); dances for Verdi's opera Aida and Zigmars Liepins' opera Rose and Blood; has represented Latvian art in more than 40 countries including the USA, France, China, Great Britain.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leimanis, Aivars 1958 births Living people Latvian male ballet dancers Dancers from Riga Latvian choreographers