P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Sobirova, Malika

Tajik actor and ballerina Malika Abdurahmonovna Sobirova was

born into a family of musicians in Dushanbe on May 22, 1942.

Between 1953 and 1961, she studied at the Leningrad Choreography

Academy. Then, from 1963 to the end of her life she was a soloist artist

at the Aini Theater for Opera and Ballet. She worked at the Great Soviet

Theater in 1962 and 1963 under the direction of G. Ulanova and per-

fected her skills. She was one of the outstanding representatives of the

Russian school of classical dance. Her characters were complete and

multi-dimensional. They included the loyal and hurt Odette, cunning

and ravishing Odila, and coquettish and carefree Liza. She also created

a series of distinct characters for the national ballet. For expanding

character's horizons, she combined classical elements with traditional

ones. Because of her ability to combine technique with knowledge of

acting, she could perform romantic roles with ease. These roles ap-

peared in Zhizel', Shurali, Romeo va Julietta,  Laili va Majnun, Temur-

malik, and others.

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Iraj Bashiri

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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Sobirova was also successful in the performance of psychologically

deep characters. In the characters of Zhizelle in Zhizel'(Zhizel), Zarrina

in Qissai Kuhsor (The Story of the Mountain), and Sa'oda in Pisari

Vatan (Son of the Homeland), she projected some of the most poignant

elements of loyalty and artistry.

Sobirova's concert activities began in 1964. The following are the

roles that she performed: Odetta in Kuli Quvon (Swan Lake), by P.

Tchaikowsky, 1962); Zhizelle in Zhizel' (Zhizel),  by A. Adan, 1963;

Kitri in Don-Kikhot (Don Quixote), by L. Minkus, 1968; and many

others.

Sobirova also contributed to a number of artistic and documentary

motion pictures including 1002 Shab (1002 Nights, 1966); Malika

(Queen, 1967); and Qissai Sharqi (Eastern Tale, 1972).

Sobirova became a People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1947. She

won the Conservatory Prize in Classical Ballet in Varna in 1964, the

Rudaki State Prize in 1967, and the International Ballet Concourse in

1969. She was the recipient of a number of national accolades, includ-

ing the Lenin Komsomol Prize (1967), the Order of the Red Banner of

Labor, the Badge of Honor, and many other medals.

Sobirova died in 1982.