P rominent t ajik f igures of the

V

Valamatzoda, Ghaffor

Tajik ballet master Ghaffor Rustamovich Valamatzoda was born into

a family of farmers on May 9, 1916, in Khujand. He joined the CPSU in

1942.

From 1930 to 1932, Valamatzoda studied at Leninabad Technical

College. Thereafter, he became the first soloist for the Uzbekistan

troupe in Tashkent. In 1934, he became the soloist and ballet master of

the Dushanbe Music Theater. From 1944 to 1946, Valamatzoda studied

choreography at the Great Moscow Theater, and in 1951, graduated

from the State Institute for Theater Arts. He was one of the founders

and promoters of the Aini Theater for Opera and Ballet, and the State

Philharmonic. From 1951 to 1963, he was the chief ballet master of the

Aini Theater for Opera and Ballet. He was the Director and conductor

of the State Philharmonic Orchestra from 1963 to 1972. In 1965, he es-

tablished the Lola Dance Ensemble. In 1978, he became the Ensemble's

choreographer and artistic director. Valamatzoda's performances enjoy

rich techniques which include the use of folklore, classical ballet, and

local dance.

The following ballets were introduced to the stage by Valamatzoda:

Laili va Majnun (Layli and Majnun), by S. Balasanian, 1947; Du Gul

(Two Flowers), by A. Lenskii, 1941; Sar Chashmai Bakht (The Source

of Fortune), by Knipper, 1951; Esmeralda (Esmeralda), by Ts. Puni,

1953, Favvorai Boghchasaroi (The Garden Fountain), by B. V.

Asafiev, 1954); and Dilbar (Heart Ravisher), by A. Lenskii, 1954.

Valamatzoda is also the producer of a number of major operas in-

cluding Parii Obi (Water Fairy), by A. S. Dargomïzhsky, 1953; Shur-

ishi Vose' (The Vose' Uprising), by Balasanian, 1958; Aida (Aida), by

G. Verdi, 1960; Arusi Moh ( Bride of the Moon), by N. Rimsky-Korsa-

kov, 1961; and Domodi Nomdor (Famous Bridegroom), by O. Urbach,

1961.

Also from 1965 to 1975, Valamatzoda staged a number of dances

including "Idi Lola" ("The Tulip Festival"), "Shodmoni" ("Rejoicing"),

"Bachahoi Oktiobr" ("Children of October"), and "Surudi Kuhsor"

("The Song of the Mountains"), as well as Indian, Pakistani, Afghani,

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