“She was, and still is, a star, ballet’s monstre sacré, the final statement about theatrical glamour, a flaring, flaming beacon in a world of dimly twinkling talents, a beauty in the world of prettiness”. - The Financial Times on Maya’s 80th birthday. Maya Plisetskaya celebrating her birthday on stage of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater, 2000. Photo RIA Novosti. Assoluta.