Titan of Russian ballet Yuri Grigorovich dies at 9819 hours ago Share Save Rachel Hagan BBC News Share SaveGetty Images Yuri Grigorovich's productions of Ivan the Terrible and Romeo and Juliet redefined Soviet balletAcclaimed Russian ballet choreographer, Yuri Grigorovich, has died aged 98. Described as one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century, he was artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet from 1964 to 1995, which he is said to have led with an iron fist. Grigorovich's productions of the Stone Flower, Ivan the Terrible and Romeo and Juliet redefined Soviet ballet. Born in 1927, a decade after the Bolshevik Revolution, his work was steeped in the traditions of classical ballet. Getty Images The Bolshoi Ballet was led by Grigorovich from 1964 to 1995.