P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Usmonova, Oydina
Tajik actor Oydina Yahioevna Usmonova was born in Samarqand on
January 10, 1928. She began her acting career early in her youth.
In 1944, Usmonova was accepted by the Pushkin Music and Drama
Theater of Leninabad. Between 1944 and 1949, she worked at the Aini

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Iraj Bashiri

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State Theater for Opera and Ballet. In 1949, she returned to Leninabad

and continued her acting career at the Pushkin Music and Drama Thea-
ter of Leninabad. The roles she created include Desdemona in Otello
(Othello), by Shakespeare; Larisa in Dukhtari Bi Jihoz (Girl Without a
Dowry), by A. N. Ostrovskii; Modar in Shahlo (Shahla), by A. Shukuhi
and H. Askar; and others.
Usmonova became a People's Artist of Tajikistan in 1964. She was
the recipient of the 100
th
Anniversary of the Birth of Lenin Prize and the
Red Banner of Courage.

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341
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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