Russian ballet maestro Yuri Grigorovich dies age 98

Acclaimed Russian ballet choreographer, Yuri Grigorovich, received top Soviet and Russian honours.

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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. Praised for revitalising male dance, he created parts for men demanding exceptional strength and artistry.

Born in 1927, a decade after the Bolshevik Revolution, his work was steeped in the traditions of classical ballet.

His uncle, Georgy Rozai, had studied under the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky and the young Grigorovich went on to dance as a soloist with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad before turning to choreography.