World-renowned Russian choreographer Igor Moiseyev has died at the age of 101.
Russian news media reports say Moiseyev died Friday of heart failure in Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to relatives and colleagues.
Moiseyev established his professional folk dance group, the Moiseyev Dance Company, in 1937 and remained at its helm for six decades. Soviet leaders favored the choreographer, although he was not a member of the Communist Party. His dance group was one of the first permitted to travel abroad.
Moiseyev's innovative choreography combined balletic movement with traditional folk steps. His performances included acrobatic Caucasus mountain dances as well as American rock-and-roll. Audiences hailed them as promoting tolerance and appreciation for diverse cultures.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP .
