Maya Plisetskaya, considered to be the twentieth century's greatest dancer, has achieved the most prestigious position that an artist in this speciality can ever achieve: "Absolute Prima Ballerina". She continues to work in what has been her lifetime devotion, giving classes to young artists from around the world. Born in Moscow in 1925 and a nationalised Spaniard since 1993, Maya Plisetskaya set out in the world of dance at the tender age of three. In 1934 she joined the Moscow School for Dance and at the age of eighteen graduated from the Choreography School of the Bolshoi Theatre, which she went on to join just months later, and where she rose to become prima ballerina. She began her professional career there dancing in 'Swan Lake'.

Plisetskaya is considered the stage's most dynamic ballerina since Ana Pavlova, and an exponent of classical dance. The critics themselves have acknowledged her dynamic personality and unique personal style. From the outset she was dubbed 'The Queen of the Air'. 'Swan Lake', which she danced for the first time in 1947 and repeated over 500 times is outstanding amongst the characters she has interpreted on stages around the world. Such is her versatility that she has been able to interpret such characters as Tzarina in 'The Fountain of Bakhchisarai', the perverse Kitri in 'Don Quijote' and the heroic Laurencia in the ballet of the same name. In 1967 she premiered 'Carmen' and in 1972 'Ana Karenina' with a score written by her husband, the composer and pianist Rodion Shchedrin. Plisetskaya took on the roles of scenographer and coreographer. In 1973, Roland Petit composed 'La rose malade' for her and some years later Maurice Béjart wrote 'Isadora'. She has directed the Opera Ballet of Rome and between 1987 and 1990 was director of Spain's National Lyric Ballet Company. In 1994 she founded the Russian Imperial Ballet, as well as presenting her memoirs in Moscow, entitled 'I, Maya Plisetskaya', since translated into fourteen languages, including Japanese, German, Italian and Serbian. In 2000, she and her husband founded the International Maya Plisetskaya and Rodion Shchedrin Foundation in Maintz, Germany, to conserve, document and facilitate access to the artistic work of them both.

The USSR´s People´s Prize (1959), Paris´ Ana Pavlova (1962), the Lenin Prize (1964), France´s Legion of Honour (1986), Spain´s Gold Medal for the Fine Arts (1991) and her country´s highest accolade, the Medal for Service to the Russian state, which she has received twice (1995 and 2000) all figure outstandingly amongst the acknowledgement she has received. She is doctor honoris causa at Moscow´s Lomonosov University and the Paris Sorbonne.