Bolshoi Theater Director Dismissed Amid Acid Attack Scandals

The Bolshoi Theater’s director was dismissed Tuesday seven months after an acid attack on his artistic director and a series of scandals that tarnished the reputation of Russia’s most renowned ballet company. Anatoly Iksanov headed Russia’s trademark cultural institution for almost 13 years. His time at the helm saw scandals, corruption allegations and internal squabbles, many of which only became public after the January acid attack on artistic director Sergei Filin that left Filin's face and eyesight badly damaged. Despite this, the imposing, balding manager was credited with carrying out a radical makeover of the theater that had long been considered a bastion of traditionalism. He invited controversial choreographers and composers, started online broadcasts of the theater’s performances and introduced workshops for young performers with little or no background in classical ballet. Russia’s Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky announced Iksanov’s dismissal Tuesday, noting that the decision was “not spontaneous.”

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130709/182139377/Russian-Theater-Director-Dismissed-Amid-Acid-Attack-Scandals.html