From the encyclopedia "Russian Ballet". Moscow, 1997, pp. 84 - 86:
BRYANTSEV Dmitry Alexandrovich (b. 18.2.1947, Leningrad), dancer, choreographer. People's Artist of the Russia (1989). Graduated from the Leningrad Choreographic School /Vaganova Institute/, pupil of N.A. Zubkovsky.
From 1966 to 1977 a soloist of the Choreographic Concert Ensemble "Molodoy Balet" /"Young Ballet"/. In 1976 he graduated from the Department of Choreography of the State Institute of Theatre Art (GITIS). First ballet production - "Choreographic Short Stories" to the music by P.I. Tchaikovsky, S.S. Prokofiev, D.D. Shostakovich, H. Purcell, F. Poulenc (1977, Kirov Ballet).
His works, produced for "Lentelefilm" studio, starring Ekaterina Maximova - the original TV-ballets "Galatea" (Music by T. Kogan, variations to the themes by F. Loewe, 1977) and "The Old Tango" to the music by Kogan (1979) - brought him wide recognition. He revealed a gift for comedy and keen understanding of genre and stylistics of TV-ballet, filled the dance with action and vividly portrayed the characters of the films. His next ballet "Hussar Ballad" to the music by T.N. Khrennikov was also a comedy. In 1981 - 85 he was Choreographer of Kirov Ballet. Productions: "Hump-backed Horse" to the music by R. Schedrin (Kirov Ballet, 1981; Sofia National Opera, 1982; Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theater, 1983; Opera of Rome, 1985; filmed in 1985, director - B.), "The Page in the Book of the Past" (Three Comrades") to the music by D. Shostakovich (1982, Kirov Ballet, book by B.), "Seville Passions or Bravo, Figaro!" to the music by G. Rossini arranged by T. Kogan (1984, Sofia, The group "Arabesque", book by B.), "Nine Tangos and… Bach" to the music by A. Piazzola and I.S. Bach (1984, Sofia, The group "Arabesque", book by B.). Since 1985 he is Chief Choreographer of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theatre. Productions: "Bravo, Figaro!" (1985; filmed for TV in 1987), "Nine Tangos and… Bach" (1985; filmed for TV in 1986), "Optimistic Tragedy" to the music by M.B. Bronner (1985, book by B. And G. Matskyavichus), "The Contemporary Choreography Night" to the music by E. John, C. Debussy, F. Chopin, D. Shostakovich, G.V. Sviridov, S.V. Rakhmaninov, B. Bartok (1987), "Ballet… Ballet… Ballet…" - "Scythians" to the music by Prokofiev, "Swan Song" to the music by E. Chausson, "Cowboys" to the music by G. Gershwin (1988, book by B.; "Cowboys" were filmed for TV in 1990), the original version of "Le Corsaire" to the music by A. Adam, L. Delibes, C. Pugni, R. Drigo, P. Oldenburgsky (1989), "The Lone Human Voice" to the music by A. Vivaldi, N. Paganini and O. Kitaro (1990, book by B.), "The Cranes" to the music by Kitaro, D. Shostakovich, and traditional Japanese music (1991, book by B.), "Othello" to the music by A.D. Machavariani (1994). Bryantsev is one of the leading contemporary choreographers. His works are distinguished by thematic and genre variety; most of his ballets are narrative, filled with action. He enriches the vocabulary of classical dance, combining it with elements of popular and variety dance, free-style movement and folk dance. His most important work was "Optimistic Tragedy", telling about the conflict of feelings of the commissar - the woman, trying to get better of her inmost self. The art of Bryantsev is remarkable for the originality of his creative fantasy, choreographic inventiveness, genre variety (from tragedy to comedy, from the full-length performance to the short piece, from the stylised classical dance to the modern expressive movement). Designed dances for opera, drama and music hall productions. Since 1994 he is also Chief Choreographer of the Saint-Petersburg Chamber Ballet Theatre. Production: "Illusive Ball" to the music by F. Chopin (1995). Since 1986 he teaches at GITIS (Department of Choreography). Second Prize at All-Union Competition for Choreographers in Moscow (1976). Belova E. Publications: "Each time to search all over again". - Sovetsky Balet, 1986, N 4; Theater lives in movement. - Muzykalnaya Zhizn, 1986, N 15; In modern times. - Muzykalnaya Zhizn, 1987, N 17; In the compound of conflicts and decisions. - Sovetsky Balet, 1989, N 2. Literature: Belova E. The charm and wisdom of the tale. - Sovetsky balet, 1981, N 1; Belova E. Based on the play by Vishnevsky. - Teatr, 1986, N 12; Belova E. The Aspects of Dance. TV-ballet. DMITRY BRYANTSEV was born in Leningrad (now St.-Petersburg) in 1947. He studied dance at the Leningrad Academic Ballet School (Vaganova Institute) under Nikolay Zubkovsky, one of the leading soloists of the Kirov Ballet. In 1966 he joined the State Classical Ballet Company in Moscow as dancer. In 1976 he graduated from the Department of Choreography of the State Institute of Theater Art (GITIS, now the Russian Academy of Theater Art). Since 1977 he was associated with the Kirov Ballet (in 1981 officially appointed Choreographer), and his first ballet production, The Choreographic Short Stories, was created for that company. He staged there the full-length Hussar Ballad (Gusarskaya Ballada) (1979) and The Hump-backed Horse (1981) which gained success and popularity (both ballets were later revived in Moscow and abroad). Since 1985 Dmitry Bryantsev is Chief Choreographer and Ballet Company Artistic Director of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theatre. He produced a number of lengthy ballets for that theatre, including Optimistic Tragedy (1985), the original version of Le Corsaire (1989), Othello (1991), The Taming of the Shrew (1996) and a number of short pieces including Bravo, Figaro! (1985), The Scythians and The Cowboys (1988), The Lone Human Voice (1990), Illusive Ball (1995), Shulammite (1997) and Salome (1998), La Dame aux Camelias (2000). His productions are built upon classical technique combined with a kind of free-style movement and the elements of popular dance and folk-dance. As a rule Bryantsev's ballets are filled with action, bright and vivid, sometimes flavored with humor. Most of them are narrative (their plots are often derived from the treasury of the world literature, based upon Bible themes), and even the non-narrative ones suggest the situation, moods and relationships. Dmitry Bryantsev also designed dances for opera productions and music-hall shows. His Galatea (1977) and The Old Tango (1979), choreographed for television (both starring Ekaterina Maximova), elevated the standards of Russian TV-ballet and created new interest in the genre. At present Dmitry Bryantsev is one of the leading figures in Russian ballet. He was named People's Artist of Russia. His awards include the National Theatre Award "The Golden Mask"/96 (that year the production of Illusive Ball brought him the title of "The Best Choreographer of the Season") and the Award of Moscow/97. In 1998 by the Decree of the President of Russia he was awarded the Order "For the Services to the Fatherland", IY degree.