Altynai Assylmuratova

Kirov Ballet principal dancer Altynai Assylmuratova is quick to dismiss the impression that the breakup of the Soviet Union has had an adverse affect on Russia's preeminent classical troupe--or, for that matter, on the country. "That's completely wrong," she said through an interpreter in a recent phone interview from Amsterdam, where the Kirov was dancing before coming to the United States. "In Russia, there is great continuity," she said.

Kirov Ballet principal dancer Altynai Assylmuratova is quick to dismiss the impression that the breakup of the Soviet Union has had an adverse affect on Russia's preeminent classical troupe--or, for that matter, on the country. "That's completely wrong," she said through an interpreter in a recent phone interview from Amsterdam, where the Kirov was dancing before coming to the United States. "In Russia, there is great continuity," she said.

Altynai Assylmuratova. The first name means "golden crescent." I don't know what the last name means, but at least I have learned to pronounce it. Ah-seel-moor-AH- tovah . A few years ago, she provided the central focus of a rather awful film called "Backstage at the Kirov." She was the Cinderella-from-the-corps about to dance her first Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake." When the fabled Kirov Ballet of Leningrad visited Paris in 1982, she turned out to be the secret weapon in the ensemble.

Altynai Assylmuratova. The first name means "golden crescent." I don't know what the last name means, but at least I have learned to pronounce it. Ah-seel-moor-AH- tovah . A few years ago, she provided the central focus of a rather awful film called "Backstage at the Kirov." She was the Cinderella-from-the-corps about to dance her first Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake." When the fabled Kirov Ballet of Leningrad visited Paris in 1982, she turned out to be the secret weapon in the ensemble.

The Kirov Ballet of Leningrad has announced revised casting for the company's Shrine Auditorium engagement tonight through Monday. The four performances of "Swan Lake" will be danced by Galina Mezentseva and Konstantin Zaklinsky (tonight), Olga Chenchikova and Yevgeny Neff (Thursday), Altynai Assylmuratova and Marat Daukayev (Friday matinee) and Lyubov Kunakova and Neff (Saturday).

The Orange County Performing Arts Center will not refund tickets to the Kirov Ballet programs that were to have featured principal dancers Altynai Assylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky. The couple, husband and wife, returned to the Soviet Union on Wednesday to be with Assylmuratova's mother, a cancer patient whose condition has deteriorated. "Casting and repertory are subject to change without notice," Center spokesman Richard Bryant said Thursday.

Casting for the Kirov Ballet engagement at Shrine Auditorium, May 26-31, has been announced by the company. "Swan Lake" and "La Bayadere," full-evening ballets from the 19th Century, are scheduled. The company opens its Southern California run Tuesday with six days of performances at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. * May 26: "Swan Lake" with Olga Chenchikova (Odette/Odile), Makharbek Vaziyev (Siegfried), Evgeny Neff (Rothbart).

Altynai Assylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky will not perform as scheduled with the Kirov Ballet during the company's nine-day engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, which starts today. The principal dancers, who are married, returned to the Soviet Union on Wednesday to be with Assylmuratova's mother, who is gravely ill with cancer, according to Igor Stupnikov, a company spokesperson.

Kirov Ballet principal dancers Altynai Assylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky will not perform as scheduled during the company's nine-day engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, which starts Friday. The two, who are married, flew back to the Soviet Union on Wednesday to be with Assylmuratova's mother, who is gravely ill with cancer, according to Igor Stupnikov, a company spokesman.

The Kirov Ballet has announced casting for "Romeo and Juliet" at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Konstantin Zaklinksy and Altynai Assylmuratova will dance the title roles on May 19 at 8 p.m. and May 24 at 2 p.m. The roles will be danced respectively by Alexander Gulyaev and Larissa Lezhnina May 20 at 8 p.m.; Gulyayev and Veronika Ivanova May 23 at 2 p.m.; and Andris Liepa and Zhanna Ayupova May 23 at 8 p.m.