Bernara Karieva

Bernara Rakhimovna Karieva (born 28 January 1936) is a Soviet and Uzbekistani former ballet dancer, prima ballerina, choreographer and politician. She was prima ballerina of the Navoi Theater from 1956 to 1996 and its artistic director between 1994 and 2002. Karieva ran the Youth Ballet of Uzbekistan community from 1979 to 1983 and chaired both the Union of Theater Workerds and the Coordinating Council for South-East Asian theaters. She was an elected deputy of the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union from 1989 to 1991 and was on the Committee of the Commission of the Council of Nationalities on the Development of Culture, Language, National and International Traditions, Protection of Historical Heritage. Karieva has received various state awards such as the Order of the Badge of Honour, the People's Artist of the USSR, the USSR State Prize and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.