Born: 28 January 1936, Uzbekistan
Died: NA
Country most active: Uzbekistan
Also known as: Бернара Рахимовна Кариева, Bernora Qoriyeva
Bernara Rakhimovna Karieva is a distinguished Soviet and Uzbekistani former ballet dancer, choreographer, and politician. Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Karieva began her ballet journey at the Uzbek Choreographic School, later graduating from the Moscow Choreographic School in 1955 under the tutelage of Maria Kozhukhova. Rejecting offers to stay in Moscow, she joined the Navoi Uzbek Theater of Opera and Ballet in Tashkent, where she served as prima ballerina from 1956 to 1996 and later as artistic director from 1994 to 2002.
Karieva’s contributions to Uzbek ballet extended beyond performance. In 1979, she established the Youth Ballet of Uzbekistan, emphasizing a fusion of classical choreography and Uzbek folk dance. In 2004, she founded the private choreographic school Style and Dance from Bernarda Karieva” in Tashkent. A dedicated advocate for the arts, she chaired the Union of Theater Workers and the Coordinating Council for South-East Asian theaters.
In her illustrious career, Karieva has performed iconic roles in over 55 ballet productions, earning prestigious awards such as the Order of the Badge of Honour, People’s Artist of the USSR, USSR State Prize, and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. Her political engagement includes serving as an elected deputy in the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union from 1989 to 1991.
Beyond her artistic achievements, Karieva played a pivotal role in advising the Minister of Culture in Uzbekistan and lobbying for the Russian language’s state status. Twice married with two children, Karieva’s legacy resonates through her artistic prowess, advocacy, and significant contributions to the cultural landscape of Uzbekistan.