Eifman was born in Siberia, where his engineer father had been assigned to work in a tank factory. In 1953, the family moved to Chisināu, Moldova. Eifman gra- duated from the Ballet School fron Chisināu in 1964. He performed as a dancer with the Chisināu Opera and Ballet Theatre; and went on to study choreography at the Leningrad Conservatory, where his teacher was choreographer Georgi Aleksidze. Eifman graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory in 1972. He then became aballet master at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, from 1972-1977. In 1977, he received permission to found his own company, originally known as Leningrad Theatre of Contemporary Ballet. The troupe was known by various names, but today its official title is Sankt Petersburg State Ballet Theatre of Boris Eifman, or simply Eifman Ballet of Sank Petersburg when on tour. In addition to choreographingfor his own company, Eifman has created ballets for the Maly Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the Kirov Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, and New York City Ballet, among others. •g He has also made dances for film and televisionEifman's interest in dramatic subjects for his choreography places his work in a long-standing Russian tradition. This tradition dates back to the 18th century, and the foundation of the Russian school of ballet by disciples of Jean-Georges Noverre.