Soviet Family to Dance With Long Beach Ballet

Glasnost came to Long Beach Friday, when city officials welcomed a family of Russian ballet dancers who are among the first Soviet citizens to be allowed to come to this country specifically to dance with an American ballet company.

Vitaly Artyushkin and his wife, Alla Khaniashvili-Artyushkina, both principal dancers in the Bolshoi Ballet, will play leading roles in the Long Beach Ballet Company’s production of the “Nutcracker.” Their 6-year-old daughter, Katya, also will appear. Although Russian dancers have been allowed to dance with American companies before, ballet officials say these are the first to perform here as a family.

The family expressed happiness at being in California. “It is wonderful when you can make a discovery each day,” Khaniashvili-Artyushkina said through an interpreter.