Valery Panov and his wife Galina are at last being allowed to leave the Soviet Union. Panov. formerly one of the finest artists in the Kirov Ballet company. is a Jew. For many years now. he wanted to emigrate to Israel. where he felt he could attain true artistic and individual freedom. As a result of this natural desire. both Panov and his wife were dismissed from their positions with the Kirov. For an artist of Panovs stature this was tantamount to a death sentence. Valery and Galina steadfastly maintained their right to emigrate through long years of official harassment. They continued to practice their exercises in their cramped Leningrad apartment. in the hope that someday they would be free to dance again. They became a cause celebre among the worlds artistic community. Many people who otherwise might never have known of the problems of Soviet Jewry became involved in the Panovs fight for freedom. and this additional pressure on the Soviet Government made it possible for thousands of other less prominent Jews to emigrate to Israel and the United States. I am impressed by the timing of the Panovs release from the Soviet prison state. In only 2 sho t weeks.
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emigrate