Alibaba Abdullayev

Baku, Baku Governorate, Russian Empire [now Azerbaijan]

Alibaba Abdulla oglu Abdullayev (Azerbaijani: Əlibaba Abdulla oğlu Abdullayev), also known as Ali Bala Abdullayev (Azerbaijani: Əli Bala Abdullayev) in some sources, was an Azerbaijani-Soviet folk dancer and choreographer. He served as the artistic director of the collective of the Azerbaijan Philharmonic's music and dance ensemble, and was honored with the titles of Azerbaijan SSR Honored Artist (1943) and Azerbaijan SSR People's Artist (1959).

Alibaba Abdullayev started his professional career in 1936 at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic, and two years later, he participated in the 1st Azerbaijani Fine Arts Decade held in Moscow. During the years of World War II, he led a dance group, collaborated with the Soviet army in Iran, created some works, and met with military personnel from the 416th Rifle Division in Mozdok.

After the war, Alibaba Abdullayev staged Azerbaijani classical music compositions at the Musical Comedy Theater in Baku. In the 1960s, as the choreographer of the State Philharmonic, he created a series of dance compositions based on works of Azerbaijani literature. In addition, Alibaba Abdullayev taught at the Azerbaijan Art Institute named after Mirza Aghaali Aliyev and the Baku Choreography School. In addition to his work on the theater stage, Alibaba Abdullayev was also involved in individual and collective dance performances in several Azerbaijani-Soviet films. He was also known for composing songs.

One of the streets in Baku, where he was born, bears the name of Alibaba Abdullayev, and a memorial plaque is placed on the wall of the house where he lived. A documentary film has been made about Alibaba Abdullayev.