Shara Zhiyenkulova

Gülşara Jienqūlova (, ), known professionally as Şara Jienqūlova (later married as Jandarbekova; 18 July 1912 – 21 May 1991), was a Soviet Kazakh dancer, educator, and People's Artiste of the Kazakh SSR.

Biography Gulshara Zhienkulova was born in the town of Verny (present-day Almaty) on August 18, 1912. She studied history at Kazakh Pedagogical Institute (current Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University) in 1929–1930.

Zhienkulova's primary mentor was Alexander Alexandrov,

In 1934, Zhienkulova joined the theater of drama and music now known as The Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Abay) where she performed folk dances in Auezov's musical drama Ayman-Sholpan, as well as operas Kyz-Zhibek, Zhalbyr and Er Targhin by Yevgeny Brusilovsky. Shara graced Kalkaman-Mamyr, the first Kazakh national ballet, as Mamyr in 1938. She also performed as Balym in the sound movie Amangeldy produced by the Kazakhstani filmmakers the same year. Together with ballet master Leonid Zhukov, Shara Zhienkulova staged a ballet called Koktem (Spring) by Ivan Nadirov in 1940.

She worked at Jambyl Kazakh State Philharmonic for over 20 years and led the Kazakh SSR Song and Dance Company. She served as the director of Almaty Choreographic College from 1966 until 1975.

To develop national dance art, Zhienkulova traveled extensively across auls, studying ancient rituals, national costumes, traditions and cultural heritage of her people. She created such unforgettable dances as Tattimbet, Ayzhan Kyz, Kara Jorga and Kyryk Kyz.

When the folk department of the Almaty Choreographic College opened in 1965, she placed Kazakh dance on a professional footing with her own teaching methodologies.

Shara Zhienkulova has been called a diamond of musical and plastic arts. Gulfairus Ismailova painted Kazakh Waltz for her. It is also the name of one of Zhienkulova's most famous productions, set to the music by Khamidi. Kazakh Waltz was first performed during the 10-day Festival of Kazakh Literature and Arts in the Bolshoi in Moscow in 1968 by an all-female group of dancers and was later showcased in the Soviet Union and abroad.

Shara Zhienkulova died on May 21, 1991, 40 days after the death of her son Bulat Dzhandarbekov, she was buried next to him in the Kensai cemetery in Almaty.

Filmography Year Title Original title Actor Notes 1939 Amangeldy (film) Амангельды Balim 1954 Daughter of the Steppes (film) Дочь степей Gyulsara 1957Our dear doctor (film) Наш милый доктор choreographer

Family Shara was the first wife of opera singer Kurmanbek Dzhandarbekov. She later got briefly married to pilot Zholdasbek Nurymov.

Bulat Dzhandarbekov, her son from the first marriage, was a writer, the author of the historical dilogy The Sakas (Tomiris, The Feat of Shirak).

Awards and honours Order of the Badge of Honour (May 26, 1936) Order of the Red Banner of Labour (August 17, 1982) Order of the Red Banner of Labour (December 27, 1972) Honored Artist of the Kazakh SSR (1936) People's Artist of the Kazakh SSR (1938) State Prize of the Kazakh SSR (1968)

Legacy A street in Kazakhstan's capital city of Astana is named after Shara Zhienkulova.