Rafiga Akhundova

On April 26, 1958, she received the honorary title of "Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR", on May 21, 1970, the honorary title of "People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR". On June 9, 1959, she was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour, and on August 6, 2021, was awarded the Shohrat Order.

Rafiga Akhundova graduated from Baku Choreography School in 1951. Completed an advanced course at the Bolshoi Theater (1951–1952, Moscow). From 1951 to 1971, she was a soloist of the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater. Since 1971, she has been the ballet master of that theater, and since 1990, she has been the chief ballet master. Together with her husband Magsud Mammadov, she staged the ballets "Caspian ballad" (1968, T. Bakikhanov), "Shadows of Gobustan" (1969, F. Garayev), "Yalli" and "Azerbaijan Suite" (1969, R. Hajiyev), "The Path of Thunder" and "Seven Beauties" (1975, 1978, G. Garayev), "Babek" (1986, A. Alizadeh), "The Nutcracker" (1988, P. Tchaikovsky) at the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as "The Path of Thunder" (1976, G. Garayev) at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater. She worked as a teacher-ballet master in Algeria, Sweden, Egypt and Belgium. "Caspian Ballad", "Shadows of Gobustan" and "Azerbaijani Suite" were presented at the 7th International Dance Festival held in Paris in 1969 and were awarded the diploma of the Paris Dance Academy. In 1994, she staged the ballet "Seven Beauties" in Ankara (together with Magsud Mammadov).

Rafiga Haji gizi Akhundova (Azerbaijani: Rəfiqə Hacı qızı Axundova, born August 7, 1931) is an Azerbaijani ballet dancer, ballet master. People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1970).