List of Russian ballet dancers

"Russian dancers" redirects here. For the series of pastels also known as Russian dancers, seeUkrainian dancers.

This is alist of ballet dancers from the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and Russian Federation,including both ethnicRussiansand people of other ethnicities. This list includes as well those who were born in these three states but later emigrated, and those who were born elsewhere but immigrated to the country and performed there for a significant portion of their careers.

Mathilde KschessinskayaandPavel GerdtinLa Bayadèreballet by the ballet masterMarius Petipaand the composerLudwig Minkus,1900

The original purpose of the ballet in Russia was to entertain the royal court. The first ballet company was the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg in the 1740s. TheBallets Russeswas a ballet company founded in the 1909 bySergey Diaghilev,an enormously important figure in the Russian ballet scene. Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes' travels abroad profoundly influenced the development of dance worldwide.The headquarters of his ballet company was located in Paris, France. A protégé of Diaghilev,George Balanchine,founded theNew York City BalletCompany.

During the early 20th century, many Russian ballet dancers rose to fame. Soviet ballet preserved the perfected 19th century traditions,and the Soviet Union's choreography schools produced one internationally famous star after another. TheBolshoi Balletin Moscow and theMariinskyin Saint Petersburg remain famous throughout the world.

For the full plainlist of Russian ballet dancers on Wikipedia see theCategory:Russian ballet dancers.

Alphabetical list

A

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Anastasia Abramova (1902–1985) Russian Empire Soviet Union ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Svetlana Adyrkhaeva (born 1938) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Boris Akimov (born 1946) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre
	Maria Alexandrova (born 1978) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Maria Alexandrova as Kitri inDon Quixote,Bolshoi Theatre,22 June 2011
	Maria Allash (born 1976) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Elena Andreianova (1819–1857) Russian Empire Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre,Mariinsky Ballet
	Yelena Andrienko (born 1972) Soviet Union Russian Federation ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Valery Viktorovich Anisimov (born 1953) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre,Teacher
	Anna Antonicheva (born 1973) Soviet Union Russian Federation ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Altynai Asylmuratova (born 1961) Soviet Union Russian Federation Kazakhstan Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Zhanna Ayupova (born 1966) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre

B

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Feya Balabina (1910–1982) Russian Empire Soviet Union Ballerina,Teacher,Ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre,Mikhaylovsky Theatre,Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
	George Balanchine (1904–1983) Russian Empire Soviet Union France United States (Georgiandescent) Choreographer, balletmaster	Balanchine was one of the 20th century's foremost choreographers, aballetmasterof theBallets Russesin France, founding balletmaster (and co-founder) ofNew York City Ballet:his work created modern ballet, based on his deep knowledge of classical forms and techniques.	Balanchine andSuzanne FarrellinDon Quixote
	Irina Baronova (1919–2008) Soviet Union Romania France United States Switzerland Russian Federation Australia Ballerina,ballet mistress	She was one of theBaby Ballerinasof theBallet Russe de Monte Carlo,discovered byGeorge Balanchinein Paris in the 1930s. She created roles inLéonide Massine'sLe Beau Danube(1924),Jeux d'enfants(1932), andLes Présages(1933); and inBronislava Nijinska'sLes Cent Baisers(1935). Between 1940 and 1951 Baronova appeared in several films, and worked as ballet mistress for the 1980 filmNijinsky.	A photo with Baronova's autograph
	Mikhail Baryshnikov (born 1948) Soviet Union United States Danseur		Mikhail Baryshnikov withPatricia McBrideinLe baiser de la fée
	Dmitry Belogolovtsev (born 1973) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre		Dmitri Belogolovtsev as Abderahman, "Raymonda",Bolshoi Theatre,2010
	Natalia Bessmertnova (1941–2008) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		A scene from ballet "Giselle".Natalia Bessmertnova as Giselle.
	Alexander Bogatyrev (1949–1998) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre
	Zhanna Bogoroditskaya (born 1969) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre
	Violetta Bovt (1927–1995) United States Soviet Union Ballerina,Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre		Violetta Bovt and Arkady Nikolaev. 1965
	Nikolai Boyarchikov (born 1935) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Ballet master,Mikhaylovsky Theatre
	Boris Bregvadze (1926–2012) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Teacher,Mariinsky Theatre
	Dmitri Bryantsev (1947–2004) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Ballet master,Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre
	Yuri Burlaka (born 1968) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Ballet master,Teacher,Moscow State Academy of Choreography,Bolshoi Theatre
	Vladimir Bourmeister (1904–1971) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Ballet master,Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre

C

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Raissa Calza (1894–1979) Russian Empire Ukraine
	Vakhtang Chabukiani (1910–1992) Soviet Union Danseur,Choreographer,Ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre,Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre
	Catherine Chislova (1846–1889) Russian Empire Ballerina		Catherine Chislova c. 1865

D

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Alexandra Danilova (1903–1997) Russian Empire Soviet Union France United States Prima ballerina		Danilova asFanny CerritoinPas de Quatre,1948
	Pavel Dmitrichenko (born 1984) Russia Formerprincipal dancer,Bolshoi Ballet
	Natalia Dudinskaya (1912–2003) Russian Empire Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre

E

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Lubov Egorova (1880–1972) Russian Empire France Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre		Lubov Egorova in the title role of the choreographerMarius Petipa's and the composerCesare Pugni's balletThe Blue Dahlia,1905
	Olga Esina (born 1986) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina	Olga Esina(in Russian Ольга Есина) is aRussian ballerinawho was educated at theVaganova Academy of Russian BalletinSt. Petersburg.In 2010 she became First Solo Dancer at theVienna State Ballet.	Olga Esina and Roman Lazik, "Donauwalzer" Belvedere, Vienna, 1 January 2012

F

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Nikolai Fadeyechev (born 1933) Soviet Union Russian Federation Dancer,Teacher,Bolshoi Theater	Nikolai Fadeyechev was born in Moscow, was a Soviet Russian dancer ballet, was dancer with theBolshoi Ballet,graduated from theMoscow Ballet Schoolin 1952 and joined theBolshoi Theatre,danced many principal roles. He danced alongside some of the great ballerinas such asGalina Ulanovain "Giselle"and"Les Sylphides",was a regular partner withMaya Plisetskaya,Raisa Struchkova,Nina Timofeeva,Marina Kondratyeva,Natalia Bessmertnova,Ekaterina Maximova,Ludmila Semenyaka.After that, he became one of the most important teachers and répétiteurs of the Bolshoi Theatre.Nikolay Tsiskaridze,Andrey Uvarov,Sergei Filin,Artem Ovcharenkowere among her adepts.	Nikolai Fadeyechev in a scene fromPyotr Tchaikovsky's balletSwan Lakestaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theaterof the USSR. 1 January 1956
	Sergei Filin (born 1970) Soviet Union Russian Federation Dancer, Artistic Director,Bolshoi Theater
	Mikhail Fokine (1880–1942) Russian Empire United States Danseur		Mikhail Fokine as the hussar inHalte de Cavelerie,Saint Petersburg, c. 1900

G

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Valentina Ganibalova (born 1948) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Yekaterina Geltzer (1876–1962) Russian Empire Soviet Union Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Elizaveta Gerdt (1891–1975) Russian Empire Soviet Union Ballerina		Elizaveta Gerdt,Elsa Vill,andPierre Vladimirovin the "Paquita" Pas de Trois, 1905
	Pavel Gerdt (1844–1917) Russian Empire Premier Danseur Noble		Pavel Gerdt as Pepito inThe King's Command or The Pupils of Dupré
	Adelaide Giuri (1872–1963) Italy Russian Empire Soviet Union Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre,La Scala		Adelaide Giurias Odette andMikhail Mordkinas Prince Siegfried inAlexander Gorsky's staging of thePetipa/Ivanov"Swan Lake"for theBolshoi Theatre,Moscow, 1901. A youngVera Karalliis seen kneeling.
	Alexander Godunov (1949–1995) Soviet Union United States Danseur
	Kasyan Goleizovsky (1892–1970) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Choreographer,Ballet master,Bolshoi Theatre
	Sofia Golovkina (1915–2004) Russian Empire Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Teacher,Ballet master,Moscow State Academy of Choreography,Bolshoi Theatre
	Alexander Gorsky (1871–1924) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre		Ballets by Alexander Gorsky InPhilately"Gudule’s Daughter" (a revision of the "La Esmeralda") (1902),"Salammbô"(1910),"Don Quixote"(1900),"Giselle"(1907),"La Bayadère"(1917)
	Nadezhda Gracheva (born 1969) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		A scene from "Raymonda".Nadezhda Gracheva as Raymonda,Bolshoi Theatre,2010
	Yury Grigorovich (born 1927) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Choreographer,Ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre	Yury Nikolayevich Grigorovich is a Soviet and Russian dancer andchoreographerwho dominated the Russian ballet for 30 years. Grigorovich was born into a family connected with the Imperial Russian Ballet. He graduated from theLeningrad Choreographic Schoolin 1946 and danced as a soloist of theKirov Balletuntil 1962. His staging ofSergey Prokofiev'sThe Stone Flower(1957) and ofThe Legend of Love(1961) brought him acclaim as a choreographer. In 1964 he moved to theBolshoi Theatre,where he would work as anArtistic directoruntil 1995. His most famous productions at the Bolshoi were "The Legend of Love" (1965, 2002),The Nutcracker(1966),Spartacus(1967),Ivan the Terrible (ballet)(1975),The Golden Age(1982, 1994, 2006). Other notable productionsThe Sleeping Beauty(1963, 1973, 2011),Swan Lake(1969, 2001),Romeo and Juliet(1979, 2010),Raymonda(1984, 2003),Giselle(1987),La Bayadère(1991),Don Quixote(1994),Le Corsaire(1994). Сhoreographed for various Russian companies before settling inKrasnodar,where he set up his own company. Grigorovich has been heading the juries of numerous international competitions in classical ballet. After the death of his wife, the great ballerinaNatalia Bessmertnova,on 19 February 2008, he has been offered the opportunity to return to the Bolshoi again in the capacity ofballet masterand choreographer.
	Dmitry Gudanov (born 1975) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre		Dmitry Gudanov as Albrecht in "Giselle",Bolshoi Theatre,21 January 2011

I

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Avdotia Istomina (1799–1848) Russian Empire Prima ballerina
	Lev Ivanov (1834–1901) Russian Empire Danseur,choreographer,ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre		Lev Ivanov costumed as Solor for Act I of "La Bayadère".St. Petersburg, 1877.

K

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Viktorina Kapitonova (born 1985) Russian Federation Switzerland Prima ballerina
	Vera Karalli (1889–1972) Russian Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany Austria Soviet Union Ballerina,actress		Russian ballerina Vera Karalli, 1910s
	Tatiana Karpakova (1812–1842) Russian Empire Ballerina,Bolshoi Theater
	Tamara Karsavina (1885–1978) Russian Empire United Kingdom Prima ballerina		Russian ballerina Tamara Karsavina (c. 1912)
	Nora Kiss (1908–1993) Russian Empire ballerina,ballet teacherin Paris
	Irina Kolpakova (born 1933) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Evgenia Kolosova (1780–1869) Russian Empire Ballerina
	Marina Kondratyeva (1934–2024) Soviet Union Russian Federation ballerina,Bolshoi Theater		Marina Kondratyeva as Giselle andMaris Liepaas Albrecht in a scene from Act 1 ofAdolphe Charles Adam's balletGisellestaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theaterof the USSR. 1 January 1972
	Theodore Kosloff (1882–1956) Russian Empire United States Danseur		Theodore KosloffinFokine's 1913 production ofScheherazade
	Ekaterina Krysanova (born 1985) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Ekaterina Krysanova as Aurora inThe Sleeping Beauty,Bolshoi Theatre,2012
	Mathilde Kschessinska (1872–1971) Russian Empire France Prima ballerina assoluta		Russian ballerina Mathilde Kschessinskaya in"The Talisman",1905.Mariinsky Theatre,St. Petersburg, Russia
	Ninel Kurgapkina (1929–2009) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Teacher,Mariinsky Theatre

L

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Leonid Lavrovsky (1905–1967) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Choreographer,Ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre,Mikhaylovsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre
	Mikhail Lavronsky (born 1941) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre
	Larissa Lezhnina (born 1969) Russian Federation Netherlands Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre,Dutch National Ballet
	Olga Lepeshinskaya (1916–2008) Russian Empire Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Olga Lepeshinskaya as Kitry inDon Quixote.1940
	Andris Liepa (born 1962) Soviet Union Russian Federation Latvia Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre,Mariinsky Theatre,Theatre director,Theatrical producer
	Ilze Liepa (born 1963) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Māris Liepa (1936–1989) Latvia Soviet Union Danseur,Latvian Opera and Ballet Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre		Marina Kondratyevaas Giselle and Maris Liepa as Albrecht in a scene from Act 1 ofAdolphe Charles Adam's balletGisellestaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theaterof the USSR. 1 January 1972
	Serge Lifar (1905–1986) Russian Empire France Danseur,ballet master		Tamara Toumanovaand Serge Lifar inSwan Lake
	Ulyana Lopatkina (born 1973) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre		Ulyana Lopatkina of theMariinsky BalletinSwan Lakeat theRoyal Opera House.7 August 2009
	Lydia Lopokova (1892–1981) Russian Empire United Kingdom Ballerina		Ballerina Lydia Lopokova
	Fyodor Lopukhov (1886–1973) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Teacher,Choreographer,Ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre,Mikhaylovsky Theatre
	Elena Lukom (1891–1968) Russian Empire Soviet Union Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre		Elena Lukom and Vladimir Ponomarev as ballet "Les Caprices du Papillon".St. Petersburg,Russia.1919
	Svetlana Lunkina (born 1979) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Svetlana Lunkina as Odette inSwan Lake,Bolshoi Theatre,22 May 2011

M

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Askold Makarov (1925–2000) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Choreographer,Teacher,Mariinsky Theatre,Theatre Choreographic Miniatures
Natalia Makarova 2012	Natalia Makarova (born 1940) Soviet Union United States prima ballerina assoluta Choreographer,Teacher,Kirov Ballet	Defected to the West in 1970. Initially active with the Royal Ballet then settled in US and active globally
	Yulia Makhalina (born 1968) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Léonide Massine (1896–1979) Russian Empire Danseur, choreographer
	Valery Maximov (born 1971) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur, choreographer, Actor
	Ekaterina Maximova (1939–2009) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre	Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova was a Soviet and Russian ballerina of international renown. Maximova was coached by the legendary ballerinaGalina Ulanova.Her greatest successes were the roles of Kitri inDon Quixote,Clara (called Maria in the Bolshoi production) inThe Nutcracker,and the title roles inGiselleandCinderella.Maximova performed with theBolshoi Balletfrom 1958 until 1980, often performing opposite her husbandVladimir Vasiliev.She and her husband gained wide exposure for their appearances inFranco Zeffirelli's filmed version ofGiuseppe Verdi's operaLa traviata(1983). When the Bolshoi Ballet toured to the United States for the first time in 1959, Maximova also performed as a guest artist with theMetropolitan Operain leading roles inThe Stone Flowerand other ballets. Following her career as a dancer, Maximova was a coach with the ballet and a member of theGITISInstitute faculty. After that, she became one of the most important teachers and répétiteurs of the Bolshoi Theatre.Galina Stepanenko,Svetlana Lunkina,Marianna Ryzhkina,Anna Nikulinawere among her adepts.	Yekaterina Maksimova (R) as Kitri and Vladimir Vasilyev as Basilio in a scene fromLudwig Minkus' balletDon Quixotestaged at theState Academic Bolshoi Theaterof theUSSR.1 January 1971
	Asaf Messerer (1903–1992) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur, choreographer
	Sulamith Messerer (1908–2004) Russian Empire Soviet Union United Kingdom Japan Ballerina,choreographer
	Galina Mezentseva (born 1952) Soviet Union Russian Federation United States Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Igor Moiseyev (1906–2007) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballet master,Igor Moiseyev Ballet
	Irek MukhamedovOBE (born 1960) Tatarstan Soviet Union United Kingdom Senior Principal Dancer,Bolshoi Ballet,The Royal Ballet	Awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for best dancer in the world in 1988. Defected to the West in 1990. Settled in the United Kingdom where he performed in leading roles before taking up choreography.
	Vladimir Muravlev (born 1974) Uzbekistan Russia Principal Dancer,Moscow Classical Ballet

N

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Anastasia Nabokina (1971–) Russian Soviet Union Russia
	Bronislava Nijinska (1891–1972) Polish Russian Empire United States Prima Ballerina,choreographer
	Vaslav Nijinsky (1890–1950) Polish Russian Empire Danseur,choreographer		Nijinsky inLe Spectre de la Rose
	Irma Nioradze (born 1969) Soviet Union Georgia Russian Federation Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Cleo Nordi (1898–1983) Kronstadt Russian Empire BallerinawithAnna Pavlova,choreographer ballet teacherSadler's Wells Ballet,London
	Rudolf Nureyev (1938–1993) Soviet Union France Austria Danseur, choreographer,Mariinsky Theatre,Paris Opera

O

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Evgenia Obraztsova (born 1984) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre		Evgenia Obraztsova dancing"The Sleeping Beauty",Royal Opera House,London,November 2009
	Natalia Osipova (born 1986) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre,Mikhaylovsky Theatre		Natalia Osipova in an extract from "Flames of Paris",at the October 2011 reopening gala of the Bolshoi Theatre
	Artem Ovcharenko (born 1986) Soviet Union Russian Federation Dancer,Bolshoi Theatre		Artem Ovcharenko as Jean de Brienne, "Raymonda",Bolshoi Theatre, 2010

P

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Valery Panov (born 1938) Soviet Union Israel Danseur, choreographer,Mariinsky Theatre
	Daria Pavlenko (born 1978) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Anna Pavlova (1881–1931) Russian Empire The Netherlands Prima ballerina		Anna Pavlova in the Fokine/Saint-SaënsThe Dying Swan,Saint Petersburg, 1905
	Nadezhda Pavlova (born 1956) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Marie Petipa (1857–1930) Russian Empire France Ballerina
	Marius Petipa (1818–1910) France Russian Empire Danseur,choreographer,ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre		Ballets by Marius Petipa InPhilately"Paquita"(1847),"The Sleeping Beauty"(1890),"Swan Lake"(1895),"Raymonda"(1898)
	Maya Plisetskaya (1925–2015) Soviet Union Russian Federation Lithuania Spain Prima ballerina assoluta,Bolshoi Theatre		Maya Plisetskaya performing in Carmen (Carmen Suite). 1974
	Olga Preobrajenska (1871–1962) Russian Empire France Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre		Olga Preobrajenska in the title role of the choreographerLouis Méranté's and the composerLéo Delibes's ballet "Sylvia",Mariinski-Ballett,1901

R

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Tatiana Riabouchinska (1917–2000) Russian Empire France United States Ballerina
	Ida Rubinstein (1883–1960) Russian Empire France Ballerina,actress
	Farukh Ruzimatov (1963–) Tashkent, Uzbekistan>br />Uzbek-Russian Danseur,Assistant Artistic Director
	Marianna Ryzhkina (????–) Russia Ballerina

S

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Galina Samsova (1937–2021) Russia Ballerina
	Olga Sapphire (1907–1981) Russian Empire Japan Danseur,Teacher,Nihon Gekijō (Tokyo)	Olga Ivanovna Pavlova trained at both the Leningrad State Choreographic Institute and Moscow Choreographic School and performed throughout Russia until her marriage in the early 1930s to a Japanese diplomat. Moving to Japan in 1936, she was influential in establishing ballet in Japan.	Sapphire performing inGiselle,Tokyo, 1936
	Gennady Selutsky (born 1936) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Teacher,Mariinsky Theatre,Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
	Ludmila Semenyaka (born 1952) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Lyudmila Semenyaka (left) and Nikolai Kovmir (right) performing at the 1st international ballet contest in Moscow. 1 June 1969
	Nina Semizorova (born 1956) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre
	Marina Semyonova (1908–2010) Russian Empire Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina assoluta,Teacher,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre	Marina Timofeyevna Semyonova was the first Soviet-trained prima ballerina. She was born in Saint-Petersburg. She was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1975. She worked in theKirov Balletuntil 1930, transferred to theBolshoi Theatrein Moscow. Semyonova was guest with theParis OpéraBallet in 1935 where she dancedGisellewithSerge Lifar.She received the Stalin Prize for 1941 and retired in 1952. After that, she became one of the most important teachers and répétiteurs of theBolshoi Theatre.Natalia Bessmertnova,Marina Kondratyeva,Nadezhda Pavlova,Nina Sorokina,Ludmila Semenyaka,Nina Timofeeva,Nina Ananiashvili,Galina StepanenkoandNikolay Tsiskaridzewere among her adepts. In 2003, she won thePrix Benois de la Dansefor lifetime achievement. Semyonova retired from her coaching duties at the age of 96, died on 9 June 2010 in her home in Moscow, three days before her 102nd birthday.
	Konstantin Sergeyev (1910–1992) Russian Empire Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Choreographer,Mariinsky Theatre
	Alla Shelest (1919–1998) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Maria Shirinkina (born 1987) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre,Bayerisches Staatsballett
	Vladimir Shklyarov (born 1985) Soviet Union Russian Federation Premier Danseur,Mariinsky Theatre,Bayerisches Staatsballett
	Daniil Simkin Russian Federation Premier Danseur,American Ballet Theatre
	Yuri Soloviev (1940–1977) Soviet Union Premier Danseur,Mariinsky Theatre
	Alina Somova (born 1985) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre		Alina Somova in a scene fromPyotr Tchaikovsky's balletSleeping Beauty
	Nina Sorokina (1942–2011) Elektrostal, Soviet Union Russian Ballerina,Ballet Bolshoi
	Olga Spessivtseva (1895–1991) Russian Empire Soviet Union France United States Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre		Russian Prima ballerina Olga Spessivtseva as Odette inSwan Lake,1934
	Galina Stepanenko (born 1966) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Galina Stepanenko as Aegina from balletSpartacus,Bolshoi Theatre
	Raisa Struchkova (1925–2005) Soviet Union Russian Federation Ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Raisa Struchkova as Aurora in a scene fromPyotr Tchaikovsky's balletSleeping Beautystaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theaterof the USSR. 1 March 1954
	Mariia Surovshchikova-Petipa (1836–1882) Russian Empire Prima ballerina

T

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Tamara Tchinarova (1919–2017) Bessarabia France Australia United Kingdom (Armenian,GeorgianandUkrainiandescent) ballerina,Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo,choreographer	Trained in Paris byPreobrajenska,Tchinarova was closely associated withBalanchine'sBaby Ballerinasand a member ofWassily de Basil'sOriginal Ballet Russe,andLes Ballets 1933.In Australia she created roles for theKirsova Balletand forEdouard Borovansky.She worked on films with husband,Peter Finch.Settled in the UK from 1948 she was an English/Russian interpreter for ballet companies and author of dancer biographies and history.	Tamara Tchinarova inLes Présages,Sydney,between 6 December 1936 and January 1939 - photoMax Dupain
	Vadim Tedeev (1946–2011) Soviet Union Russian Federation Dancer,Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre
	Ekaterina Telesheva (1804–1857) Russian Empire Ballerina,Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre
	Viktoria Tereshkina (born 1983) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Vasily Tikhomirov (1876–1956) Russian Empire Soviet Union dancer,Ballet master,Teacher,Bolshoi Theatre
	Nina Timofeeva (born 1935) Soviet Union Russian Federation Israel Ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre
	Liudmila Titova (born 1987) Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Director,Royal Moscow Ballet	Liudmila Titova (Russian:Людмила Титова)was born 9 October 1987 in Moscow, Russia, and has been called the "one of the most celebrated ballet dancer and ballet teacher in the world."Born in Moscow, Russia, Liudmila Titova started dancing at the age of seven years based on recommendation from her doctor to help with a problem with her back.She joined the school's dance club and found herself dancing every day. At the age of 10, she took a three-day examination and physical and was only seven out of 105 applicants admitted into the Bolshoi Academy of Ballet,also known as theMoscow State Academy of Choreography,where her area of study became, "Theatre of Classical Ballet" by Smirnov-Golovanov. For the next eight years, Titova trained eight hours per day, six days per week. After graduating the world-renown, prestigious Bolshoi Academy of Ballet, Liudmila Titova went to work for the Royal Moscow Ballet Company. The Royal Moscow Ballet Company is located in Moscow, Russia, so Liudmila Titova was able to stay in her native Moscow. At the early age just 19, Liudmila was given leading a role in one of the world's most coveted plays, "Cinderella".This unimaginable feat is unheard of in the Ballet realm, where leading roles are generally earned by ballet dancers after many years or performances, usually after the age of 25. Liudmila was such a success, she went on to be the lead in other famous plays, such as "The Nutcracker," "Don Quixote," "Giselle," "Bolero," "Carmen," "Romeo and Juliet," "Sleeping Beauty," "Swan Lake," and "The Time." In 2014, at the age of 26, Liudmila Titova was promoted to the position of the General Director of the Royal Moscow Ballet.
	Nikolay Tsiskaridze (born 1973) Soviet Union Georgia Russian Federation dancer,Bolshoi Theatre	Nikolay Tsiskaridze, also spelled Ziskaridze, one of the most decorated Russian dancers, was a premier dancer of theBolshoi Balletfor 21 years. Ethnically Georgian, he was born in Tbilisi on 31 December 1973. He joined theMoscow Ballet Schoolin 1987 and was admitted into the Bolshoi Ballet in 1991. In 1992 Tsiskaridze joined the ballet company of the Bolshoi Theater. The then artistic directorYuri Grigorovichsaw Nikolai at the graduation exam. At the theater he had the good fortune to enter the class of prominent ballerinaMarina Semyonova,and as Nikolai says, became his second mother. The legendaryGalina Ulanovaalso assisted him. Over the course of his dance career he performed more than 70 roles in major classical works. One of the best ballet princes, he is equally convincing in modern choreographies. Roland Petit, who staged "La Dame de Pique" in 2001, created the role of Hermann especially for Tsiskaridze. In 1996, he graduated from the Teacher Training Department of the Moscow Ballet Academy and since 2003 had been teaching a daily ballet class at the Bolshoi Theatre combining his dance career with coaching. Besides, since 2004 he had been also teaching at the Moscow Ballet Academy. He became the youngest person to be named aPeople's Artist of Russia(2001). He received the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 2001 and 2003 and thePrix Benois de la Dansein 1999. During his career he received many honours - Silver medal at the Osaka Ballet Competition (1995), Golden medal at the Moscow Ballet Competition (1997), Honoured Artist of Russia (1997), Russian Golden Mask theatrical prize (1998, 2000, 2003),Benois de la Danse (1999), Order of Honour of the Republic of Georgia (2003), Danza&Danza award as best dancer of the year 2003, Triumph prize (2004), Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française (2006), People's Artist of North Osetia —Alania Republic (2013). In 2014, Tsiskaridze graduated as a Master of Law at Kutafin Moscow State Law University. On 29 Nov 2014 Tsiskaridze was elected as Rector ofVaganova Academy of Russian Balletin Saint Petersburg, est. in 1738.	Tsiskaridze in 2017
	Tamara Toumanova (1919–1996) Russian SFSR France United States (Georgiandescent) Prima ballerina,choreographer	Trained in Paris byPreobrajenska,Toumanova was one ofBalanchine'sBaby Ballerinasand a close colleague ofLéonide Massine.She made her debut in the children's balletL'Éventail de Jeanne.NicknamedThe Black Pearl of the Russian Ballet,she performed in Balanchine'sLe Bourgeois Gentilhommeand Le Palais de Cristal. She appeared in Hollywood films, includingThe Private Life of Sherlock Holmes,Tonight We Sing(playingAnna Pavlova),Deep in My Heart,Days of Glory,andAlfred Hitchcock'sTorn Curtain.	Tamara Toumanova in 1932

U

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Galina Ulanova (1910–1998) Russian Empire Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina assoluta,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre	Trained underAgrippina Vaganovaand her own mother, a ballerina of theImperial Russian Ballet,Ulanova joined theMariinsky Theatrein 1928. After 1944 she became aprima ballerina assolutainBolshoi Theatre.In 1945 she danced the title role in the world premiere ofProkofiev'sCinderella.On her first international tour in 1956 she achieved enormous success. Having retired from the stage in 1960, Ulanova coached many generations of the Russian dancers. After that, she became one of the most important teachers and répétiteurs of the Bolshoi Theatre.Ekaterina Maximova,Vladimir Vasiliev,Svetlana Adyrkhaeva,Nina Timofeeva,Ludmila Semenyaka,Nina Semizorova,Alla Mikhalchenko,Nadezhda GrachevaandNikolay Tsiskaridzewere among her adepts.	Galina Ulanova, as Juliet (right), andYury Zhdanovas Romeo inSergei Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo And Juliet".1 October 1954
	Andrey Uvarov (born 1971) Soviet Union Russian Federation Dancer,Bolshoi Theatre		Svetlana Zakharovaand Andrey Uvarov inSwan Lake,Bolshoi Theatre,28.10.2011

V

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951) Russian Empire Soviet Union Ballerina,Teacher,ballet master	Agrippina Yakovlevna Vaganova was a Russian ballet teacher who developed theVaganova method– the technique which derived from the teaching methods of the old Imperial Ballet School (today the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet) under the Premier Maître de BalletMarius Petipathroughout the mid to late 19th century, though mostly throughout the 1880s and 1890s. It was Vaganova who perfected and cultivated this form of teaching the art of classical ballet into a workable syllabus. Her Fundamentals of the Classical Dance (1934) remains a standard textbook for the instruction of ballet technique. Her technique is one of the most popular techniques today. Among Vaganova's dance alumnae were the distinguished Soviet ballerinasMarina Semenova,Olga Jordan,Galina Ulanova,Tatiana Vecheslova,Feya Balabina,Natalia Dudinskaya,Alla Shelest,Nonna Yastrebova,Olga Moiseeva,Ludmilla Safronova,Ninel Kurgapkina,Alla OsipenkoandIrina Kolpakova.Shortly after her death, on 1 November 1957, the Choreographic College on Rossi street was renamed in her honor; in 1961, it received the title of "academic" and in 1991 it began to use the name AgrippinaVaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.	Agrippina Vaganova in "La Esmeralda".St. Petersburg, circa 1910.
	Ivan Vasiliev (born 1989) Russian Federation Danseur		Ivan Vasiliev in an extract fromSpartacus,at the October 2011 re-opening gala of theBolshoi Theatre
	Vladimir Vasiliev (born 1940) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Bolshoi Theatre	Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev a Russian ballet dancer, was premier dancer with theBolshoi Ballet,and was best known for his role of Spartacus and his powerful leaps and turns, graduated from theMoscow Ballet Schoolin 1958 (his teachers includedAleksey Yermolayev) and joined theBolshoi Ballet.He became a premier dancer who made enormous contributions to the development of classical male dance; he came to embody the strong new Bolshoi male. He was the first dancer to be given the award la médaille d’or du meilleur danseur du Monde ( "The Gold Medal of the World’s Best Dancer" ); subsequentlyMikhail BaryshnikovandPatrick Dupondwere also awarded the distinction. Russia's influential ballet critic and choreographerFyodor Lopukhovcalled him "God of the dance… A miracle in art, perfection". Numerous roles were created for him, and he performed throughout the world, usually partnering his wife, Bolshoi prima ballerinaEkaterina Maximova.Among the most notable were those created byYuri Grigorovich,who gave him the principal roles in his original productions ofSpartacus,The Nutcracker,Ivan the Terrible.Nonetheless, he and Maximova gleaned wide exposure for their appearances inFranco Zeffirelli's filmed version ofGiuseppe Verdi's operaLa traviata(1983). Both performed in Spanish costume (Vasiliev as amatador) in the divertissements composed for the equivalent of Act II, scene 2. Besides Maximova, Vasiliev's famous partners included:Galina Ulanova,Maya Plisetskaya,Alicia Alonso,Carla Fracci,Rita PoelvoordeandAmbra Vallo.	Vladimir Vasilyev as Nutcracker Prince in scene fromPyotr Tchaikovsky's balletThe Nutcrackerstaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theaterof theUSSR.1 March 1966
	Ekaterina Vazem (1848–1937) Russian Empire Soviet Union Prima ballerina,Teacher,Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre,Mariinsky Theatre		Ekaterina Vazem costumed as Nikiya for Act II of "La Bayadère".St. Petersburg, 1877.
	Tatiana Vecheslova (1910–1991) Russian Empire Soviet Union Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre
	Oleg Vinogradov (born 1937) Soviet Union Russian Federation Danseur,Ballet master,Choreographer,Teacher,	Mikhaylovsky Theatre,Mariinsky Theatre
	Diana Vishneva (born 1976) Soviet Union Russian Federation Prima ballerina,Mariinsky Theatre	Vishneva is one of the 21st century's leading dancers; she is a prima ballerina at theMariinsky Balletsince 1995 and performs as a guest inABTsince 2005, as well as on other world scenes. Her repertoire includesDon Quixote,Romeo and Juliet,La Bayadère,Sleeping Beauty,Swan Lake,andGiselle.She also performs inGeorge Balanchine'sJewelsandKenneth MacMillan'sManon.
Paquita pas de trois	Pierre Vladimiroff (1893–1970) Russian Empire France United States Danseur		PerformingPaquitawithElza VillandElizaveta Gerdt,1905
	Anastasia Volochkova (born 1976) Russia Ballerina
Stella Voskovetskaya	Stella Voskovetskaya (born 1965) Soviet Union United States Ballet dancer,Choreographer,Mariinsky Theatre	Stella Voskovetskaya,Vaganova Academy of Russian Balletgraduate, Founder and Artistic Director ofIllinois Classical Ballet.created a unique and very effective system of training where she blended elements of training from Vaganova ballet school, where the training program for children is truly unique and was tested for centuries and unusually effective system barre au sol developed by Boris Knyazev That program significantly speed up and improve the training of young ballet dancers, helped with correcting posture, turnout in all three positions, flexibility and balance

Y

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Leonid Yakobson (1904–1975) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Choreographer,Ballet master,Mariinsky Theatre
	Aleksey Yermolayev (1910–1975) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Choreographer,Teacher,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre		Marina Semyonovaas the Princess and Aleksey Yermolayev as the Nutcracker inThe Nutcrackerstaged at the State AcademicBolshoi Theatre,1939.

Z

Portrait	Person	Details	Stage Image
	Rostislav Zakharov (1907–1984) Russian Empire Soviet Union Danseur,Teacher,Choreographer,Ballet master,Theatre director,Mariinsky Theatre,Bolshoi Theatre
	Svetlana Zakharova (born 1979) Soviet Union Russia Prima ballerina,Bolshoi Theatre		Svetlana Zakharova and Andrei Merkuriev in 2006

See also

• Ballets Russes
• Bolshoi Theater
• Mariinsky Theater
• New York City Ballet
• Kyiv Ballet
• Russian ballet
• Russian composers
• Russian culture
• Russian dancers,1890s and early 1900s painting series byEdgar Degas
• Russian opera singers
• Sergei Diaghilev
• List of African-American ballerinas
• List of dancers
• Prima ballerina assoluta
• List of prima ballerinas
• List of the main ballet masters of the Saint Petersburg State Ballet

External links

Media related toBallet dancers from Russiaat Wikimedia Commons