ballet.co Kirov female dancers

Kirov Female dancers
July 2003 (current version)

Zhanna Ayupova, principal


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Zhanna Ayupova is a perfect exemplar of the purity of the Kirov style. Her sublime Aurora in London last summer was widely praised. Every facet of her performance is perfectly proportioned. Her pure dancing has poise and harmony, and radiates an inner calm that feels as soothing as a religious blessing.

In "Chopiniana" Ayupova is ravishing as the Mazurka ballerina. Her Masha in the Vainonen production of "Nutcracker" has the requisite grandeur, and she dances Juliet movingly with a quiet dignity. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Maya Dumchenko, soloist

© Natasha Razina
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Maya Dumchenko is a tall and lyrical dancer, and has a lovely flow of movements and crystalline footwork. Dumchenko is a true gem in the second ballerina role in "Rubies", a delicate Juliet, and a passionate and expressive Shiryn in Grigorovich's "The Legend of Love". She also dances with flair and strength in "Chopiniana" and "Petrushka". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Irina Golub, second soloist

© Natasha Razina
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Irina Golub's dancing combines delicacy as well as strength. Her iron-clad technique is finely displayed as Kitri in "Don Quixote". She dances the Russian ballerina in "Serenade" with the most glorious jumps, and is a beautiful Polyhymnia in "Apollo". Golub is also outstanding as the "Rubies" ballerina. And she is ravishing as the first odalisque in "Le Corsaire", and the first shade soloist in "La Bayadere". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Sofya Gumerova, first soloist


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Sofia Gumerova has an elegant line and beautiful tapering legs. She is a dancer of sweet charm, and has improved tremendously since her debut as Odette/Odile in London in 2001. Gumerova creates a lovely and delightful Medora, and dances beautifully as the Swan Queen. In "La Bayadere" she is persuasive as Nikiya and displays a good level of artistry. She also dances the second ballerina in "Emeralds" and the "Diamonds" ballerina. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Svetlana Ivanova, soloist


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Svetlana Ivanova has a fine-boned physique complemented by her extra thin legs. She is a stylish Princess Florine in "Sleeping Beauty". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Uliana Lopatkina, principal


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Uliana Lopatkina is a prima ballerina by right, and her beautiful dancing sums up the very spirit of the Petersburg school. She breathes new life into the classics like "La Bayadere" and "Swan Lake". Lopatkina's dancing as the Swan Queen has an endearing youthfulness, as fresh as the morning dew, as well as a warm femininity. Her long and lissom line, as taut as an arrow, is ravishing.

Her ethereal figure suits the Adagio in "Symphony in C", her dancing sings with deep feelings and perfection of skill. Lopatkina is also one of the Kirov's best actresses (she's a burning Zobeide in "Scheherazade"), capable of expressing herself to the entire audience with a flick of the wrist, and tapering her high extensions into a musical phrase like a painter controlling a fine sable brush. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Yulia Makhalina, principal


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Yulia Makhalina was the first of a new crop of Kirov ballerinas in the early 1990s distinguished from the previous generations by their height and remarkable thinness, and nicknamed 'the basketball team'. Technically dazzling, especially in her high extensions, she has matured in her interpretations of the classics. Her Odette has a tragic dimension. Makhalina is also a voluptuous Zobeide in "Scheherazade". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Veronika Part, first soloist


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A new ballerina coming up the ranks, Veronika Part closely resembles Uliana Lopatkina in the almost frictonless action of her legs and arms, though somewhat lacking in absolute control and acting skills. In "Sleeping Beauty" Part is a gorgeous Lilac Fairy, but as Odette/Odile she is too introverted.

One of the youngest Kirov stars, Part has honed and glossed her technique to awesome extremes, but at the expense of personality and imagination, which should come with time and experience. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Daria Pavlenko, first soloist

© Natasha Razina
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Daria Pavlenko has a bold but expressive face. She is a gracious Nikiya, and displays lyricism and musicality as Odette in Swan Lake. In "Diamonds", she manages all the virtuosic passages with a smooth softness in the principal ballerina role. Pavlenko is stunning as the Snow Queen in Chemyakin's production of "Nutcracker", and also does honours to the Lilac Fairy in "The Sleeping Beauty". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Natalia Sologub, first soloist

© Natasha Razina
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Natalia Sologub is a beautiful classical dancer with a wide range. She is heart-touching in the title role in Alexei Ratmansky's production of "Cinderella", in the several pas de deux she is simply ecstatic. Sologub also shines as Masha which she created in Kirill Simonov's production of "The Nutcracker". She portrays Masha's teenage innocence with real feeling, and is classically radiant in the Act 2 grand pas de deux. She is glamorous as Lescaut's mistress in "Manon", and is also impeccable as the Queen of the Dryads in "Don Quixote".

Sologub excels in pure dance ballets as well. She is most poetic in the waltz in "Serenade", and is also exciting in Ratmansky's "Middle Duo". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Viktoria Tereshkina, coryphee


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Viktoria Tereshkina, 20, is a talented long-limbed dancer. She made her debut as Odette/Odile during the Kirov's tour to Manchester in April. Tereshkina is temperamentally more suited to Odile than Odette. Her Gamzatti is quite convincing. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Tatiana Tkachenko, coryphee


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This talented dancer was first seen in the UK in April during the Kirov season at the Lowry when she danced Gamzatti. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Diana Vishneva, principal

© Natasha Razina
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Diana Vishneva distinguishes herself as an allegro dancer excelling in technical dynamics. Considered by some as more suitable for the neo-classical ballets, she possesses the qualities of a scintillating star, dancing with a strong sense of individuality. Her technical and artistic abilities create a most gratifying combination.

Vishneva is a very passionate Juliet, and a charming and radiantly sweet Aurora. In "Rubies" and "Don Quixote", she fills the dance with panache, energy and spark. {kirov dancers in 2003}

Irina Zhelonkina, first soloist

© Natasha Razina
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Irina Zhelonkina is a dancer with a gorgeous plastique, and is an epitome of classical purity. She creates a simple yet exquisite touch in every role she dances. Zhelonkina is splendid as Princess Florine, Juliet's friend, and in the pas de trios in "Swan Lake". She is also outstanding as Gulnara in "Le Corsaire", and dances with supreme lyricism and tenderness in "Chopiniana". {kirov dancers in 2003}

Svetlana Zakharova, principal


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Probably the most celebrated young ballerina of her generation, Svetlana Zakharova has an ethereal figure and a dazzling technique. She distinguishes herself by virtue of her prodigious talent and a touching tenderness.

Zakharova's Swan Queen is emotionally resonant. She has an upper body carriage which is most expressive, and her whole body has a melodious line. As Nikiya, Zakharova's dancing has light and shade, and she illuminates Nikiya's spiritual quality in the Shades act. Zakharova is also a charming Medora, and portrays Zobeide with the greatest depth of emotion. {kirov dancers in 2003}

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