Svetlana Zakharova
Encyclopedia
Svetlana Zakharova is the principal dancer with the both the Bolshoi Ballet
and the Teatro alla Scala
.
Zakharova was born in Lutsk
, Ukraine
, on 10 June 1979. At age six, her mother took Svetlana to learn folk dancing at a local studio. At age 10, Svetlana auditioned for and was accepted into the Kiev Choreographic School. Just four months later, however, her father's reassignment in the army to East Germany forced Svetlana's withdrawal from school. Six months later, her family returned to Ukraine and Svetlana auditioned again for the Kiev Choreographic School. She was readmitted and immediately joined the second class, under teacher Valeria Sulegina.
In 1996-1997, she debuted with the Mariinsky Ballet
, appearing as Maria with Ruben Bobovnikov, in Rostislav Zakharov
's The Fountain of Bakhchisarai. In 2003-2004, she accepted a long-standing open offer with the Bolshoi, reportedly due to discontent with the Mariinsky.
Today, Zakharova tours and guests with the world's great ballet companies. She is highly regarded for her technical expertise, for her great feet and for her exceptionally high extensions, which invite comparisons with gymnasts.
Zakharova was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation
(2006)
She is married to Russian violinist Vadim Repin
. The couple have one child, a daughter Anna, who was born on 17 February 2011. Zakharova had withdrawn from the Bolshoi Ballet tour to London in the summer of 2010 citing a hip injury; in actual fact she was pregnant at the time. Zakharova returned to dancing, and performed in London on 15 May 2011, in a gala performance celebrating Galina Ulanova.
Bolshoi Ballet
The Bolshoi Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Founded in 1776, the Bolshoi is among the world's oldest ballet companies, however it only achieved worldwide acclaim by the early 20th century, when Moscow became the...
and the Teatro alla Scala
Corpo di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala
The La Scala Theatre Ballet is the resident classical ballet company at La Scala in Milan, Italy. One of the oldest and most renowned ballet companies in the world, the company predates the theatre, but was officially founded at the inauguration of La Scala in 1778...
.
Zakharova was born in Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, on 10 June 1979. At age six, her mother took Svetlana to learn folk dancing at a local studio. At age 10, Svetlana auditioned for and was accepted into the Kiev Choreographic School. Just four months later, however, her father's reassignment in the army to East Germany forced Svetlana's withdrawal from school. Six months later, her family returned to Ukraine and Svetlana auditioned again for the Kiev Choreographic School. She was readmitted and immediately joined the second class, under teacher Valeria Sulegina.
In 1996-1997, she debuted with the Mariinsky Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies...
, appearing as Maria with Ruben Bobovnikov, in Rostislav Zakharov
Rostislav Zakharov
Rostislav Vladimirovich Zakharov was a Russian choreographer, dancer, ballet and opera director. He was a professor of Russian Academy of the Arts in Moscow...
's The Fountain of Bakhchisarai. In 2003-2004, she accepted a long-standing open offer with the Bolshoi, reportedly due to discontent with the Mariinsky.
Today, Zakharova tours and guests with the world's great ballet companies. She is highly regarded for her technical expertise, for her great feet and for her exceptionally high extensions, which invite comparisons with gymnasts.
Zakharova was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation
State Prize of the Russian Federation
State Prize of the Russian Federation is a state honorary prize established in 1992 as the substitute for the USSR State Prize. In 2004 the rules for selection of laureates and the status of the award was significantly changed making them closer to such awards as Nobel Prize or the Soviet Lenin...
(2006)
She is married to Russian violinist Vadim Repin
Vadim Repin
Vadim Repin is a Belgian Russian violinist who currently lives in Austria....
. The couple have one child, a daughter Anna, who was born on 17 February 2011. Zakharova had withdrawn from the Bolshoi Ballet tour to London in the summer of 2010 citing a hip injury; in actual fact she was pregnant at the time. Zakharova returned to dancing, and performed in London on 15 May 2011, in a gala performance celebrating Galina Ulanova.
External links
- photographs
- Bolshoi Ballet
- The embodiment of joy and beauty, Elena Fyodorenko, Russia Beyond the HeadlinesRussia Beyond the HeadlinesRussia Beyond the Headlines is a branch of Russian state-owned newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta which publishes a number of foreign-language newspaper supplements and maintains the RBTH news website. The supplements are included in international newspapers in an effort to cultivate a positive view of...
, 11 June 2009