St. Petersburg Ballet
Legendary Russian prima ballerina Irina Kolesnikova makes her long-anticipated USA debut. Acclaimed from London to Sydney, from Johannesburg to Paris, Kolesnikova brings together guest artists from the world’s leading ballet companies in the spellbinding St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at the National Theatre beginning Friday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 23.
Irina Kolesnikova has a wealth of superlative credits attesting to her mastery. As Odette-Odile, the role that is her personal trademark, she is unique. Her Swan Queen at the London Coliseum was described by Telegraph as ‘truly a thing of remarkable beauty and technically flawless.’ Now, following sold-out seasons in London, Paris, Seoul, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, the globally lauded St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre (SPBT) will make its USA debut in Washington on stage of the National Theatre.
Born in St. Petersburg – regarded by many as the most beautiful city in Europe – Irina Kolesnikova’s first dream was to be a doctor. Her father – a lawyer – and her mother, who taught at a St. Petersburg kindergarten, encouraged Irina to pursue many sporting goals. First, she excelled at swimming; followed by ice skating and gymnastics. It was her prodigious talents in these later two artistic sports that started young Irina at the age of nine on her journey towards ballet superstardom. That journey began when she passed through the doors of St. Petersburg’s famous Vaganova Ballet Academy on Rossi Street, an inspirational cradle of Russian ballet. Irina studied at the Academy under Elvira Kokorina and, following eight years of hard work, graduated in her 18th year.
Later that same year – in December – Irina was accepted into Konstantin Tachkin’s St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre as a soloist where her first teacher was former Kirov Ballet star and Honored Artist of the USSR, Svetlana Efremova. Within two years, Irina’s extraordinary dancing talent and acting abilities were recognized by her promotion to principal. By 2001, Irina Kolesnikova had become the company’s Prima Ballerina, aged just 21.
Her broad repertoire covers many of the classical and romantic ballets, including Clara in The Nutcracker; Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty; Kitri in Don Quixote; Nikiya in La Bayadère, Romeo and Julie, Paquita and, of course, any ballerina’s most coveted roles – in the title role of Giselle and as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. Today, Irina Kolesnikova works under the tutelage of Margarita Kullik, herself honored as a People’s Artist of Russia, who coaches Irina for all her major roles and oversees her strict training regime.
It is in the definitive role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake that Irina has made her most impressive mark, both in Russia and abroad. Her portrayal of the Swan Queen has become an indelible personal trademark. Her Paris debut was with this role in 2007 and to this day the Parisians eagerly await announcements of her regular visits to the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Her 2017-18 Paris Season marked her 10th visit. Irina recently premiered a new staging of Chopinanna (Les Sylphides) which was specifically prepared for this recent Paris season.
In 2008, Irina enriched her repertoire by venturing into the sphere of contemporary dance for a season at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End, where she danced the role of Hollywood legend Judy Garland, in Peter Schaufuss’s hugely successful dance spectacular, Divas.
St. Petersburg Ballet
As a member of the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre, she has toured extensively across six continents to Spain, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Macau and Taiwan, Hong Kong, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
An eponymous photographic album of her career, ‘Irina Kolesnikova’¸ has been published. It features more than one hundred superb photographs of the ballerina on and off stage. The introduction to the album is written by the legendary Russian-American ballet critic and photographer, Nina Alovert. Irina also stars in three DVDs – filmed around the world – performing the leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle and The Nutcracker.
Back in St. Petersburg, Irina’s parents and her banker brother Ruslan eagerly follow her travels around the world and her astounding triumphs.
In her rare, quiet moments, Irina likes to develop her embroidery skills. Irina is married and recently returned to the stage after giving birth to her first child, a daughter, in 2014. She travels with her daughter and insists on ‘no nannies’. ‘I’m the mother. I love my dance career and I still have double love enough for my beautiful daughter. I encourage her to come to my performances. Already she understands the discipline of my life and of course I secretly hope that she too will take up this most rewarding of all arts.’
Irina is the recipient of numerous Russian and International dance prizes:
- Natalia Makarova Prize and the Silver Medal at Arabesque 2002 in Russia
- Silver Medal at the world-renowned International Ballet Competition in Varna, 2002
- Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Prague, 2002
- Nominee Prix Benois de la Danse, 2004
- Silver Medal at the 5th Japan International Ballet and Modern Dance Competition, 2005
- Nomination by the Critics’ Circle of the UK as a finalist for an award in Best Female Dancer in the National Dance Awards, 2005
- Russian Prize Soul of Dance, 2018
In March 2019, Irina received a Red Diploma – the highest possible level – as a fully qualified Classical Ballet Teacher.
See prima ballerina Irina Kolesnikova, the SPBT, guest artists, and the timeless production of Tchiakovsky’s Swan Lake. Seen just once, it will be a night remembered forever.
Irina Kolesnikova in Swan Lake with St Petersburg Ballet Theatre in season 2017/18.
Irina Kolesnikova
Check our Ticketmaster link for ticket availability.
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