Svetlana Zakharova

Who is Svetlana Zakharova?

Svetlana Zakharova is a Prima ballerina with both the Bolshoi Ballet and the Teatro alla Scala.

Zakharova was born in Lutsk, Ukraine, on June 10, 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 considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the generation and is highly regarded for her technical expertise, her exquisite footwork and her exceptionally high extensions, as well as her musicality. Not all critics find her extreme positions aesthetically pleasing as they do not conform to 'classical' norms.