Anastasia Volochkova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anastasia Volochkova
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| Анастасия Волочкова | |
Volochkova in 2008
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Anastasia Yuryevna Volochkova
20 January 1976 |
| Occupation | Ballerina |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Children | 1 |
Anastasia Yuryevna Volochkova (Russian: Анастасия Юрьевна Волочкова; born 20 January 1976) is a famous Russian ballet dancer. She is known for her powerful performances and long career in classical ballet.
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Early Life and Ballet Dreams
Anastasia Volochkova was born in Leningrad, Russia, in 1976. Her father was a champion in table tennis and a coach, and her mother worked as a tour guide.
When Anastasia was five years old, her mother took her to see The Nutcracker ballet. Anastasia was so inspired that she decided right then she wanted to become a famous ballerina. Even though she felt she didn't have the perfect body for ballet, she had a huge desire to dance. She worked incredibly hard, taking many classes and even private lessons at home.
Anastasia trained at the famous Vaganova Ballet Academy. While still a student, she became the youngest soloist ever at the Mariinsky Ballet. She made her first big performance as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1993. She was a lead dancer and a student at the same time, which was a first for the Mariinsky. In 1994, she graduated with top honors and became a full soloist with the Mariinsky Ballet. She later won a gold medal at the 2nd Lifar International Ballet Competition in 1996.
A Ballerina's Journey
Dancing with the Mariinsky Ballet
From 1994 to 1998, Anastasia Volochkova was a soloist with the Mariinsky Ballet. She performed in many famous ballets like Don Quixote, Giselle, La Bayadère, and The Sleeping Beauty. She also traveled the world with the Mariinsky Ballet, performing in countries like Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States. Her first performance in the US was at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1995.
Performing with the Bolshoi Ballet
From 1998 to 2000, Volochkova became a leading soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. She danced in productions such as Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty. She also toured across Europe. In 2001, she was invited back to the Bolshoi to dance the main role in Swan Lake. For this, she received the important Prix Benois de la Danse award in 2002. In the same year, she was given the title of Honoured Artist of Russia.
In 2003, Volochkova's contract with the Bolshoi Ballet ended. News reports said she was dismissed for being too tall and heavy. A court in Moscow later ruled that the Bolshoi Ballet had to let her return and pay her money. Even though the Bolshoi is still officially her employer, she has not danced for them since 2004. Anastasia said that after this, she wanted to create her own path as a ballerina.
Her Solo Career and Tours
Anastasia Volochkova began her solo career in the late 1990s. She has danced with many different ballet companies around the world, including the New National Theatre Ballet Tokyo and the English National Ballet. In Russia, she has been a prima ballerina with the Hermitage Ballet and the Grigorovich Ballet. She has performed in ballets like Giselle, La Bayadère, and Swan Lake.
Volochkova has also given many special performances and shows in cities like Moscow, Paris, London, and New York. In London, she performed at famous venues like the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House. In 2010, she went on a tour in Chile called Tales of Destiny. This show featured parts of famous ballets and new dances. She was joined by lead dancers from both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Ballets.
Anastasia Volochkova has also used her performances to help others. She has raised money for Russian children, including those with health problems and children in orphanages. She also supported a secondary school in Saint Petersburg.
Other Work and Public Life
Besides dancing, Anastasia Volochkova has also worked as an actress in films and TV shows. She has also been a model for Chopard jewellery. She appeared in the first season of the ice skating show Ice Age.
In 2010, Volochkova earned an MBA degree. She has plans to create schools that teach dance, art, music, and ethics.
Anastasia Volochkova is a well-known public figure in Russia. She often appears in newspapers, magazines, and on TV shows. In 2004, she took legal action against her former manager, saying he had harmed her reputation. She famously said, "Ballet is not an art of kilograms; it is an art of the soul."
In 2011, she left the United Russia political party. She later spoke out about her views on the annexation of Crimea in 2014, stating that she believed Crimea would always be a part of Ukraine.
See also
- List of Russian ballet dancers
