Discover the incredible talent and achievements of the top famous Russian dancers in this article. Prepare to be amazed by their extraordinary skills!
Russia is renowned for many things, but for those who enjoy attending concerts, it is known as the birthplace of some of the world’s most talented dancers.
There is an abundance of famous Russian dancers who are beloved for their charm, stage presence, and exceptional technical abilities.
In this article, you will discover a collection of stories about Famous Russian Dancers!
It is important to note that since “achievement” and “fame” are subjective, this list has no specific ranking.
Everyone mentioned is highly skilled in their craft, and their performances are equally captivating and impressive.
1. Nikita Katsalapov
Nikita Katsalapov was born in Moscow in 1991 and began his career in single skating. However, he realized that the sport did not suit him, so he switched to ice skating.
His first coaches were Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh, who paired him with Elena Ilinykh.
Sadly, their partnership was short-lived, as they were too young to work effectively together. In 2008 they reunited and won a gold medal at the Junior Grand Prix during the 2009-2010 season.
Katsalapov has achieved numerous victories, including a gold medal for the team figure skating segment at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
He also earned a silver medal for the ice dancing segment. In the Olympics, he was paired with Victoria Sinitsina, who will be the focus of the next part.
2. Victoria Sinitsina
Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov won a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Victoria Sinitsina was born on April 29th, 1995, in Moscow and came from a family of former gymnasts. Due to her health issues, her family encouraged her to pursue figure skating, and she began taking ice skating classes at the age of 10.
She was mentored by Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh, just like Nikita Katsalapov. She debuted in the Junior Grand Prix at the 2008 Merano Cup with her partner Ruslan Zhiganshin. In 2014, she and Katsalapov applied to partner with the Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FSFR) and were approved.
The duo trained together in Michigan under the guidance of Marina Zueva, a renowned Russian dancer and figure skating coach.
They debuted at the 2014 Rostelecom Cup, where they placed fourth. They toured and performed together over the next seven seasons (2014-2015 to 2021-2022).
Their partnership culminated in a gold medal win for Russia in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
3. Ekaterina Krysanova
Interested in hearing about an active ballerina you can watch perform right now? Look no further than Ekaterina Krysanova. She’s one of the most famous Russian ballerinas today.
Born in 1985 in Moscow, Russia, to an artistically inclined family, Ekaterina was taken by her mother to a ballet class when she turned 8. It proved a good decision because young Ekaterina enthusiastically took to ballet.
In 1995, she began to study at the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Singing Center in Moscow. After hopping from one institution to another to hone her ever-developing skills, Ekaterina ended up at the famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 2002, graduating a year later in 2003.
But from 1995 to 2003, she didn’t just study. Ekaterina also participated in many competitions.
She won a gold medal in the 2001 Prix de Luxembourg International Ballet Competition. She won several bronze medals in competitions held around Russia, also.
After graduating from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, she became a dancer for the Bolshoi Theater. Ekaterina saw a meteoric rise through the rank of the theater, becoming the Leading Soloist in 2009. In 2011, she attained the rank of Principal. It’s a rank that she’s still holding today.
She has performed many classic works, like The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Don Quixote. You’ll also find many of her neoclassical–modern performances online, like The Taming of the Shrew.
4. Altynai Asylmuratova
Altynai Asylmuratova was a renowned ballerina from Kazakhstan, previously a member of the Soviet Union.
She gained fame in the 70s and 80s and was considered one of the best ballerinas of her time, along with Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Asylmuratova was born on January 1st, 1961, into a family with a history of theatrical involvement.
Her parents were ballet dancers and choreographers who graduated from the Leningrad Choreographic School, and even her grandparents were associated with ballet, with her grandfather being the chief choreographer at the Kazakh National Conservatory. So, you could say ballet runs in her family!
In 1978, Asylmuratova graduated from a ballet class taught by the famous Soviet ballerina and instructor Inna Zubkovskaya.
She was later accepted into the Kirov State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, where she rose to the rank of prima ballerina in 1987. She held this position until she retired from the stage in 2000 and began teaching.
While Asylmuratova was a famous ballerina, her fame was much more significant in Western countries than in the Soviet Union due to her frequent tours abroad.
She was loved for her physical beauty as well as the beauty of her dance, and she starred in almost every classical ballet, from The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle to more modern ballets by choreographers like Balanchine and Roland Petit.
Her Le Corsaire, La Bayadère, Les Sylphides, and The Sleeping Beauty performances can still be found online.
5. Mikhail Baryshnikov – Famous Russian ballet dancer
During the 1970s and 80s, Mikhail Baryshnikov was one of the most prominent figures in the ballet community. His physical prowess and technical expertise enabled him to execute complex movements gracefully.
Born on January 28th, 1948, in what is now Latvia, which was then part of the Soviet Union, Mikhail was introduced to the arts, mainly dance and opera, by his mother at a young age. This exposure motivated him to pursue ballet as a profession and a passion.
Like many ballet dancers, Mikhail began his dancing career in his youth, taking his first ballet classes when he was just 12 years old in 1960. By reaching adulthood, he had already won numerous awards and competitions.
Mikhail’s stage presence, physical strength, and technical purity captured the attention of audiences and choreographers alike.
Notable ballet choreographers, such as Konstantin Sergeyev and Igor Tchernikov, even created ballets specifically for him. One of his iconic performances was in Leonid Jakobson’s Vestris in 1969.
In 1974, dissatisfied with the Soviet government’s restrictions on his performances and works, Mikhail defected to Canada.
Following his defection, he joined the American Ballet Theater and went on tours performing classics like The Nutcracker and Don Quixote.
During his time with the New York City Ballet from 1978 to 1979, he even worked with legendary choreographer George Balanchine.
After retiring from performing, Mikhail took on other roles, such as artistic director and choreographer. He even ventured into acting, starring in popular movies and television series such as Sex and the City.
6. Kristina Rihanoff
Kristina Rihanoff is a well-known name in the world of ballroom dancing. She was born in the old Soviet Union on September 22, 1977, and has been dancing and instructing for many years. She has won numerous awards, honors, and accolades throughout her career.
To begin with, Kristina was born to a family of engineers in Vladivostok, Russia. Her parents enrolled her in dance classes when she was just five years old, where she developed her love for dance and her desire to become a dancer.
As a teenager, Kristina worked part-time as a dance instructor, which proved highly lucrative. She could earn in one day what her professionally-educated mother made in a month.
Kristina’s teaching skills were in high demand, and at the age 21, she was invited to the US to train Russian ballroom dancers.
Her reputation continued to grow, and she taught not only in the US and Russia but also in other countries such as China, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Apart from teaching, Kristina also performed herself. She won first prize at the South African International Latin Championship in 2005-2006.
Additionally, from 2003 to 2006, she won second prizes at several competitions, including the US National American Rhythm Finals, the Open to the World competition, and the Mambo Championship.
Kristina participated in popular dance TV series such as Strictly Come Dancing. She also participated in many live tours and stage productions.
7. Artem Chigvintsev – Famous Russian Latin dancer
Russia is renowned for more than ballet, as it boasts a famous dancer in almost every genre and style of dance. For Latin dancing, that dancer is Artem Chigvintsev.
Artem was born on June 12th, 1982, in Udmurt, a former Soviet republic now part of the Russian Federation.
He relocated to the United States in 2003 and began his professional dance career with ballroom champion Giselle Peacock.
Artem auditioned as a contestant for the first season of the popular reality dance TV show So You Think You Can Dance. Still, unfortunately, he and his partner Melissa Vella were eliminated during one of the rounds.
However, this wasn’t the last time the audience saw him on the show, as he later returned as a guest choreographer in the second season.
Artem’s name and performances can also be found on several other dance reality TV shows, including Strictly Come Dancing by the BBC in series 8 and Dancing with the Stars by ABC from season 18 onwards.
Artem’s dynamic energy and appealing appearance made him stand out from the crowd in every show. Additionally, Artem is not just a dancer but also a social media influencer and actor.
8. Pavel “Pasha” Kovalev – Famous Russian ballroom dancer
Pavel “Pasha” Kovalev, a renowned Latin and ballroom dancer affectionately called “Pasha.” His fascination with dance began at the tender age of eight, and he has since participated in numerous competitions alongside his dance partner, Anya Garnis, in Russia.
In 2001, Pasha and Anya moved to the United States to advance their dance career. They made a significant breakthrough in 2007 when they featured as contestants on the popular dance show, So You Think You Can Dance.
They have since appeared in eight other show seasons, sometimes as contestants and other times as guest choreographers.
Apart from So You Think You Can Dance, Pasha has graced other shows, including Strictly Come Dancing. Notably, he has the best record in the show’s history with 13 perfect scores, a testament to his exceptional talent.
If you are curious about his performances, you can find recordings of his mesmerizing shows online, and they are free to watch.
9. Evgenia Medvedeva – Famous Russian ice dancer
Evgenia Medvedeva, the reigning star of Russian ice dancing. Despite being just 22 years old, she boasts two Olympic silver medals and a host of other titles from various dance competitions, including the World Figure Skating Championship.
Born in Moscow, Russia, Evgenia‘s mother was a former figure skater who encouraged her daughter to take up the sport at the tender age of three.
She trained at the Olympic Reserve Sports School No. 37 (now known as Sambo 70) and made her national debut at the 2012 Russian Figure Skating Championship, where she placed eighth.
In 2013-2014, Evgenia made her international debut at the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in Latvia, Poland, and Japan, where she clinched a bronze medal.
Since then, she has participated in numerous competitions and championships, winning four gold medals at the European Figure Skating Championships and the Grand Prix Final.
However, her most impressive achievements came at the 2018 Winter Olympics, winning two silver medals.
If you’re a figure skating fan, you won’t want to miss Evgenia’s mesmerizing performances on the ice. You can easily find videos of her online and witness her almost magical movements for yourself.
10. Johara (Ekaterina Andreeva)
Johara, also known as Ekaterina Andreeva, is a well-known Russian belly dancer in Cairo, Egypt, with millions of followers on Instagram.
Her performances garner thousands of shares, and her calendar is always full of appointments for parties and events.
Ekaterina began dancing at the age of three and is skilled in various dance styles, including ballroom, Latin, ballet, and belly dancing. When she was thirteen, her dance partner left her, and she decided to explore other paths.
Inspired by the Brazilian soap opera “The Clone,” which featured a belly dancer named Jade, Ekaterina decided to try belly dancing. She found it a perfect fit and began performing at her father’s restaurant and participating in championships.
However, Ekaterina wanted more, so she went to Egypt to make a name for herself. She became known as Johara, meaning jewel in Arabic, and quickly gained popularity.
Despite not being a native Egyptian, her dedication to keeping the dance true to its roots and her exceptional technical skill on stage made her a hit with audiences.
Ekaterina’s success as a belly dancer is a testament to her talent and hard work, and she continues to inspire others with her performances.
FAQs
Who is the best dancer in Russia?
Russia has numerous talented dancers, all of whom are highly acclaimed.
However, the best dancer in Russia is undoubtedly Ekaterina Krysanova, a principal soloist of the Bolshoi Ballet.
Her graceful movements and powerful stage presence have made her an international icon, as she continues to captivate global audiences with her unparalleled technique and breathtaking performances.
What famous dancer came from Russia?
Russian dancers like Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov revolutionized ballet with their unique styles, becoming world-renowned icons. They proved that Russians can not only dance but also lead the way in modern dance.
Why are Russian dancers famous?
Russian dancers are renowned around the world for their unique style and techniques. These dancers draw inspiration from classical ballet, folk dance, and modern dance to create a captivating and beautiful performance.
Combining Russian technique and grace with traditional music creates an enchanting atmosphere.
Russian dancers are praised for their artistry and provide an insight into the country’s culture and history through their performances.
Their presence on stage conveys a strong sense of heritage, something few other dancing styles can do.
As such, Russian dancers continue to be admired for their skill and dedication to preserving this timeless expression.
Is ballet still famous in Russia?
Ballet has been a prized art form in Russia for centuries since it was introduced by the legendary Russian dancer and choreographer Marius Petipa in the late 19th century.
Today, despite the changes and evolutions that ballet has undergone, it remains trendy and influential in Russia.
The Bolshoi Ballet is perhaps one of the most well-known institutions associated with this art form in the country, creating some of the most acclaimed performances worldwide with breathtaking routines and passionate performers.
Why is Russia big on ballet?
Russia is big on ballet because it is part of the country’s culture and history. Ballet began in Russia during the 17th century as a form of entertainment for Tsars and noble families.
Since then, Russian ballets have become world-renowned and popular throughout the globe, due to their elegant and technically demanding choreography.
Moreover, Russian ballet schools are some of the most renowned in the world and produce many of today’s most famous ballerinas.
Additionally, Russia has been home to many great performers such as Anna Pavlova, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov and other renowned artists who have made significant contributions to classical ballet.
Conclusion
Russian dancers are renowned for their technical and expressive abilities. They are among the best in the world, contributing to the richness of dance culture in Russia and beyond.
Whether you’re interested in seeing a performance or taking lessons yourself, it’s certain that getting acquainted with Russian dance is a great way to enrich your cultural knowledge and understanding!
