Life Story
Biography
“For me, dance has never been about being better than someone else - it’s always been about being better than the person I was yesterday.’’
1985-
Anna’s Early Days
Anna was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and her artistic journey began at the age of five at a small ballet academy. Her talent was swiftly recognised by her teacher at the academy, who encouraged her to audition for Krasnoyarsk Ballet College. At 10, Anna started her professional training there, and by her second year, her rapid development allowed her to participate in youth competitions, consistently emerging as a prize winner.
“I’ll always be thankful to my parents for giving me the freedom to follow my own path.”
2003-
Starting Out
Upon graduation, Anna commenced her career with the State Ballet of Siberia, in Krasnoyarsk, performing soloist roles as well as extensive corps de ballet. This experience enabled her to build up a wide repertoire, resulting in her promotion to prima ballerina within two years. Winning gold medals at two competitions led to her engagement as a guest principal dancer with the Ballet of Tatarstan in Kazan and then the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. In 2012, Anna joined the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre in Moscow as a principal dancer, where she immersed herself in the European repertoire.
“My audition in Amsterdam was a breaking point - that’s where I have to be; it’s a dream place.’
2015-
New Home
Seeking more diverse choreographic experiences, Anna joined the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam in 2015. Since then, she has also guest-performed across Europe, Russia, North America, South America and Asia. Despite various challenges to her career, such as injuries and the pandemic, she reflects happily on multiple highlights: the 2018 Dancer of the Year Award from Dance Europe magazine, the “Ballet magazine” Award as a Rising Star, and the ‘Miss Virtuosity’ prize at the Dance Open St Petersburg.
Today, family life holds equal importance, and I intentionally carve out moments for self-reflection.”
2021-
Career and Motherhood
Anna’s daughter Isabelle was born in December 2021. During her pregnancy, she was filmed as part of a Dance Masterclass “Motherhood in Ballet” documentary, in which she shares how to juggle the pressures of ballet and pregnancy, finding the path from ballerina to mother/ballerina alongside four world-leading principal dancers. Additionally, Anna is active on social media, coaching ballet for Dance Masterclass and other platforms.
“I’m here to share my personal experience, from the very beginning to where I am now.”
2024-
Anna's Community
Anna, a ballet mistress certified by the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in 2018, has established an online community to share her expertise. Drawing on her experience and knowledge, she guides aspiring dancers, emphasising the importance of healthy bodies and strong minds.
