Uliyana Lopatkina Ballerina Date of Birth: 23.10.1973 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Uliana Lopatkina

Uliana Vyacheslavna Lopatkina was born on October 23, 1973, in Kerch, Ukraine. As a child, she participated in dance clubs and sports gymnastics sections. At the initiative of her mother, she enrolled in the A.V. Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in Leningrad.

In 1990, while still a student, Lopatkina participated in the Second All-Russian Competition named after A.Ya. Vaganova for students of choreographic schools (Vaganova-Prix). She performed variations from the ballet "The Water Nymph" and "La Sylphide," as well as the pas de deux from the second act of the ballet "Giselle" (with Alexander Mishchenko). Lopatkina received the first prize.

After graduating from the academy in 1991, Lopatkina joined the Mariinsky Theatre. She initially danced in the corps de ballet and later began performing solo roles such as Street Dancer in "Don Quixote" and Myrtha in "Giselle." She started studying with N.A. Kurgapkina, who is now her teacher-repetiteur.

Lopatkina's career took off with her debut as Zobeide in "Scheherazade" on May 26, 1994, at the Mariinsky Theatre. She also made her debut as Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake" on August 6, 1994, with Alexander Kurkov as Siegfried and Evgeny Neff as Rothbart.

In 1995, Lopatkina was awarded the "Golden Sofit" theater prize in Saint Petersburg in the category of "Best Debut on the Saint Petersburg Stage." She also received the "Divine" title from the Ardani Art Agency in 1996.

Lopatkina's international career took her to London, where she performed at the Coliseum Theatre from July 10 to August 12, 1995. She danced Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake," Lilac Fairy in "Sleeping Beauty," Nikiya in "La Bayadere," and Zobeide in "Scheherazade." She also participated in gala concerts around the world, including Moscow and New York.

In January 1996, Lopatkina made her debut as Medora in "Le Corsaire." She was awarded the Benois de la Danse prize for this role.

Lopatkina continued to perform in various ballets, such as "Giselle," "The Nutcracker," and "La Bayadere." She received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including the State Prize of Russia in 1999 and the "Triumph" award in 2004.

In 2001, Lopatkina married architect and writer Vladimir Kornev. She took a break from performing due to a leg injury and gave birth to their daughter, Masha, in 2002. After undergoing surgery and rehabilitation, she returned to the stage in 2003.

Lopatkina's performances received critical acclaim, and she continued to dance in various ballets, including "Swan Lake," "The Sleeping Beauty," and "Jewels." She also participated in international festivals and galas, showcasing her talent to audiences worldwide.

Throughout her career, Uliana Lopatkina has been known for her grace, technical skill, and emotional depth in portraying characters on stage. She is regarded as one of the greatest ballerinas of her generation and has left a lasting impact on the world of ballet.