Irina Kolesnikova was born in St Petersburg - regarded by many as the most
beautiful city in Europe - in 1980.
Her first dream was to be a doctor. Her father, a lawyer, and mother, who
taught at a St Petersburg kindergarten, encouraged Irina to pursue many sporting
goals. First, she excelled at swimming, followed by ice skating and gymnastics.
It was her prodigious talents in these two artistic sports that led young Irina,
aged 9, on her journey towards ballet stardom, which began through the doors of
St Petersburg’s famous Vaganova Ballet Academy, the inspirational cradle of
Russian ballet. Irina studied at the Academy under Elvira Kokorina and,
following nine years of hard work, she graduated in the summer of 1998, her 18th
year.
Later that same year - in December - Irina was accepted into Konstantin
Tachkin’s St Petersburg Ballet Theatre as a soloist where her first teacher was
former Kirov Ballet star and Honoured Artist of the USSR, Svetlana Efremova.
Within two years, Irina’s extraordinary dancing talent and acting abilities were
recognized by her promotion to principal. By 2001, Irina Kolesnikova had become
the company’s Prima Ballerina, aged just 21.
Her many great roles cover a wide repertoire of classical and romantic ballet
include Clara in Nutcracker, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Kitri in
Don Quixote, Nikiya in La Bayadère, the title role of Paquita and, of course,
any ballerina’s most coveted roles – in the title role of Giselle and as
Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. Today, Irina Kolesnikova works under the tutelage of
Lyubov Kunakova, herself honoured as a People’s Artist of Russia, who coaches
Irina for all her major roles and oversees her strict training regime.
It is in the definitive role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake that Irina has made
her most impressive mark, both in Russia and abroad. Her portrayal of the Swan
Queen has become an indelible personal trademark.
The Parisian Journal, Danse Magazine, aptly summarised the many rave reviews
that Irina has received for her interpretation of the white and black swan, when
respected dance journalist, Margarita Medina, wrote:
“Thanks to this amazingly supple dancer, an artist from head to toe, we got
to see the truly ideal Swan. Her tenderness and timidity were very touching.
…Irina united drama with virtuosity in her marvellous illustration of the
double-sided nature of this role. Her Black Swan was imposing and self-assured.
Her perfect pirouettes and double and triple fouettés electrified the audience
of the Théatre des Champs-Elysees.
Her lack of any internal tension, freedom of movement and her expressiveness,
all combine to allow us to place this Saint Petersburg star, pleasant behind the
scenes and brilliant on stage, at the summit of a choreographic Olympia
alongside the other outstanding talents of her generation.
In 2008, Irina enriched her repertoire by venturing into the sphere of
contemporary dance for a season at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End,
where she danced the role of Hollywood legend Judy Garland, in Peter Schaufuss’s
hugely successful dance spectacular, Divas.
As a member of the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre, Irina has toured extensively
across six continents to Spain, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Great
Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Brazil, Turkey,
South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China,
Macau and Taiwan.
Irina is the recipient of numerous Russian and International dance
prizes:
• Natalia Makarova Prize and the Silver Medal at Arabesque 2002 in Russia
• Silver Medal at the world-renowned International Ballet Competition in
Varna • Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Prague •
Nomination for the international prize at Benois de la Danse • Silver Medal
at the 5th Japan International Ballet and Modern Dance Competition •
Nomination by the Critics’ Circle of the UK as a finalist for Best Female Dancer
in the National Dance Awards
A photographic album of her career, entitled simply Irina Kolesnikova has
been published, featuring more than one hundred superb photographs of the
ballerina on and off stage. The introduction to the album is written by the
legendary Russian-American ballet critic and photographer, Nina Alovert.
Irina also stars in three DVDs - filmed around the world –performing the
leading roles in Swan Lake, Giselle and The Nutcracker.
Back in St Petersburg, Irina’s parents and her banker brother Ruslan eagerly
follow her travels around the world and her astounding triumphs.
“The hardest part of a ballerina’s life is missing a home life” says Irina.
“Oh, and the constant pain and the need to stay 100% fit, 100% of the time,” she
adds: “I’m lucky of course, as I love to perform, love to see new countries and
meet new and different cultures. Everything I see, everyone I meet contributes
to my emotional palette.”
In her rare, quiet moments, Irina likes to develop her embroidery skills.
Irina is married and recently returned to the stage after giving birth to her
first child, a daughter, in 2014.
Edited by Graham Watts
Irina Kolesnikova and Kimin Kim. White Adagio.
About This Video
01:51
Irina Kolesnikova and Kimin Kim. White Adagio.
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