Acclaimed ballerina Irina Kolesnikova, with the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre, dances the role of Nikiya in La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer), Petipa’s masterpiece ballet which contains the breathtaking scene The Kingdom of The Shades.

Kolesnikova celebrated 10 years on stage in November 2008 and is spending a year dancing performances in Saint Petersburg, Paris and London marking this anniversary.

Kolesnikova’s history and career has a unique character. She possesses enormous individuality, sumptuous technique and outstanding acting ability. She has won first prizes in many international competitions and has been honoured with several prestigious awards. In 2005 Kolesnikova was nominated Best Female Dancer in the United Kingdom’s Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2007. For the past seven years, Kolesnikova’s performances with St Petersburg Ballet Theatre at the Royal Albert Hall have sold out the capacity 5,000 seats every year.

On 17 May 2009, as part of her 10th anniversary celebration European tour, Kolesnikova’s will appear for the first time at the London Coliseum dancing Nikiya in La Bayadère. Following this appearance are three performances in the Paris Theatre des Champs Elysées, dancing Odette-Odile in Swan Lake for two performances and one performance as Nikiya in La Bayadère.

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