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.

Ballerina Irina Kolesnikova celebrates 10 years on stage in November 08 and for a year will dance performances marking this anniversary.   Performances dedicated to the anniversary will take place in Saint Petersburg, Paris and London.

"Having graduated from the Academy of Russian Ballet in 1988 Irina Kolesnikova is in her own way a phenomenon in the world of Russian ballet as she is a ballerina of world renown who possesses perfect ballet technique, is an actress of profound emotion yet who does not belong either to the Mariinskiy ballet company or to the constellation of stars which is the Bolshoi Ballet. Kolesnikova dances in the non-state Konstantin Tachkin Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre. She is loved in the West and not very well known in Russia".
Nina Alovert, Russian-American critic, photographer, writer.

The above words are taken from Nina Alovert's forthcoming biography, Irina Kolesnikova - Already a Legend which is dedicated to Irina Kolesnikova's work and will be published early 2009.

Kolesnikova's history and career has a unique character.  Irina possesses enormous individuality, sumptuous technique and oustanding 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, Irina’s performances with St Petersburg Ballet Theatre at the Royal Albert Hall have sold out the capacity 5,000 seats every year.

UK press acknowledges appreciation of her talent. National publications such as the Times, Independent, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Express have reviewed her performances as "a world class ballerina", "a star", "a true Diva”..

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

This anniversary year marks the beginning of the second decade in the creative destiny of this outstandingly talented Ballerina.