10 Best Russian Ballet Dancers: Icons of Ballet History

Describing poetry in motion, the Russian ballet dancers bring something entirely unique to the dance—a raw, intense emotional power that makes each performance unforgettable. These dancers, with a sheer force of expression and blend of elegance, have become synonymous with Russian ballet.

Through this comprehensive guide, let’s take a closer look at the contribution of some of the Russian ballet dancers, exploring their best work, achievements, and the legacy that inspires generations.

List of Top Russian Ballet Dancers

1: Mikhail Baryshnikov

Date of Birth: January 27, 1948, Riga, Soviet Union

Best Works:

• Variations from Coppelia
• Variations from Don Quixote
• Variations from The Nutcracker
• Variations from Giselle
• The Turning Point Variations

Accolades:

• Gold Medal in Varna International Ballet Competition
• Nijinsky Prize, Paris
• Award from Dance Magazine
• National Arts Award
• George and Judy Marcus Prize for Lifetime Achievement
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award

Mikhail Baryshnikov, a renowned choreographer and actor, was the leading male ballet dancer of the 1970s and 1980s and is regarded as one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time.

Starting his ballet training at 12, he quickly gained acclaim, winning top honors at the Varna International Ballet Competition.

Despite challenges due to his shorter stature, his technical skill, versatility, and charisma helped him redefine ballet standards. He danced with the New York City Ballet and later served as artistic director for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Known for his range, Baryshnikov also excelled in jazz and modern dance, leaving a lasting influence as a choreographer, teacher, and director.

2: Maya Plisetskaya

Date of Birth: November 20, 1925, Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

Date of Death: May 2, 2015, Munich, Germany

Best Works:

• Swan Lake
• Sleeping Beauty
• Carmen

Accolades:

• Order of Merit for the Fatherland
• Triumph Prize
• Honored Artist of the RSFSR
• Premium “Russian National Olympus”
• Prince of Asturias Award
• Imperial Prize of Japan

Maya Plisetskaya showcased remarkable versatility as a Russian ballet dancer, ballet director, choreographer, and actress. She entered the world of ballet with support from her aunt and uncle, Sulamith and Asaf Messerer. In 1959, Plisetskaya toured the United States for the first time with the Bolshoi Ballet on its landmark tour. This tour made her an international star.

Plisetskaya was instantly recognizable by her striking red hair and captivating looks, which held the attention of audiences. The Oxford Dictionary of Dance describes her as “a remarkably fluid dancer but also a very powerful one.”

She rose to fame as one of the foremost female classical dancers of the 20th century. Her dancing was characterized by smooth, flowing movements, an extraordinarily flexible back and arms, and expressive, emotive acting.

3: Daniil Simkin

Date of Birth: October 12, 1987, Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR

Best Works:

• Don Quixote
• Swan Lake
• Shadowplay

Accolades:

• Grand Prix, Fifth International Ballet Competition
• First Prize Senior for Best Male Dancer
• First Prize and Gold Medal in the 21st International Ballet Competition
• Gloria Grand Prix, International Ballet Competition
• Men’s Senior Gold Medal in the USA International Ballet Competition

Daniil Simkin grew up in a ballet-focused family and began his training with his mother. His professional career took flight in 2006 when he joined the Vienna State Opera as a demi-soloist. At just 19, Simkin gained global attention for his performance as Basil in Don Quixote, dancing alongside renowned personalities like Maria Kochetkova and Isabella Boylston.

Renowned for his exceptional technique, he became the first dancer to execute three consecutive 540-degree turns. Today, Simkin stands as one of the foremost male ballet dancers acclaimed not only for his performances but also for his innovative contributions to the art form as a cultural figure and creative director.

As an international principal, he interprets lead roles across both classical and modern repertoires. In 2024, he debuted “One,” a cinematic dance project presented at Danced on Camera at Lincoln Center.

4: Natalia Makarova

Date of Birth: November 21, 1940, Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

Best Works:

• Lilac Garden
• Giselle
• Swan Lake
• Sleeping Beauty

Accolades:

• Theatre World Award
• Astaire Award
• Outer Critics Circle Award
• American Library Association Award
• Distinguished Artist Award – Los Angeles
• Artistic Achievement Award – Mexico
• Life Achievement Award by Jury of the Benois de la Danse
• Kennedy Center Honor

Natalia Makarova’s ballet journey began at age 12, when she successfully auditioned for the Leningrad Choreographic School. Her ballet prowess is marked by exceptional command, refinement, and emotional depth.

From 1956 to 1970, Makarova was a permanent member of the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, achieving the prestigious rank of prima ballerina in the 1960s. According to The History of Dance (1981), “Her performances set standards of artistry and aristocracy of dance which mark her as the finest ballerina of her generation in the West.”

Makarova gained international acclaim with her 1961 London debut, where her portrayal of Giselle captivated audiences. Her ability to immerse herself fully into her roles allowed her to uncover and express her deepest self through each character.

5: Vladimir Vasiliev

Date of Birth: 18 April 1940, Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

Best Works:

• The Tale of the Stone Flower
• The Nutcracker
• Ivan the Terrible
• Anyuta
• Angara

Accolades:

• Gold Medal (Festival of Youth, Vienna)
• Grand Prix of Varna (Varna International Ballet Competition)
• Crystal Turandot Award

Vladimir Vasiliev, known for his role as Spartacus and his powerful leaps and turns, earned the title “God of Dance.” Critics placed him among the greats of classical ballet, giving him the same place as Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Erik Bruhn.

As one of the most influential dancers of the 20th century, Vasiliev shared the stage with some of the world’s finest ballerinas, including Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, and Carla Fracci. He served as principal dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet and later held the position of artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre from 1995 to 2000.

In addition to his performance career, Vasiliev has made significant contributions to ballet education. He opened a ballet school in Brazil and continues to work as a ballet master, coach, and even as a sculptor, further enriching the art form he helped shape.

6: Svetlana Zakharova

Date of Birth: June 10, 1979, Lutsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

Best Works:

• The Lady of the Camellias
• The Sleeping Beauty
• Serenade
• The Dying Swan

Accolades:

• 2nd Prize at Vaganova-Prix Young Dancers Competition (Sankt-Peterburg)
• Golden Mask
• Prix Benois de la Danse
• State Prize of the Russian Federation
• People’s artist of Russia

Svetlana Zakharova is one of the renowned Russian ballet dancers, known for her technical precision, emotive expression, and natural talent. She has performed with both the Bolshoi Ballet and La Scala Theatre Ballet.

Zakharova’s dance journey began at age six when her mother enrolled her in a local folk dance studio. At 10, she auditioned for the Kyiv Choreographic School and was accepted. After six years, she participated in the Vaganova-Prix Young Dancers’ Competition in St. Petersburg, becoming the youngest contestant to win the second prize.

In 1996, Zakharova made her debut with the Mariinsky Ballet, performing as Maria in The Fountain of Bakhchisarai with Ruben Bobovnikov. During her career, she has danced with some of the most esteemed ballet companies, including the Mariinsky Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet, where she currently holds the position of principal dancer.

Broadening her influence, Zakharova has hosted several popular dance programs on Russian television, including her own charity dance festival, Svetlana.

7: Olga Smirnova

Date of Birth: November 6, 1991, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union

Best Works:

• Giselle
• Swan Lake
• Don Quixote

Accolades:

• Benois de la Danse award in 2013

Olga Smirnova, a Russian ballet dancer, formerly a principal at the Bolshoi Ballet, is currently the principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. She began her training at the prestigious Vaganova Academy, where she refined her technique and artistry. Throughout her career, she has captivated audiences across Europe, China, and Japan with her dance skills.

In 2011, immediately after graduating, she joined the Bolshoi Ballet as a soloist, an impressive entry point that highlighted her talent. Known for her agility, soaring jumps, and distinctively Russian lyricism, she brings both physical elegance and emotive depth to her performances. With her long limbs, swan-like physique, and flawless classical line, she possesses a physique that is considered an ideal instrument for the art of ballet.

8: Nina Kaptsova

Date of Birth: October 16, 1978, Rostov-on-Don, Russian SFSR

Best Works:

• Don Quixote
• Giselle
• Romeo and Juliet
• The Nutcracker

Accolades:

• The International “New Names” project Laureate
• Benois de la Dance – 2000 Diploma Winner

Nina Kaptsova is celebrated for her aesthetic grace and mastery of ballet. In 1996, after graduating from the Moscow Choreographic College, she joined the Bolshoi Ballet Company. Since 2017, she has continued her work with the company on a contract basis.

Kaptsova’s early roles showcased her talent, starting in 1997 with her performance as a Cupid in Don Quixote and as the “Fairy of Playfulness” in The Sleeping Beauty, choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich. Through her technical skill and expressive artistry, she has established herself as one of Russia’s renowned ballet dancers.

9: Anastasia Volochkova

Date of Birth: January 20, 1976, Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

Best Works:

• Swan Lake
• The Sleeping Beauty
• Giselle
• Don Quixote
• The Dying Swan
• The Nutcracker

Accolades:

• Prix Benois de la Danse
• Honored with the Title of Honored Artist of Russia

Anastasia Volochkova got a divergence towards dancing at the age of five after watching The Nutcracker. She became a soloist with the Mariinsky Ballet, touring globally with the company and making her debut in 1995 at the Metropolitan Opera House. Later, she pursued a solo career, performing with the New National Theatre Ballet Tokyo, English National Ballet, and the Bordeaux Ballet.

Known for her faultless technique, captivating stage presence, and striking beauty, she has expanded her influence beyond dance. She has appeared on TV talent shows, engaged in opposition politics, and has frequently been featured in Russian gossip magazines. She also founded the Anastasia Volochkova Cultural Foundation in Moscow and launched the CMM — an art production agency, further cementing her impact on the cultural landscape.

10: Ekaterina Krysanova

Date of Birth: 22 March 1985, Moscow, USSR

Best Works:

• Swan Lake
• Don Quixote
• Romeo and Juliet
• Medora in Le Corsaire

Accolades:

• The Golden Mask National Theatre prize
• Positano Léonide Massine Prize
• Twined Prize Benois-Massine Moscow-Positano
• Honored Artist of the Russian Federation

Ekaterina Krysanova began her ballet training at the age of eight at the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Singing Center in Moscow. She later attended the Mikhail Lavrovsky State Ballet School and graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 2003. Her talent and dedication quickly propelled her through the ranks: she was promoted to the rank of soloist in 2006, first soloist in 2008, and by 2009, she had reached the esteemed position of Leading Soloist.

Krysanova first gained recognition in 2001 when she won 1st prize at the Luxembourg Prize International Ballet Contest and 3rd prize at the International Ballet Dancers and Choreographers Contest in Moscow. Among the famed Russian ballet dancers, she is known for her interpretations of both classical and contemporary ballet roles, bringing depth and nuance to each performance.