Born in Tbilisi (Georgia). Graduated from the Tbilisi School of Ballet, trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy (class of Professor Tatyana Udalenkova). Joined the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1988. With the Mariinsky Theatre since 1992. Principal since 1992.
Honoured Artist of Russia (2002). Prizewinner of The International Ballet Competition (Jackson, 1991). Won the Baltika prize (2000).
Repertoire includes: Giselle (Giselle); Paquita Grand Pas; Le Corsaire (Medora); The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy, Princess Aurora); Swan Lake (Odette-Odile); La Bayadere (Nikia, Gamzatti); Raymonda (Raymonda); Don Quixote (Kitri); The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Zarema); The Legend of Love (Mekmene-Banu); Fokine?s Sheherazade (Zobeide), Firebird (Firebird); Balanchine?s Symphony in C (1st movement), Jewels (Rubies); Roland Petit?s Carmen (Carmen); MacMillan?s Manon (Manon); Alexei Ratmansky?s Le Poeme de l?Extase, Le Baiser de la Fee (Fairy), Cinderella (Stepmother).