Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet Principal Dancer Born in Kerch (Ukraine). She graduated from the Vaganova Leningrad Choreographic Institute (the Academy of Russian Ballet) in 1991 in the class of N. M. Dudinskaya, the legendary ballerina of the Kirov Theater. The year she graduated she won First Prize at the All-Russian Competition of Choreographic Institutes.John Noymeyer noticed the dancer’s extraordinary expression and created the miniature Pavlova and Cechetti for her. Her graduation performances brought Lopatkina not only an invitiation to join the Maryinsky Theater but also rave reviews to be expected of a ballerina and not a beginning dancer. For her debut as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake in the 1994-1995 season she was awarded the Golden Sofit Prize.
Balet magazine gave the ballerina its Soul of the Dance Award and in 1996 Uliana Lopatkina was selected as the best ballerina of the year and winner of the La Divina International Prize, founded by Ardani Artists. She is also the recipient of the National Theater Golden Mask Award as best ballerina of 1996.
Awards People`s Artist of Russia (2006). Honoured Artist of Russia (2000). Recipient of the State Prize of Russia (1999). Prizewinner at the International Vaganova-prix Competition (St Petersburg, 1991). Won the Golden Sofit (1995), the Golden Mask (1997), the Baltika prize (1997 and 2001) and the Evening Standard (1998).
Joined the Mariinsky Theatre in 1991. Principal since 1995.
Repertoire includes: Giselle (Giselle, Myrtha); Le Corsaire (Medora); La Bayadere (Nikia), revised version by Vakhtang Chabukiani; Grand pas from Paquita (soloist); The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy), revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev; Swan Lake (Odette-Odile); Raymonda (Raymonda, Clemans), revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev; The Swan; Scheherazade (Zobeide); The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Zarema); The Legend of Love (Mekhmeneh Bahnu); Leningrad Symphony (The Girl); Pas de quatre (Маria Taglioni); Serenade; Piano Concerto No. 2 (Ballet Imperial); Symphony in C (2nd Movement); Theme and Variations; La Valse; Jewels (Diamonds); In the Night; The Nutcracker (highlights: Teacher and Pupil), choreography by John Neumeier; Le Jeune Homme et la Mort; Goya-Divertissement; Le Baiser de la Fee (Fairy), Le Poeme de l`Extase, choreography by Alexei Ratmansky; In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.
First performer of one of the solo roles in Jogn Neumeier`s Sounds of Empty Pages, staged for the Mariinsky Theatre (2001).