Ulyana Lopatkina
Encyclopedia
Ulyana Vyacheslavovna Lopatkina ' onMouseout='HidePop("6557")' href="/topics/Kerch">Kerch
, Crimea
, Ukrainian SSR
, USSR) is a principal dancer
at the Kirov Ballet/Mariinsky Theatre
in St Petersburg. She studied at the Vaganova Academy with Natalia Dudinskaya
. Upon graduation Lopatkina joined the Kirov/Mariinsky Theatre
Ballet in 1991, and was promoted to principal dancer
in 1995. Lopatkina is married to Vladimir Kornev, architect and writer, and has one daughter (Masha, born 2002).
Golden Sofit (1995), the Golden Mask
(1997), Prix Benois de la Danse
(1997), the Baltika prize (1997 and 2001), the Evening Standard (1998), State Prize of Russia (1999), Honoured Artist of Russia (2000), People's Artist
of Russia (2006).
Her repertoire includes: Giselle
(Giselle, Myrtha),
Le Corsaire
(Medora),
La Bayadère
(Nikia),
Grand pas from Paquita,
The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy),
Swan Lake
(Odette-Odile),
Raymonda
(Raymonda, Clemans),
The Swan,
Schéhérazade (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),
La Valse
,
Jewels (Diamonds),
In the Night,
The Nutcracker
(highlights: Teacher and Pupil),
Le Jeune Homme et la Mort,
Goya-Divertissement,
Le Baiser de la Fee (Fairy), Le Poeme de l´Extase,
In the Middle.
in 2005. She wakes up between 9am to 10am and drinks a glass of grapefruit juice
or a cup of tea for breakfast. When not in a hurry, she also eats oatmeal
or a buckwheat
porridge
. Rehearsals start after 11am. At the Kirov she first attends a class with other dancers and after that has a personal rehearsal with Ninel Kurgapkina
. After a break, she has more rehearsals or helps teaching younger dancers. Lopatkina often skips lunch.
She likes painting and reading, but after having a daughter her free time is mostly dedicated to taking care of her. Lopatkina still gets nervous before making a stage entrance. After performing she can eat a kilo of grapes or drink a liter of grapefruit juice
. She washes in cold water and sometimes has a massage and a banya
(a kind of sauna
). Lopatkina never sleeps before 1am or 2am and drinks Russian kefir
with a biscuit before going to bed.
As a child she hardly thought of becoming a famous ballerina. Lopatkina is among the world's tallest major ballerinas: she is 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) and wears shoes size 10.5 US (8 UK). Lopatkina uses two pairs of shoes in each performance. The shoes are specially made because of her foot size.
Kerch
Kerch is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine.-Ancient times:...
, Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
, USSR) is a principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
at the Kirov Ballet/Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
in St Petersburg. She studied at the Vaganova Academy with Natalia Dudinskaya
Natalia Dudinskaya
Natalia Mikhailovna Dudinskaya was a Russian prima ballerina who dominated the Kirov Ballet in the 1930s and 1940s.Dudinskaya's mother was Natalia Tagliori, a ballerina coached by Enrico Cecchetti. Trained by Agrippina Vaganova, Dudinskaya matriculated from her school in 1931. She danced all the...
. Upon graduation Lopatkina joined the Kirov/Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
Ballet in 1991, and was promoted to principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
in 1995. Lopatkina is married to Vladimir Kornev, architect and writer, and has one daughter (Masha, born 2002).
Childhood and early training
Although Russian, Ulyana (Uliana) Lopatkina was born and lived in Ukraine until she was 10 years old. Her parents worked on the Ukraine's Black Sea coast in the Kerch shipyards. Lopatkina says that her father was 'horrified" to think of her leaving home at such a young age, but her mother was aware of the long term advantage the sacrifice would create. Lopatkina has two brothers and sisters.Awards
Lopatkina was the prizewinner at the International Vaganova-prix Competition (St Petersburg, 1991).Golden Sofit (1995), the Golden Mask
Golden Mask
The Golden Mask is a Russian theatre festival and the National Theatre Award established in 1994 by the Theatre Union of Russia. The award is given to productions in all genres of theatre art: drama, opera, ballet, operetta and musical, and puppet theatre. It presents the most significant...
(1997), Prix Benois de la Danse
Prix Benois de la Danse
The Benois de la Danse is one of the most prestigious ballet competition. Founded by the International Dance Association in Moscow in 1991, it takes place each year on or around April 29 and is jury-based in its judging...
(1997), the Baltika prize (1997 and 2001), the Evening Standard (1998), State Prize of Russia (1999), Honoured Artist of Russia (2000), People's Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
of Russia (2006).
Best performances and repertoire
Lopatkina excels in classic and dramatic roles. She is a perfect example of the Russian school (Kirov) with willowy limbs, steely strength and a classical purity of line, as well as instinctive musicality.Her repertoire includes: Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
(Giselle, Myrtha),
Le Corsaire
Le Corsaire
Le Corsaire is a ballet typically presented in three acts, with a libretto originally created by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges loosely based on the poem The Corsair by Lord Byron. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to the music of Adolphe Adam, it was first presented by the ballet of...
(Medora),
La Bayadère
La Bayadère
La Bayadère is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. La Bayadère was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on...
(Nikia),
Grand pas from Paquita,
The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy),
Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
(Odette-Odile),
Raymonda
Raymonda
Raymonda is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa, with music by Alexander Glazunov, his opus 57. First presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre on in St. Petersburg, Russia...
(Raymonda, Clemans),
The Swan,
Schéhérazade (Zobeide),
The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Zarema),
The Legend of Love
The Legend of Love
The Legend of Love is a 20 episode drama by Television Broadcasts Limited, released on 12 July 2003. It is an adaptation of the story of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, with slight changes to the storyline.-External links:*...
(Mekhmeneh Bahnu),
Leningrad Symphony (The Girl),
Pas de quatre
Pas de Quatre
Pas de Quatre is a ballet divertissement choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845, on the suggestion of Benjamin Lumley, Director at His Majestys Theatre to music composed by Cesare Pugni....
(Маria Taglioni),
Serenade
Serenade
In music, a serenade is a musical composition, and/or performance, in someone's honor. Serenades are typically calm, light music.The word Serenade is derived from the Italian word sereno, which means calm....
,
Piano Concerto No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 2 refers to the second piano concerto written by one of a number of composers:*Piano Concerto No. 2 *Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major*Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major...
(Ballet Imperial),
Symphony in C
Symphony in C
Symphony in C may refer to:* a number of symphonies written in the key of C major** symphonies referred to by their key exclusively:*** Symphony in C major - Richard Wagner's Symphony in C...
(2nd Movement),
La Valse
La Valse
La valse, un poème choréographique pour orchestre , is a work written by Maurice Ravel from February 1919 until 1920 ; it was conceived as a ballet but is now more often heard as a concert work...
,
Jewels (Diamonds),
In the Night,
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
(highlights: Teacher and Pupil),
Le Jeune Homme et la Mort,
Goya-Divertissement,
Le Baiser de la Fee (Fairy), Le Poeme de l´Extase,
In the Middle.
Daily life
Lopatkina revealed details about her daily life in an interview to The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
in 2005. She wakes up between 9am to 10am and drinks a glass of grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice is the fruit juice from grapefruits. It is rich in Vitamin C and ranges from sweet-tart to very sour. It is considered by some cultures to be a mystical tonic which promotes health and vigor. Certain civilizations have had holy men who live on Grapefruit juice alone...
or a cup of tea for breakfast. When not in a hurry, she also eats oatmeal
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is ground oat groats , or a porridge made from oats . Oatmeal can also be ground oat, steel-cut oats, crushed oats, or rolled oats....
or a buckwheat
Buckwheat
Buckwheat refers to a variety of plants in the dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, the North American genus Eriogonum, and the Northern Hemisphere genus Fallopia. Either of the latter two may be referred to as "wild buckwheat"...
porridge
Porridge
Porridge is a dish made by boiling oats or other cereal meals in water, milk, or both. It is usually served hot in a bowl or dish...
. Rehearsals start after 11am. At the Kirov she first attends a class with other dancers and after that has a personal rehearsal with Ninel Kurgapkina
Ninel Kurgapkina
Ninel Alexandrovna Kurgapkina was a Russian dance teacher and former prima ballerina for the Kirov Ballet with over 50 years stage experience. She was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1974....
. After a break, she has more rehearsals or helps teaching younger dancers. Lopatkina often skips lunch.
She likes painting and reading, but after having a daughter her free time is mostly dedicated to taking care of her. Lopatkina still gets nervous before making a stage entrance. After performing she can eat a kilo of grapes or drink a liter of grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice is the fruit juice from grapefruits. It is rich in Vitamin C and ranges from sweet-tart to very sour. It is considered by some cultures to be a mystical tonic which promotes health and vigor. Certain civilizations have had holy men who live on Grapefruit juice alone...
. She washes in cold water and sometimes has a massage and a banya
Banya
Banya may refer to:* Banya , a traditional Russian steam bath* BanYa, a South Korean musical group* Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man, a comic by Kim Young-ohIn places:* Banya, Plovdiv Province, a town in southern Bulgaria...
(a kind of sauna
Sauna
A sauna is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities....
). Lopatkina never sleeps before 1am or 2am and drinks Russian kefir
Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk drink that originated with shepherds of the North Caucasus region, who discovered that fresh milk carried in leather pouches would occasionally ferment into an effervescent beverage...
with a biscuit before going to bed.
As a child she hardly thought of becoming a famous ballerina. Lopatkina is among the world's tallest major ballerinas: she is 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) and wears shoes size 10.5 US (8 UK). Lopatkina uses two pairs of shoes in each performance. The shoes are specially made because of her foot size.
Filmography and photo gallery
- Lopatkina's Filmography. MSN Movies (retrieved December 30, 2007)
- Lopatkina - Photo Gallery at www.ballerinagallery.com (retrieved December 30, 2007)
External links
- Ulyana Lopatkina - Short Bio at the Mariinsky Theatre site (retrieved December 30, 2007)
- Dyukova, L. and Hageman, M. Ulyana Lopatkina at www.ballet.classical.ru (retrieved December 30, 2007, in Russian)
- Delaney, Jennifer. Uliana Lopatkina. Ballet Magazine, Nov, 1997 (retrieved December 30, 2007)
- Ng, Kevin. Interview with Uliana Lopatkina. Ballet Magazine, Oct, 1999 (retrieved December 30, 2007)