Brief Bio
Born on July 13th, 1976, in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg), Diana had a strong passion for movement and dance from a young age. She applied to enter the Vaganova Academy when she was nine but was not accepted. Working hard for two years, she applied again at age 11 and was accepted to the Academy. At age 17, she won first prize at the Prix de Lausanne competition in Switzerland. This allowed her to be able to choose an international ballet academy where she could finish her studies. However, she turned down the offer and decided to finish her studies at the Vaganova Academy, which had become her home. She graduated from the class of Lyudmila Kovaleva, whom she considered "a second mother".
She joined the Mariinsky officially in 1996 even though she had danced with the company before during her last year at the Vaganova Academy. She was promoted to principal dancer very quickly and soon became a star of the Mariinsky. She received many invitations to perform internationally. In 2005, she joined the American Ballet Theatre as principal dancer. She left ABT in June 2017 after a long career in the USA.
Her performances allowed her to win awards such as the Golden Mask Award. She was named a People's Artist of Russia by President Putin. In 2008 she danced a choreographic piece made specially for her, "Beauty in Motion", which received worldwide recognition. A few years later, she opened the Diana Vishneva Foundation and founded the CONTEXT festival in 2012. She also founded her own dance studio called CONTEXT in St. Petersburg in 2017.
She is married to Konstantin Selinevich and gave birth to a son, Rudolf, in May 2018.
She joined the Mariinsky officially in 1996 even though she had danced with the company before during her last year at the Vaganova Academy. She was promoted to principal dancer very quickly and soon became a star of the Mariinsky. She received many invitations to perform internationally. In 2005, she joined the American Ballet Theatre as principal dancer. She left ABT in June 2017 after a long career in the USA.
Her performances allowed her to win awards such as the Golden Mask Award. She was named a People's Artist of Russia by President Putin. In 2008 she danced a choreographic piece made specially for her, "Beauty in Motion", which received worldwide recognition. A few years later, she opened the Diana Vishneva Foundation and founded the CONTEXT festival in 2012. She also founded her own dance studio called CONTEXT in St. Petersburg in 2017.
She is married to Konstantin Selinevich and gave birth to a son, Rudolf, in May 2018.
Awards
1994 - Prizewinner at Prix de Lausanne competition
1995 - Benois de la danse prize
1996 - Golden Sophit St Petersburg theatre prize
1998 - the Baltika prize
2001 - the Golden Mask (most important theatrical prize in Russia)
2002 - the Dance of Europe prize
2003 - Ballet magazine prize
2007 - Awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia by President Putin
1995 - Benois de la danse prize
1996 - Golden Sophit St Petersburg theatre prize
1998 - the Baltika prize
2001 - the Golden Mask (most important theatrical prize in Russia)
2002 - the Dance of Europe prize
2003 - Ballet magazine prize
2007 - Awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia by President Putin
Interviews
(turn on English subtitles in video settings for the Russian video)
- https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/apr/12/diana-vishneva-on-the-edge-interview
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/19/russian-prima-ballerina-lashes-spoiled-internet-obsessed-younger/
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthyeating/11494057/My-Day-on-a-Plate-ballerina-Diana-Vishneva.html
- https://www.rbth.com/arts/2016/04/27/ballerina-diana-vishneva-valery-gergiev-let-me-divide-my-life-in-two_588617
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My favourite videos
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Why do I love Diana?
Diana is amazing because she has an unusual and indescribable fire that she displays when she dances. She has a burning sense of individuality that makes her different from other dancers, and immediately draws your attention to her unique style.
Every one of her movements expresses a different emotion, transporting the audience into another world.
She can be delicate and gentle - but can also be spontaneous and dramatic.
She attracts the viewer with each of her gestures, with all of her facial expressions and movements. She puts importance on each detail of her body and of her emotional performance. This creates a sort of "flow".
She shows her personality in everything she does.
When she plays a role, she "becomes" the character.
Her dance has a special quality that makes her memorable and different.
In my opinion, she is the greatest dancer that has ever lived, and a legend of ballet.
No one can repeat what Diana Vishneva did and does. She is a jewel.
Every one of her movements expresses a different emotion, transporting the audience into another world.
She can be delicate and gentle - but can also be spontaneous and dramatic.
She attracts the viewer with each of her gestures, with all of her facial expressions and movements. She puts importance on each detail of her body and of her emotional performance. This creates a sort of "flow".
She shows her personality in everything she does.
When she plays a role, she "becomes" the character.
Her dance has a special quality that makes her memorable and different.
In my opinion, she is the greatest dancer that has ever lived, and a legend of ballet.
No one can repeat what Diana Vishneva did and does. She is a jewel.
