What is larissa lezhnina?

Larissa Lezhnina is a former principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet. She was born in Russia in 1964 and began her ballet training at the age of six at the Leningrad Choreographic School. She graduated in 1982 and joined the Kirov Ballet where she quickly rose through the ranks to become a principal dancer. In 1991, she defected to the West and joined the Dutch National Ballet, where she remained until her retirement in 2012. Lezhnina is known for her beautiful technique and expressive characterizations in classical and contemporary ballets. She has worked with many renowned choreographers, including William Forsythe and Hans van Manen.