What is natalia makarova?

Natalia Makarova is a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer. She was born on November 21, 1940 in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia). Makarova trained at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet and joined the Kirov Ballet (now the Mariinsky Ballet) in 1959, where she quickly rose to prominence as a prima ballerina.

Makarova gained international fame for her performances in classical ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty, as well as in contemporary works by choreographers such as George Balanchine and Kenneth MacMillan. She was known for her technical precision, lyrical grace, and dramatic flair on stage.

In 1970, Makarova defected from the Soviet Union while on tour with the Kirov Ballet in London, seeking artistic and personal freedoms that were not available to her in her home country. She went on to dance with the American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Ballet before retiring from performing in 1989.

Makarova has since worked as a choreographer, staging productions of classical ballets around the world. She has also served as a teacher and coach, passing on her knowledge and expertise to a new generation of dancers. Makarova has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of ballet, including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Order of the British Empire.