Natalia Sologub

One of the leading young female soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre, Natalia Sologub has performed a large number of principal roles in classical as well as modern repertoire. She came to the Mariinsky from Bashkiria in 1998, at first as an understudy for such stars as Diana Vishneva before becoming a unique, unforgettable dancer-actress in her own right. In just a few years, Sologub has advanced to the top as a Mariinsky dancer. Lacking handsome looks, she has however a slim and flexible body, and what makes her really inimitable is her bold, speedy and risky technique.

In addition, she is a clever dramatic actress whose skills quickly made her a strong rival to Vishneva in MacMillan’s “Manon” and Ratmansky’s “Cinderella” (in 2000 and 2002 respectively). But her real peak came last year, with the premieres of Balanchine’s “Four Temperaments” and Forsythe’s “Steptext” at the Mariinsky. In the Choleric variation of the “Four Temperaments” she dominated the whole ensemble, having created a powerful image of a long-legged female with fire in her heart. And “Steptext” immediately made her a star. Following the music of Bach’s “Chaconne,” Sologub’s brutal heroine drew abstract geometry in ...