Svetlana Zakharova was a principal dancer with the Mariinsky Theatre from 1996 to 2003, and has been a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre (since 2003) and Milan's La Scala Theatre (since 2008).
Since 2018, she has been a member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art. Since 2024, she has been serving as the Acting Rector of the Moscow Academy of Choreography.
In 1989, she was admitted to the Kyiv Choreographic School. After six years of study there (in the class of Valeria Sulegina), she participated in the Vaganova-Prix competition for young dancers in St. Petersburg. She won the second prize and received an offer to transfer to the graduating class of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In 1996, Zakharova graduated from the Academy, becoming one of the first graduates of Elena Evteeva, a former renowned ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre. That same year, she was accepted into the company of the Mariinsky Theatre and by the following season had attained the position of soloist.
For the 2003/2004 season, Svetlana Zakharova transferred to the Bolshoi Theatre company. Her debut as a Bolshoi Theatre soloist took place on October 5, 2003, in the ballet "Giselle" (staging by V. Vasiliev).
Awards
Since 2018, she has been a member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art. Since 2024, she has been serving as the Acting Rector of the Moscow Academy of Choreography.
In 1989, she was admitted to the Kyiv Choreographic School. After six years of study there (in the class of Valeria Sulegina), she participated in the Vaganova-Prix competition for young dancers in St. Petersburg. She won the second prize and received an offer to transfer to the graduating class of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In 1996, Zakharova graduated from the Academy, becoming one of the first graduates of Elena Evteeva, a former renowned ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre. That same year, she was accepted into the company of the Mariinsky Theatre and by the following season had attained the position of soloist.
For the 2003/2004 season, Svetlana Zakharova transferred to the Bolshoi Theatre company. Her debut as a Bolshoi Theatre soloist took place on October 5, 2003, in the ballet "Giselle" (staging by V. Vasiliev).
Awards
- In 1998, she won the First Prize at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson and was awarded the title of "Honored Artist of the Russian Federation."
- In 1999, she was awarded the "Soul of Dance" prize by the magazine Ballet (in the "Rising Star" category) and the National Theatre Award "Golden Mask" for her performance of the lead role in the ballet "Serenade."
- In 2000, she was awarded the National Theatre Award "Golden Mask" for her performance of the lead role in the ballet "The Sleeping Beauty."
- In 2008, she was awarded the title of "People's Artist of the Russian Federation" and the title of "Étoile" (star) of the La Scala ballet company—the first Russian artist to receive this honor.
- In 2010, she was made an Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters.
- In 2019, she was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," IV Class (April 29, 2019) — for her great contribution to the development of national culture and art, and many years of fruitful activity.
- In 2025 — a Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor of Moscow (March 24, 2025) — for many years of fruitful work in the field of culture in the city of Moscow.
- etc.
