Valentina Ganibalova

Valentina Ganibalova was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on the 7th of March 1948. In 1967 she graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Leningrad (class with Mikhail Baryshnikov). From 1967 to 1989 - she was a leading ballerina of the Kirov Ballet (Mariinsky Theater). Her best works include Odetta/Odilia (Swan Lake), Gizellle (Gizelle), Kitri (Don Quixote), Bayaderka (Bayaderka), Zarema (Bakhchisaraysky Fontan), Khozyaika Mednoy Gory (Kamenny Tsvetok) and other leading parts. Ganibalova worked with American director George Cucor as an actress in Blue Bird (1976). She also worked as choreographer in a number of Russian and International productions. From 1990 to present - Ganibalova is the Artistic Director of St. Petersburg Ballet Theater.