Maria Bulanova (ballet dancer)

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Russian ballet dancer (born 2001)

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is  Andreevna and the family name is  Bulanova.

Maria Bulanova

Born|  (2001-01-12) January 12, 2001 (age 23)

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Education| Vaganova Ballet Academy
Occupation| Ballet dancer
Years active| since 2008 – present
Career
Current group| Mariinsky Ballet

Maria Andreevna Bulanova (born January 12, 2001, Saint Petersburg) is a Russian ballet dancer. She has been a soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet since 2019 and was nominated for the national theatre award “Golden Mask” (2022).

## Biography and career[edit]

Born in Saint Petersburg, Bulanova started her ballet training at the Academy of Classical Russian Ballet, managed by Vladislav Kuramshin, and had been trained under his tutoring. During 2008-2015 she performed her art in the academy's theatre troupe named “Choreographic miniatures”, then toured Russia and abroad.

Maria enrolled in preliminary courses offered by the Vaganova Ballet Academy and in 2011 she was in the first class of the academy. Her teacher was Lyudmila Komolova. However, at the end of the first term, Maria left the academy due to the impossibility of balancing her education and performances in school theatre.[1]

She participated in the international ballet competitions Youth America Grand Prix in 2012 and 2013. She was a finalist in 2015 (top-12 in junior group).[2]

In 2015, Maria graduated from secondary school after passing her final examinations and passing two years of education as external student. In the same year she returned to Vaganova Ballet Academy class of famous Russian ballet tutor Professor Lyudmila Kovaleva to participate 1st course.[1]

She was a prize-winner at the International Vaganova-Prix Ballet Dancers’ Competition (1st prize, St Petersburg, 2016).[3]

In 2018, she graduated from the academy with an excellent diploma and was invited to join the Mariinsky Ballet.[4] Since November 2019 Maria has been the 2nd soloist of the troupe.[5][6]

In 2022, she became the nominee of the highest theatre award “Golden Mask” in a category “Ballet – modern dance/the best female performance” for the role of 1st Fairy in the ballet Renard. Mavra. The Fairy's Kiss.[7]

Ballet critic Anna Gordeeva had written about Maria Bulanova: “Young dancer has significant tragic talent – she is able to tell about mutual relationship between her heroine and the Death: Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis or Zarema, who is ready to murder out of jealousy – they are in the memory for a long time after the seeing stage play. Meanwhile another “coloures” are sweated, including clear Balanchine style. Ms. Bulanova looks great in the “Rubies”. It's even hard to assume her next solid role. For now it seems that she will conquer any technique and any style absolutely.[8] One of the most interesting Ms. Bulanova's debuts was the role of Lilac Fairy in the “Sleeping Beauty” – gracious dreamy character. Actually she stood against Evil, but despite of ballerina's fragility that character was convincing confident vigour. Her Lilac Fairy was ensurimg happy-end in the sweet story, which has so scary beginning.”[9]

## Repertoire[edit]

* La Sylphide (Effie)
* Giselle (Myrtha)
* La Bayadère (Gamzatti, D’Jampe, Grand pas)
* Swan Lake (brides, big swans, pas de deux from the Act II)
* The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy)
* Le Corsaire (Medora, Trio of Odalisques)
* Don Quixote (Kitri, Street Dancer)
* Scheherazade (Zobeide)
* The Firebird (The Firebird, the Princess of Great Beauty)
* The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Zarema)
* The Nutcracker (Waltz of the Flores, Waltz of the Snowflakes)
* Jewels
* Symphony in C (III. Allegro vivace)
* A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hippolyta)
* In the Night
* The Legend of Love (Dance of the Court Dancers, monologue of Mekhmeneh Bahnu, adagio Act III)
* The Little Humpbacked Horse (Mare, Sea Princess)
* Anna Karenina (Princess Betsy)
* Cinderella (Female Dance, Dance teachers)
* Paquita (Carducha)
* Pulcinella (Prudenza)
* Push Comes to Shove
* Le baiser de la fée (Fairy I)
* The Pharaoh's Daughter (Fisherman’s Wife)
* The Bronze Horseman (The Queen of the Ball)
* LENINGRAD SYMPHONY (the Girl) ballet set to music by Dmitry Shostakovich
* Spartacus (Aegina)

## Awards[edit]

* 2014: first prize of international competition of junior ballet dancers “Anna Pavlova” in a category “Modern choreography” and second prize in a category “Soloists of classic dance”, medium group (10-13 y.o.).[10]
* 2016: laureate of Vaganova-Prix competition, 1st rank.[3]
* 2022: nomination for “Golden Mask” award in a category “Ballet/Contemporary Dance – Best Actress” for the role of 1st Fairy in the ballet Renard. Mavra. The Fairy's Kiss.[7]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Yulia Fokina (2022). "Maria Bulanova". Mask Book.
2. ^ "2015 YAGP - BOSTON, MA SEMI-FINAL WINNERS". Youth America Grand Prix.
3. ^ a b "VII Vaganova Prix winners are announced in St Petersburg". Gramilano. October 27, 2016.
4. ^ "Дебют Марии Булановой в балете "Бахчисарайский фонтан"". Young Ballet. February 27, 2019.
5. ^ "Мария Буланова – вторая солистка!". Young Ballet. November 25, 2019.
6. ^ "Maria Bulanova". Golden Mask.
7. ^ a b "Nominees 2022". Golden Mask.
8. ^ Anna Gordeeva (May 6, 2019). "Вот новое и блестящее поколение балета Мариинки — запомните эти имена!". Sobaka.ru.
9. ^ Anna Gordeeva (March 10, 2020). "Мария, Мария, Анастасия…". St. Petersburg Theater Magazine.
10. ^ "Results of the III international competition of young ballet dancers "Young Russia Grand Prix 2014"". IBC "Anna Pavlova". 2014.

## External links[edit]

* Maria Bulanova / Mariinsky Ballet

https://vk.com/bulanova_ballet