Legendary Ballerinas
Ballerina↕ | Country↕ | Years↕ | Signature Company↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Pavlova | Russia | 1881-1931 | Imperial Russian Ballet / own company | The Dying Swan solo, global tours, the Pavlova dessert is named after her |
| Margot Fonteyn | United Kingdom | 1919-1991 | Royal Ballet | Nureyev partnership, prima ballerina assoluta, 50-year career, Ondine and Marguerite |
| Maya Plisetskaya | Soviet Union | 1925-2015 | Bolshoi Ballet | Iconic arched back, Dying Swan for decades, Carmen Suite, Soviet-era defiance |
| Galina Ulanova | Soviet Union | 1910-1998 | Bolshoi Ballet | Stalin's favorite, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet benchmark, dramatic naturalism |
| Natalia Makarova | Soviet Union/United States | 1940- | Kirov / ABT | Defected in London 1970, restaged La Bayadere for West, principal at ABT |
| Sylvie Guillem | France | 1965- | Paris Opera / Royal Ballet | 6 o'clock leg extension, crossover to contemporary, youngest Paris Opera etoile at 19 |
| Darcey Bussell | United Kingdom | 1969- | Royal Ballet | Youngest Royal Ballet principal at 20, Strictly Come Dancing judge, Dame |
| Misty Copeland | United States | 1982- | American Ballet Theatre | First Black female ABT principal 2015, memoir, Under Armour campaigns, late start at 13 |
| Suzanne Farrell | United States | 1945- | New York City Ballet | Balanchine's muse, 28 roles created for her, Suzanne Farrell Ballet founder |
| Alicia Alonso | Cuba | 1920-2019 | Cuban National Ballet | Danced nearly blind, founded Cuban ballet school, Giselle legacy, performed into her 70s |
| Tamara Karsavina | Russia/United Kingdom | 1885-1978 | Ballets Russes | Diaghilev star, Firebird premiere, founding member of Royal Academy of Dance |
| Svetlana Zakharova | Ukraine/Russia | 1979- | Bolshoi Ballet | Ethereal line, Swan Lake and Giselle benchmark, prima at both Mariinsky and Bolshoi |
| Diana Vishneva | Russia | 1976- | Mariinsky / ABT | Dramatic versatility, commissioned contemporary works, Kirov and ABT principal |
| Alessandra Ferri | Italy | 1963- | Royal Ballet / ABT | Dramatic ballerina, Romeo and Juliet for decades, comeback after retirement at 50 |
| Polina Semionova | Russia/Germany | 1984- | Staatsballett Berlin / ABT | Tall stature, classical lines, youngest principal in Berlin Staatsballett history |
| Gelsey Kirkland | United States | 1952- | NYCB / ABT | Balanchine and Baryshnikov partner, memoir Dancing on My Grave, comeback as teacher |
| Lynn Seymour | Canada | 1939-2023 | Royal Ballet | MacMillan muse, dramatic Juliet, created role of Anastasia, Berlin directorship |
| Maria Tallchief | United States | 1925-2013 | New York City Ballet | First Native American prima ballerina, Balanchine's Firebird, Sugar Plum Fairy benchmark |
| Tanaquil Le Clercq | France/United States | 1929-2000 | New York City Ballet | Balanchine muse and wife, career ended by polio at 27, became influential teacher |
| Marianela Nunez | Argentina/United Kingdom | 1982- | Royal Ballet | Two-decade Royal Ballet principal, Swan Lake and Giselle, technical steel with warmth |
Free to explore · No signup needed
Frequently asked questions
How is the Legendary Ballerinas list ranked?
The Legendary Ballerinas list is currently sorted by the source data's default ordering. Community voting is not enabled on this dataset.
How many entries are in this Legendary Ballerinas dataset?
This dataset contains 20 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
Can I download the Legendary Ballerinas data?
Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 20-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.
Related Datasets
More in People
Iconic Choreographers
Balanchine, Graham, Cunningham, Fosse — who shaped modern dance?
Famous Astronomers
Notable astronomers throughout history.
Nobel Laureates by Country
Nobel Prize winners organized by country of birth or citizenship.
Modernist Architects
Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Wright, Niemeyer - who shaped the 20th-century skyline most?
Greatest Cellists
Casals, du Pre, Ma, Rostropovich — who made the cello sing loudest?
Female Monarchs Throughout History
The queens and empresses who shaped world history — from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I to Catherine the Great, who really wore the crown best?
Famous Talk Show Hosts
Oprah, Phil Donahue, Ellen, Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake - daytime royalty compared by era and influence.
Suffragettes
Pankhurst, Anthony, Stanton, Pethick-Lawrence - who fought hardest for women's right to vote?
Child Prodigies in History
Mozart composing at 5, Pascal proving geometry at 12, Terence Tao doing calculus at 9 - whose early genius astonishes most?
Iconic Theater Directors
Brook, Stein, Wilson, Mendes — who are the true stagecraft visionaries?
American Founding Fathers
Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton - who actually built America the most?
Infamous Serial Killers
Bundy, Dahmer, Gacy, Ridgway - true crime's darkest names compared by body count, era and signature.