An ordinary average person, reading articles about some famous contemporary, dreams of having the same wealth and shining at social events. But few people think about how hard it was to achieve all this.
Ballerina Anastasia Volochkova often appears in news posts today. Journalists and bloggers willingly multiply the rumors spreading around this recognizable person, comment on them, and put on public display photographs in which Anastasia appears as a spoiled beauty who spends her life solely on pleasure. Is it so?
Childhood and youth of a ballerina
Volochkova was born in 1976 in St. Petersburg.
From a young age, she already knew for sure that she would study ballet. My father built a professional career in sports and was the USSR champion in men's doubles tennis. My mother’s job was also not an office one: she worked as a tour guide, enthusiastically showing tourists the beauty of the Northern capital. Little Anastasia made her choice early: her profession should be related to both sports and creativity. At the age of five, the girl saw the ballet “The Nutcracker” for the first time and “fell ill” with the ballet.
The girl's abilities were appreciated by the coaches, and she began studying at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. Her talent was revealed already in her student years: in her penultimate year, Anastasia performed solo roles at the Mariinsky Theater.
Career
After finishing her studies, Volochkova began serving at the Bolshoi Theater. Once, during a tour in the UK, choreographer Derek Dean noticed her and offered her a role in The Sleeping Beauty, and wrote the part of the fairy Carabosse especially for the young artist.
For several years, everything was going well, but after the change of leadership at the Bolshoi, Volochkova began a protracted conflict with the new administration. It is difficult to say what the real reason was, but Anastasia eventually left the theater and went on a “free swim.”
And without government support, on her own, the ballerina began to stage plays, invite actors, and created her own show. In 2011, in Moscow, she opened the Anastasia Volochkova Creative Center, where she provides training for those who want to delve into the secrets of ballet art.
At the same time, Anastasia tried herself as a politician. For 7 years she was a member of the United Russia party, then, in 2009, she expressed her intention to run for mayor of Sochi. She failed to become mayor, but this did not become a reason for sadness and frustration: the ballerina decided to test herself in a different field, starring in several films.
Anastasia also wrote 2 books. The first is called “The History of a Russian Ballerina”, and the second is called “Payment for Success”. Both are autobiographical. The ballerina shares in them not only her achievements, but also openly talks about mistakes and failures.
Biography
Born on January 20, 1976 in the family of Yuri Fedorovich Volochkov (b. July 31, 1947)[6], champion of the Soviet Union in men's doubles (with Ivan Minkevich) in table tennis in 1983, athletics coach at a sports school, and Tamara Vladimirovna Antonova (born December 3, 1951)[7], tour guide in St. Petersburg[8]. According to Volochkova herself, she dreamed of becoming a ballerina from the age of five, ever since her mother took her to the Nutcracker ballet at the Mariinsky Theater[9].
She studied at the Academy of Russian Ballet named after. A. Ya. Vaganova, graduated in the class of Natalia Dudinskaya[10]. In 1994, while still a student of the second, pre-graduation course, she began performing solo roles on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. After graduation, she was immediately accepted into the position of soloist. Already in the first years of her work, she performed the main roles in such ballets as “Giselle”, “Corsair”, “Swan Lake”, “Raymonda” and “Firebird”[10].
In 1998, she received an invitation from Vladimir Vasiliev to the Bolshoi Theater to perform the main role of Odette in his new production of Swan Lake[10]. She also performed the roles of Nikia (La Bayadère), Raymonda, and the Lilac Fairy (The Sleeping Beauty) in Yuri Grigorovich's editions[10]. Along with working in the Bolshoi Theater troupe, he begins a solo career, performing with his own concert numbers and in troupes of other theaters[10].
After touring in the UK at the beginning of 2000, she received an engagement in London with the English National Ballet, where choreographer Derek Dean composed the part of Fairy Carabosse especially for her in his own production of The Sleeping Beauty[10]. In March 2000, she returned to Moscow and signed a contract for the next season to play the main roles at the Bolshoi Theater.
After the unexpected dismissal of Vladimir Vasiliev (from September 1, Anatoly Iksanov was appointed director of the theater), Volochkova began a series of conflicts with the new administration. At the same time, she became a popular character in gossip columns and tabloids, constantly appeared in various television shows and became the “face” of the Chopard
. In 2002, on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, the ballerina was announced as the laureate of the Benois Dance Prize, which caused outrage from the public[3].
In 2003, the administration refused to sign another annual contract with her, limiting it to four months. In response, she appealed to the courts and raised controversy in the media about the legality of such a decision. In September 2003, she was officially fired from the troupe, which was widely reported in the press. The formal reason was that Volochkova did not meet the physical fitness requirements and it was impossible for her to find a partner [10] (the premier of the Mariinsky Theater Evgeny Ivanchenko, the ballerina’s only partner, was injured and was unable to participate in Swan Lake [11]).
She is the only leading soloist who is in such physical shape! The future of the Bolshoi will clearly consist of the likes of Zakharova, Alexandrova, Lunkina. But I can’t build prospects depending on whether Nastya Volochkova loses weight or not[12].
— Anatoly Iksanov, General Director of the Bolshoi Theater
She herself connects her dismissal from the theater with the personal revenge of billionaire and deputy Suleiman Kerimov, with whom she broke up shortly before her dismissal. The ballerina explained the “problem of excess weight” by the fact that Iksanov forced the male part of the troupe to sign a letter in which they refused to dance with Volochkova (Nikolai Tsiskaridze refused to sign). Thus, according to the ballerina, a situation was artificially created in which it became impossible for her to work[13].
In November of the same year, during her solo concert in the Kremlin, Anastasia said:
I believe that justice will prevail and I will still be able to dance for you on the famous stage of the Bolshoi Theater. And your presence here with all of us is not only support and justification for my creativity. This is my great victory over those people, over those forces that are trying to deprive me of my creativity and destroy me as a ballerina.
Although the court ultimately sided with plaintiff Volochkova, as a result of the litigation she left the troupe.
Since 2005, he has been working in his own projects, starring in films, television series and commercials. He is one of the main characters in the television cartoon show “Cartoon Personality”.
Twice she participated in the television project “Ice Age”: in 2007, paired with figure skater Anton Sikharulidze, in 2009 (Season III of the show) - paired with Maxim Marinin. In December 2009, she was invited to Alla Pugacheva’s project “Christmas Meetings” as a singing ballerina; composer Igor Nikolaev wrote the song “Ballerina” especially for her.
In 2009, her autobiography “The History of a Russian Ballerina” was published[10]. On June 17, 2010, she defended her dissertation on the topic of creative schools in the regions of Russia and received an MBA degree from the Higher School of Economics[10]. In 2011, she opened a children's creative center in Moscow.
Personal life
Anastasia Volochkova lives in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
She dated oligarch Suleiman Kerimov for two and a half years. The couple separated in 2003. [ source not specified 414 days
]
In 2007, she married businessman and doctor of legal sciences Igor Aleksandrovich Vdovin (born February 22, 1964[14]), but later admitted that the wedding ceremony was fictitious, and they were never officially scheduled[15]; On September 23, 2005, she gave birth to a daughter, Ariadne. According to media reports, a year later friction began between the newlyweds, they broke up, but maintained friendly relations[16].
On January 11, 2011, Volochkova posted erotic photographs from her vacation in the Maldives on her blog. According to the ballerina, she took such a step “to spite the paparazzi” and because she has nothing to be ashamed of[17]. The photographs caused a great stir in the press[18].
On the night of April 29, 2013, the mansion rented by Volochkova on Molokova Street in the Moscow district of Lianozovo[19] was raided by robbers who stole two safes with jewelry from the house. The artist herself was on tour in Warsaw at that time[20].
In an interview for the press, Anastasia estimated the value of the stolen jewelry at several hundred thousand dollars, and also reported that a new lover named Bakhtiyar Salimov had appeared in her life[19].
In November 2020, Volochkova’s former partner Chermen Dzotov and sex trainer Alex Leslie conducted a PR campaign with intimate photographs of the ballerina posted online without her consent[21][22][23][24].
Income
It cannot be said that Volochkova willingly informs everyone about the size of her fortune. Yes, she publishes gorgeous pictures from her vacation or from her country house, but no one knows what her real income is.
From time to time, information leaks onto the network that indirectly indicates the amount of income of the owner of the secret of the “branded twine.” Thus, her former personal driver, accused of theft, claims that Volochkova’s car costs 13 million rubles, she owns two apartments in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as 22 apartments in Astrakhan .
But the country palace with a swimming pool is not her property; it is owned by Volochkova’s ex-husband.
Personal life: everything is in plain sight
It seems that Anastasia is happy to show off all her men to the public. We know about her dizzying affair with billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, about a short marriage with Igor Vdovin, from whom Volochkova gave birth to a daughter, Ariadne, in 2005.
Today, you can often see impressive men next to her. They give her huge bouquets of white roses and arrange a vacation in the Maldives. But a beautiful woman should always be the center of attention, and crowds of fans are normal, Anastasia believes.
Personal life
The sphere of Anastasia Volochkova’s personal life has always aroused interest among her many fans. In the early 2000s, her companion was the oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. Anastasia was completely captivated by the broad romantic gestures and strong charisma of this man. However, in 2003, the couple broke up after two years of relationship. One of the reasons given by the artist herself was that Suleiman’s relatives were unhappy with the relationship with Anastasia to the detriment of the family business. The ballerina also associates the troubles that began at that time in the Bolshoi Theater with the revenge of the influential man she left behind.
Igor Vdovin and Anastasia Volochkova
In 2007, a luxurious wedding ceremony took place between Anastasia Volochkova and businessman Igor Vdovin. This event received wide media coverage as one of the most memorable social events. Later, the ballerina herself said that the ceremony was fictitious; she and Igor Vdovin were never officially married. Despite the fact that the couple could not get along together and broke up, Volochkova and Vdovin maintain a warm relationship based on friendship and mutual respect.
In 2005, the couple had a daughter, Ariadne. Perhaps, not wanting her daughter to repeat her sad experience in theaters, Anastasia Volochkova speaks out against Ariadne studying ballet.
In the spring of 2013, Anastasia began a relationship with the head of an oil transportation company, Bakhtiyar Salimov. They met during Anastasia's touring concert in Vladivostok on Valentine's Day. These relationships are developing in the best possible way, and the show business star willingly shares her joy through her profile on social networks.
Nikolai Baskov and Anastasia Volochkova in the Maldives
In 2013, there were rumors that the ballerina was having an affair with singer Nikolai Baskov. The lovers vacationed together in the Maldives and posted intimate photos together on Instagram. Many expressed the opinion that this was nothing more than a PR stunt on the part of both artists.
In the spring of 2020, the ballerina moved to a three-story mansion 5 kilometers along Novorizhskoye Highway. According to rumors, Anastasia Volochkova’s new house costs $3 million.
Anastasia Volochkova maintains an official personal account on Instagram. The page received a mark of official verification, and 630 thousand subscribers follow the new photos of the ballerina. Anastasia Volochkova is not shy about posting photos at home, without fashionable hair and makeup, recording videos from workouts and showing fans her natural self. But Anastasia also pleases fans with staged photos and reports from social events, where she appears in full splendor.
Anastasia Volochkova without makeup
In addition, the ballerina maintains an official website, where a biography of Anastasia Volochkova is published, the latest news and photos, as well as links to the ballerina’s accounts.
Success or luck?
Talent is the basis of Anastasia’s success. No one sees the daily hours of training that Volochkova arranges for herself even now, when, it would seem, you can simply enjoy the fruits of your previous labors and do nothing.
Talent and constant work are two components of a brilliant career and today’s demand for a ballerina. And this is also the ability to sacrifice oneself for the sake of one’s business. As another famous ballerina Anna Pavlova said, “... a true artist must sacrifice herself to her art.”
Volochkova outraged by another “naked” photo
Anastasia Volochkova again posted an erotic photo on her page. This time, instead of doing the splits, she showed her bare breasts. The ballerina covered the intimate parts of her body with pointe shoes and a tutu. The frame with the practically naked star caused indignation among subscribers.
Anastasia Volochkova does not stop circulating her photos from the Maldives. She again shared one of the pictures on the microblog. Fans and ill-wishers did not remain indifferent to the publication, circulating the “hot” photo of the seductress. Most people reacted to the publication as usual, criticizing the star for her nudity.
Anastasia Volochkova yearns for her erotic photo shoot from the Maldives Photo: Instagram
The prima ballerina did not enter into a discussion with bloggers. A few days earlier, the star had already expressed her opinion about the critics. Volochkova advised true “connoisseurs of beauty” not to look into her microblog and live their own lives: “Why are you grazing on my accounts and not wasting your time.” Anastasia said that the general attention only pleases and encourages her. She asked subscribers to continue in the same spirit, and most importantly, not to forget about her existence.
Volochkova attached a photo with traditional twine to her caustic message. Sitting down on three chairs, the star again demonstrated the perfect stretch. Anastasia covered her bare chest with a teddy bear. “Guys, this is my home, my veranda and my page,” the dancer answered the critics. Anastasia assured the public that if you fly over her house in a helicopter, you might not see anything like that.
Naked Volochkova with a teddy bear showed the splits Photo: Instagram
There was also a candid photo shoot in Krasnodar, where Volochkova arrived with charity concerts and master classes. The star visited a Japanese bath, but instead of her impressions she shared a spicy photo from the steam room. “Actually, I’m a fan of the Russian bathhouse...”, the artist admitted a few days later. During the tour in Kuban, she did not have time for her favorite vacation, but the manager of one of the salons suggested that the dancer spend 15 minutes in the hammam. “Girls, you are unreal! Thank you for staying late at work at night,” the star showered gratitude on the microblog. Volochkova admitted that she survived this tour only thanks to the responsive salon employees.
After the concert, Anastasia Volochkova went to the temple Photo: Instagram
The apogee was the photo of Volochkova in the temple, where the ballerina prayed for the prosperity of the Krasnodar region. “Father Maxim kindly greeted us,” the dancer said after the concert. Condemnation this time was caused by the appearance of Anastasia, who came to church in pants. “It’s surprising that she hasn’t done the splits yet,” her compatriots ridiculed the celebrity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Hl45oDTpI
Queen of the splits today
Looking at the glossy photographs, you might think that today all Volochkova does is swim in her magnificent pool, show off her beautiful figure in a swimsuit and buy more and more vases for huge bouquets of flowers from admiring fans that no longer fit in the house.
This is just part of her life, a beautiful picture. In fact, the artist is working on her new show ballet, where she departs from the framework of the classics, using the latest techniques, and visits Russian cities with concerts. Many of her performances are for charity: for example, a series of concerts “Symphony of Good” was held in Crimea in 2020. Perhaps another interesting book awaits us about the difficult road to success.
We recommend reading: The success story of Maria Kozhevnikova
Anastasia is doing what she loves, raising her daughter and feeling like a happy person. Her path to happiness turned out to be difficult - but Anastasia is firmly convinced that the one who walks will master the road! And she continues her path, inspiring with her personal example those who are still choosing their future destiny.
Anastasia Volochkova: “I hope there will be no more intimate photos of me on the Internet”
Anastasia Volochkova still loves the oil billionaire // Photo: Instagram
✔ MY MOST FEAR IS... betrayal and loss of trust in people, falsehood and lies.
✔ TO LIGHTEN YOUR MOOD, I... go to the choreographic hall, do an exercise and rejoice in the fact that I can do what I love on a professional level.
✔ NOT A SINGLE DAY GOES AWAY WITHOUT... a smile and a ballet barre. And also without a post on Instagram, where I try to share fun and positivity.
✔ I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO TAKE FROM ME... endurance, because she will need it. Already, Ariadne, who bears my last name, is receiving a lot of nasty messages on social networks, and she needs to learn not to react. Or don’t read all this nonsense at all. For example, I am not at all interested in who is scribbling there and what: it is more important for me to be, not to have a reputation. I also wish that my girl grows up to be as open and kind as me. Although many consider these qualities to be shortcomings, I share the opinion that they are the most valuable thing in a person. In addition, those who do not hold grudges live longer.
Anastasia Volochkova with her daughter // Photo: Maxim Ratnikov
✔ I DON’T WANT ARIADNE TO EVER KNOW THAT I... cry a lot because of disappointment in people. But because we live in the same house, Arisha, of course, often sees my tears. In general, I have no secrets from her. I think this is a direct path to a close relationship with the heiress, and I don’t hide anything from her.
✔ I WILL DECIDE TO HAVE ONE MORE CHILD IF... I meet a man whom I love immensely. Although I’m not yet sure that I need more children. Today my life is devoted to art, to which I am more faithful than to any representative of the stronger sex.
✔ LASTLY I GOT ANGRY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT... the former driver Alexander Skirtach, who is today under investigation for stealing my money, is constantly inventing new fables. Either I ran after him, or I didn’t pay the money... It’s annoying: he’s a fraud and a liar.
✔ FOOD I LOVE MOST OF ALL... is tom yam. True, I improved his recipe a little. In my version, it consists exclusively of water and vegetables. I very rarely allow the luxury of sprinkling the soup with grated hard cheese. I also have the habit of eating two eggs a day - chicken or quail. I also love fresh cucumbers and spinach. In general, eating green vegetables is a great way to keep fit. I recommend it to everyone!
Anastasia Volochkova with her mother // Photo: Still from the program
✔ IF MY INTIMATE PHOTOS GO ON THE NET AGAIN, THEN I... will relive this situation again with my head held high. But I hope that I will never again meet such a dishonest person as the one who made nude photographs public. Unfortunately, none of the celebrities are immune from this. This happened to both Natasha Koroleva and Gluk'oZa...
✔ NEVER IN YOUR LIFE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES... did I ask a man for money, even from the best and my very beloved Suleiman Kerimov. Not a penny! So that the thought does not creep into his head that finances play at least some role for me in the relationship.
✔ THE MOST EXPENSIVE GIFT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED FROM A MAN... – daughter Arisha from her ex-husband Igor Vdovin.
✔ FROM COLLEAGUES IN SHOW BUSINESS, I CONSIDER Vladimir Vinokur ATTRACTIVE , because he is a deeply wise and interesting person.
✔ THE MOST UNUSUAL WAY THAT ANYONE HAS TRIED TO GET TO KNOW ME LATELY... was the other day at the hotel where I was vacationing. During dinner, the man stood on the table and said: “Anastasia, I know for sure that I will be the best husband for you!” He knelt down and gave a white rose. It was very nice.
Anastasia Volochkova // Photo: Instagram
✔ THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I WAKE UP... is look out the huge windows of my hundred-meter-long bedroom, enjoy the singing of the birds and thank God for all the good things.
✔ LOOKING AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR, I THINK THAT... “I’m damn attractive,” as Andrei Mironov’s hero said in “An Ordinary Miracle.”
✔ I CAN’T STAND WHEN PEOPLE ON THE STREET, AFTER RECOGNIZING ME... begin to adhere to a familiar style of communication. For example, while on vacation in Cyprus, I was sunbathing on the pier and fell asleep. After a while, some girl woke me up, started filming me on her phone and asking me to go have a drink with her. I had to swim away from her into the sea, but she followed me and, trying to catch up, swore in the last words. She replied that only my butt could hear her screams. Left behind...
✔ THING I CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY... an uninhabited island somewhere in the Maldives. Otherwise I have everything. The most valuable thing I own is my luxurious home. Some people may like it, others may not, but for me there is no better place on Earth, because I have always dreamed of just such a mansion.
