Olga Smirnova (ballet) instrument of her art form", revealing his enthusiasm for her pas de deux with Semyon Chudin at the Royal Opera House. He also acclaimed her roles the same week of Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake". The enthusiasm was reflected by Clement Crisp of the "Financial Times" while Zoë Anderson of "The Independent" was impressed by her performance of Nikiya in "La Bayadère" in which she "carrie[d] the story with aplomb". Olga Smirnova (ballet) Olga Smirnova (born 1991) is a Russian ballet dancer who is currently a prima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet. She has danced at venues across Europe as well
Mariinsky Ballet both companies are run by the theatre itself. Despite later name changes and pressures of the Russian revolution, the present day "Mariinsky Ballet" is still linked to the school, which is now known as the "Vaganova Ballet Academy". The Mariinsky Ballet is today recognised as one of the world's greatest ballet companies, employing over 200 dancers, including a reserve troupe and character artists. The Director of the Mariinsky Ballet is Yuri Fateyev. Being modelled on other leading opera/ballet theatres such as the Royal Opera House, London and La Scala, Milan, the Mariinsky Ballet and Mariinsky Opera both come under the