About
Soviet-born Russian American ballerina and founder of Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition. She is a lyrical and expressive ballerina who performed with the Bolshoi Ballet until 1979. She then went on to become a principle dancer at New York City Ballet from 1983-1995. She later opened her own ballet school, the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory, in 2003.
Before Fame
Her mother encouraged her to join a children's ballet company at the age of 7. At 9 she was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet School where she studied til 1973 before joining the company. She was promoted to a principle dancer in 1975. In 1982 she made her Broadway debut in the revival of On Your Toes.
Trivia
She received rave reviews for her performance as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She returned to Moscow in 1991 and 1992 for special performances. She and choreographer Margo Sappington formed the touring company, Daring Project. Many of her private students have gone on to dance for esteemed companies such as the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and the Cuban National Ballet.
Family Life
She was married to dancer Leonid Kozlov from 1973 until 1985. She has been based in New York City.
Associated With
She performed in a stage production of A Christmas Carol in Madison Square Gardens alongside Tony Randall and Ben Vereen.
