Lubov Kunakova

Ballet Mistress


Lubov Kunakova, an honored artist of Russian Federation, People’s artist of Russian Federation (1983)was born on the 8th of August 1951.
She graduated from Perm College of Choreography in 1970 (a class of G. Kuznetsova).
During 1970-1974 in Perm Theatre she performed parts of Milady and Queen («Three Musketeers»), Swanilda, Odette-Odile («Swan Lake»), Kitri («Don Quixote»), Fairy of Lilac and Aurora («The Sleeping Beauty») etc.
In 1974 she entered at the Mariinsky theatre, where worked till 1992.

Her repertoire was diverse and voluminous. She tried herself in such diametrically - opposed parts such as Giselle and Mirtha, Gamzatti and Nikia. In these parts she demonstrated her own style, perfected her individuality. Kunakova had a joyful talent, and that made all her parts lyric, romantic and genuine. Her own personality, her open nature and shining smile helped her in creating images of Aurora, Fairy of Lilac, Raymonda, Diana, etc. Her heroines danced with dignity, brilliance and refinement.
During 1997-2002 Kunakova worked as a classic ballet tutor in the Russian Ballet Academy named after A.Vaganova. She has staged a several ballets (Mariinsky Theatre`s version): in Minsk («Don Quixote», «Shopiniana»), Athens, («Don Quixote», «The Sleeping Beauty»), Brazil («Giselle»).
Since 1997 she works as a coach at State Academic Mariinsky theatre, and since 2001 at Konstantin Tachkin`s Saint-Petersburg Ballet Theatre (SPBT) as well.