Maria Andreevna Bulanova (born January 12, 2001, Saint Petersburg) is a Russian ballet dancer. She has been a soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet since 2019 and was nominated for the national theatre award “Golden Mask” (2022).

Biography and career
Maria Bulanova was born January 12, 2001, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She started her ballet training in Academy of classical Russian ballet, managed by Vladimir Kuramshin and had been trained under his tutoring. During 2008-2015 she performed her art in the academy's theatre troupe named “Choreographic miniatures”, then made tourings in Russia and abroad.

Maria enrolled in preliminary courses, granted by the Vaganova Ballet Academy and in 2011 she was enlisted in 1st class of the academy. Her teacher was Lyudmila Komolova. However, at the end of first curriculum Maria left the academy due to impossibility of containing her education and performances in school theatre.

Participant of international ballet competitions Youth America Grand Prix in 2012 and 2013. The finalist in 2015 (top-12 in junior group).

In 2015, Maria graduated from secondary school after passing her final examinations and passing two years of education as external student. At the same year she was taken to Vaganova Ballet Academy’ class of famous Russian ballet tutor Professor Lyudmila Kovaleva, 1st course.

Prize-winner at the International Vaganova-Prix Ballet Dancers’ Competition (1st prize, St Petersburg, 2016).

In 2018, she graduated from the academy with excellent diploma and was invited to join to Mariinsky Ballet. Since November 2019 Maria is the 2nd soloist of the troupe.

In 2022, she became the nominee of the highest theatre award “Golden Mask” in a category “Ballet – modern dance/the best female performance” for the role of 1st Fairy in the ballet Renard. Mavra. The Fairy's Kiss.

Ballet critic Anna Gordeeva had written about Maria Bulanova: “Young dancer has significant tragic talent – she is able to tell about mutual relationship between her heroine and the Death: Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis or Zarema, who is ready to murder out of jealousy – they are in the memory for a long time after the seeing stage play. Meanwhile another “coloures” are sweated, including clear Balanchine style. Ms. Bulanova looks great in the “Rubies”. It's even hard to assume her next solid role. For now it seems that she will conquer any technique and any style absolutely. One of the most interesting Ms. Bulanova's debuts was the role of Lilac Fairy in the “Sleeping Beauty” – gracious dreamy character. Actually she stood against Evil, but despite of ballerina's fragility that character was convincing confident vigour. Her Lilac Fairy was ensurimg happy-end in the sweet story, which has so scary beginning.”

Repertoire
 La Sylphide (Effie)
 Giselle  (Myrtha)
 La Bayadère (Gamzatti, D’Jampe, Grand pas)
 Swan Lake (brides, big swans, pas de deux from the Act II)
 The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy)
 Le Corsaire (Medora, Trio of Odalisques)
 Don Quixote (Street Dancer)
 Scheherazade (Zobeide)
 The Firebird  (The Firebird, the Princess of Great Beauty)
 The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Zarema)
 The Nutcracker (Waltz of the Flores, Waltz of the Snowflakes)
 Jewels
 Symphony in C (III. Allegro vivace)
 A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hippolyta)
 In the Night
 The Legend of Love (Dance of the Court Dancers, monologue of Mekhmeneh Bahnu, adagio Act III)
 The Little Humpbacked Horse (Mare, Sea Princess)
 Anna Karenina (Princess Betsy)
 Cinderella  (Female Dance, Dance teachers)
 Paquita (Carducha)
 Pulcinella (Prudenza)
 Push Comes to Shove
 Le baiser de la fée (Fairy I)
 The Pharaoh's Daughter (Fisherman’s Wife)
 The Bronze Horseman (The Queen of the Ball)
 LENINGRAD SYMPHONY (the Girl) ballet set to music by Dmitry Shostakovich

Awards
 2014: first prize of international competition of junior ballet dancers “Anna Pavlova” in a category “Modern choreography” and second prize in a category “Soloists of classic dance”, medium group (10-13 y.o.)
 2016: laureate of Vaganova-Prix competition, 1st rank
 2022: nomination for “Golden Mask” award in a category “Ballet/Contemporary Dance – Best Actress” for the role of 1st Fairy in the ballet Renard. Mavra. The Fairy's Kiss

References

External links
 Maria Bulanova / Mariinsky Ballet

2001 births
Living people
Russian ballerinas
Mariinsky Ballet dancers
21st-century Russian ballet dancers