Maria Bulanova (ballet dancer)


Maria Andreevna Bulanova is a Russian ballet dancer. She has been a first soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet since 2025 and was nominated for the “Golden Mask” national theatre award in 2022.
IG masha_bulanova

Biography and career

Bulanova was born in Saint Petersburg, and started her ballet training at the Academy of Classical Russian Ballet, under Vladislav Kuramshin. From 2008 to 2015 she performed in the academy's theatre troupe named “Choreographic miniatures”, and toured Russia and abroad.
In 2011, Bulanova enrolled at the [Vaganova Academy of Russia|Russian Ballet|Vaganova Ballet Academy] under Lyudmila Komolova. However, she left the academy after one term.
Bulanova participated in the Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competitions in 2012 and 2013, and was a finalist in 2015, placing in the top 12 in the junior group.
In 2015, Bulanova graduated from secondary school after passing her final examinations. That same year she returned to the Vaganova Ballet Academy, to join the class taught by the Russian ballet tutor Lyudmila Kovaleva.
Bulanova won first prize at the International Vaganova-Prix Ballet Dancers’ Competition in St Petersburg in 2016. In 2018, she graduated from the academy with an excellent diploma and was invited to join the Mariinsky Ballet. Since November 2019, she has been the second soloist of the ballet company. Since September 2025, she has been the first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre Ballet Company..
In 2022, Bulanova was nominated for the “Golden Mask” theatre award in the category “Ballet – modern dance/the best female performance” for her role as 1st Fairy in the ballet Renard. Mavra. The Fairy's Kiss.
Ballet critic Anna Gordeeva has commented on Bulanova's performances “the young dancer has significant tragic talent – she is able to tell about mutual relationship between her heroine and 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 the stage play... Ms. Bulanova looks great in the “Rubies”... 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 the ballerina's fragility that character had convincingly confident vigour. Her Lilac Fairy ensured a happy ending to the sweet story, which has so scary beginning.”

Repertoire

La Sylphide Giselle La Bayadère Swan Lake The Sleeping Beauty Le Corsaire Don Quixote Scheherazade The Firebird The Fountain of Bakhchisarai The Nutcracker JewelsSymphony in C A Midsummer Night's Dream In the NightThe Legend of Love The Little Humpbacked Horse Anna Karenina Cinderella Paquita Pulcinella Push Comes to ShoveLe baiser de la fée The Pharaoh's Daughter The Bronze Horseman
  • LENINGRAD SYMPHONY ballet set to music by Dmitry Shostakovich
  • ''Spartacus''

Awards

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