I was 10 or 11 at the time, and my mum took me to see Grigorovich's Spartacus. It was the first time I'd seen men dance that way. After the performance, I told my mum that I wanted to study where they studied, and so my goal to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy was born.

I have too many amazing memories from time at the Academy; graduation exams, performing in Bolshoi Theatre, La Scala. Our class is still very close, we see each other regularly, and I consider them my family and Moscow my home.

All my teachers gave me so much, and I remember their words every day. My classical teacher, Andrei Smirnov, gave me technique and jump that Russian dancers are known for. My duet teacher, Ilya M. Ryzhakov, supported me all the way through my studies. But I think the teacher who inspired me the most was my character dance teacher, Svetlana A. Ivanova. I'd never experienced character dancing before, but soon fell in love with it. She was, and still is, like a mother to me and was the first person to recognize my choreographic talent.

After graduation I was lucky enough to be offered contracts to many companies in Europe and Russia. I wanted to stay in Russia, and so after some complications, I was taken as a coryphee in the State Academic Theatre of Tatarstan, in Kazan. After my first year, I was promoted to soloist. My career as a choreographer also, if not somewhat unexpectedly, took off.

I am currently a leading soloist with the company in Kazan and dance all solo and principal roles in the repertoire.

Discipline. Hard work. Respect for the arts and who came before you. The Academy taught me all I know today, and I’ll carry it with me always. The beautiful thing is that I regularly choreograph for students, for which I am extremely grateful to Marina K. Leonova and all the staff, and so it's like I never left. The level of students and teaching is retained year after year. I am proud that I am a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and any success that comes my way is as much the Academy's as it is mine.

I want to stay in Russia for the foreseeable future and dance as much as I can. Experience new repertoire, new roles, and choreograph for more talented students and dancers.

I would say you have to want it more than anything, and be prepared to sacrifice everything and be pushed to your limits. The training is intense, but ultimately gets results, and opens opportunities that no other school can provide. Understand that you're entering the best ballet school in the world, and you're expected to work at the highest level.