Alina Cojocaru (1981–). Romanian ballerina

Alina Cojocaru was born in Romania in 1981 and trained at the State Ballet School in Kyiv, Ukraine. She spent a year at The Royal Ballet School in London on a Prix de Lausanne Scholarship prior to returning to Ukraine to dance with Kyiv Ballet. A year later Cojocaru joined The Royal Ballet and in 2001 was promoted to principal dancer. Her seemingly fragile, waif-like appearance belies a strong technique and intelligence. She made a multitude of roles her own whilst dancing with The Royal Ballet. Always genuine, questing for inner depth, Cojocaru unwrapped many classical roles with new and different interpretations.

In 2013 Alina Cojocaru left The Royal Ballet and joined English National Ballet. By 2022, having built up a huge international following, she was dancing as a guest artist all over the world, not least as a permanent guest with John Neumeier’s Hamburg Ballet. She has received many awards, including an OBE in 2023.