Diana Vishneva

Diana Vishneva Диана Вишнёва
Diana Vishneva, 2007
Born	Diana Viktorovna Vishnyova (1976-07-13) July 13, 1976 (age 40) Leningrad, Soviet Union
Occupation	ballet dancer
Years active	1995–present
Website	vishneva.ru
Current group	Mariinsky Ballet, American Ballet Theatre

Diana Viktorovna Vishneva (also trans. Vishnyova Russian: Диа́на Ви́кторовна Вишнёва; born July 13, 1976) is a Russian ballet dancer who performs as a principal dancer with both the Mariinsky Ballet (formerly the Kirov Ballet) and the American Ballet Theatre.

Vishneva was born in Saint Petersburg and was trained at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. While at the Vaganova school, she scored the highest scores known to the school's history. During her last year at the Academy she also trained at the Mariinsky Theatre. Vishneva joined the Mariinsky Ballet Company upon her graduation in 1995. Two prizes at the start of her career at the Mariinsky–the Benois de la Danse and the Golden Sofit helped Vishneva rise up the ranks swiftly. She was promoted to principal in 1996.

Vishneva first appeared with the American Ballet Theatre during its 2003 spring season. She joined the company as a principal dancer in 2005.

In 2008, Vishneva joined the Honorary Board of Directors of the Russian Children's Welfare Society (RCWS). Vishneva was one of the featured dancers in the 2006 documentary Ballerina. Became the new face of Kèrastase's latest product line and in-salon treatment, Discipline.

Vishneva's repertoire includes Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadère, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Firebird and Giselle. She also performs the works of modern choreographers, especially those of George Balanchine, William Forsythe and Roland Petit. She has enjoyed critical acclaim for her interpretation of Rubies, (the second movement of Balanchine's evening-length, ballet, Jewels) Giselle, and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. Her partners have included such well-known dancers as Angel Corella and Vladimir Malakhov.