Altynai Asylmuratova: A Life in Dance
I’ve always been fascinated by stories of great ballerinas. From the delicate grace of Anna Pavlova to the raw power of Margot Fonteyn, each dancer holds a unique place in my heart, and it’s an incredible honour to add my own story to this incredible legacy. Altynai Asylmuratova – a name that may not be instantly recognised by all, yet to me, her story is truly one of inspiring triumph and enduring passion for ballet. I’ve been lucky enough to study under the legendary ballerina during my training years in Moscow, and her presence is still one of the most potent and significant inspirations of my career. She was one of the original “Moscow Diamonds”, the name bestowed upon a cohort of exceptional ballerinas during the late Soviet era, each rising to prominence with the Bolshoi Ballet. To think that she has been my own personal muse all these years… it seems almost impossible to express how much of a role her story has played in shaping who I am as a dancer.
Her story, unlike some, doesn't begin with the privilege of wealthy parentage or a gilded, pre-ordained ballet path. Altynai Asylmuratova’s life began in 1961, a year when Sputnik orbited the earth and the Berlin Wall divided a city, a world away from the seemingly perfect life of a young dancer in Moscow. Her family were nomadic pastoralists from the Kyrgyzstan Republic, in the south of Soviet Russia. It is there that Altynai began to develop her natural athleticism through the endless stretches of steppes, racing her brothers, developing a lightness of foot and strength in her core, born not of training but simply from the land and a free spirit that embraced every physical challenge.
Born in the mountainous Altai region of Russia, her world was that of rural communities, small villages, and traditional ways of life, miles from the polished stage and rigid discipline that would come to define her career.
Imagine her life – filled with fresh mountain air, vibrant blue skies and the scent of sun-baked soil… how it must have been a sharp contrast to the imposing halls of Moscow’s ballet academy. It is this contrast that is central to her tale – the unlikely transition of a village girl to one of the most iconic stars of Soviet ballet. She often spoke about how, although the scenery and climate of her childhood could hardly have been more different from Moscow, the essential element remained constant; the feeling of being "grounded".
The first spark of her destiny arose from a performance by a travelling ballet troupe in her village. A memory from the show – the image of the lead ballerina swirling, an apparition of grace and light, became the dream that took root within her. At just ten years old, her family’s life was about to change dramatically, as Altynai, her head filled with visions of this distant yet captivating artform, made a decision that would shape not only her own future but her family’s destiny.
She enrolled in a school of dance that was part of a local circus - a long way from the world-renowned ballet academies she dreamt of. She thrived, though, her raw talent undeniable. Her natural ability caught the eye of scouts from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy, one of the most respected ballet institutions in the world. The opportunity was there – a chance to train amongst the most promising young dancers of Russia. Her family, though apprehensive about this huge leap into the unknown, ultimately gave their blessing, trusting in her spirit and dedication.
Imagine their faces when the young girl who, just a few years before, walked barefoot through grasslands and learned about the world by herding animals, now stood before them, a whirlwind of movement and graceful steps, her new identity in motion. This was a turning point – a bold, uncompromising step away from a life in rural Russia into the heart of ballet, a world seemingly as foreign to her as a different planet.
At thirteen, she was welcomed into the academy. Life, once pastoral, now revolved around the regimented routines of a ballerina’s existence – endless hours of physical training, relentless exercises and the sheer will needed to push beyond limitations. For many young students, the relentless pace of their training and the harsh demands of classical ballet would break them. For Altynai, this gruelling regimen served as fuel, each challenge simply reinforcing her conviction to embrace every opportunity. It was here that she learned about self-discipline, the pursuit of perfection, and the importance of building resilience, a critical aspect of navigating a life that would involve immense physical and emotional demands. She immersed herself in every lesson – not with a desperation to succeed, but with the quiet passion of someone who truly loved what she was learning. The beauty of ballet seemed to flow naturally from her, an inherent talent she had always had.
Years passed and the relentless rhythm of training and studying dominated her life. Altynai’s determination started to draw attention – not just amongst her teachers and fellow dancers but from esteemed guest choreographers visiting the academy. They saw in her the spark of a natural talent. Each ballet teacher imparted unique aspects of this art form – precision from one, athleticism from another, and a deep sense of emotive artistry from yet another. These became the building blocks of her career. Her exceptional physique - long, slender limbs and an ethereal grace in every movement - caught the attention of the legendary ballet dancer Galina Ulanova, herself a legendary Bolshoi ballerina, and her mentorship served to further hone her natural ability. This marked a true turning point - a mentor with a legendary lineage guiding a young student. It was during this period, from the ages of 17 to 22, that she really came into her own. It was during these formative years that Altynai began to experience the magic that happens when discipline, dedication and innate ability combine to form a true talent. She stood out as one of the academy’s brightest stars. It was inevitable that her progress wouldn’t be left unnoticed by the Bolshoi Ballet Company – she became a protégée of its artistic director, being invited to perform a range of roles. This was an opportunity that would come to define her legacy.
She graduated top of her class at 18, an incredible achievement in its own right, yet in the same year, her ballet journey took another exciting twist: her acceptance into the Bolshoi Ballet Company in Moscow. Joining the ranks of this prestigious company, renowned worldwide for its illustrious history, brought both exhilaration and an awareness of the formidable weight of expectations placed upon a rising talent like herself. The world of professional ballet is highly competitive – and a company like the Bolshoi, considered by many to be a crown jewel of this artform, holds a uniquely strict tradition that, to an outsider, can appear almost intimidating. But Altynai never shied away from challenges. To her, they were simply an essential part of growth and transformation. She found her strength in her training, in her years of gruelling, devoted learning – she carried the memories of those experiences, like an anchor keeping her firmly grounded. She became known for her flawless technique, athleticism and exquisite stage presence. There was a raw beauty in the way she moved, each step effortlessly flowing into the next. She had, as many describe, an innate, organic elegance that made her appear as if she had been born to dance. This, in conjunction with her extraordinary ability to express raw emotion through the language of ballet, meant she truly shone. It was at the Bolshoi that she truly blossomed – embracing a variety of roles and pushing her artistic limits in every performance. To her, ballet was a language - a dialogue between performer and audience where story and emotion were unveiled, explored, and conveyed through each movement, each delicate gesture.
However, the pressures of professional dance, especially within such a renowned institution, could prove taxing on any ballerina’s physical and mental well-being. As much as she loved dancing, there were nights where fatigue and stress threatened to consume her, and her performance would fall below the high standards she held herself to. Altynai became particularly close with the Bolshoi's choreographer, who recognised her artistic potential and challenged her to think deeply about the stories behind the steps and choreography. The focus, they agreed, had to be on building a personal relationship with every performance, making each one feel more like a story than a mere exercise in physical perfection. This new emphasis, however, required a level of emotional vulnerability that many dancers struggle to access. It involved diving deeply into one’s own emotions – often a source of anxiety or hesitation. This meant confronting both personal demons and the vulnerability that arises when a dancer exposes the very core of themselves to an audience.
There was, however, a depth and honesty in Altynai that made her journey even more compelling. It’s said that true artists often face internal turmoil to bring to life those seemingly effortless expressions that enthrall audiences. What was remarkable about her was not only the level of artistry she possessed but the depth of human experience she embraced and transformed into art. The roles she played reflected this duality, portraying both joy and sorrow, vulnerability and strength – revealing the spectrum of emotions and life experiences that gave her ballet so much emotional depth.
From "Giselle" and "La Sylphide" to the classical splendour of "Swan Lake" and the challenging "Don Quixote," she mastered every role. Audiences adored her. Critics acclaimed her - they described her movement as "liquid", her grace as "immaculate", and the passion in her every performance as "exhilarating”. There is a saying – the true sign of a ballerina’s success is their ability to move an audience to tears, a profound experience where art and human emotions intersect. This is precisely what she achieved. Yet, in her personal life, behind the persona of a star dancer, there was another Altynai – the shy girl, always conscious of the fragility and ephemerality of dance.
The years passed, her reputation blossomed - becoming synonymous with grace and emotion, but in her personal life, her vulnerabilities remained present. Every artist must eventually confront their mortality. Altynai’s body was now a testament to the demands of ballet, reminding her, and every other dancer, of the finite time and physical capacity she had. This awareness became a powerful reminder – to honour her talent with each step and to appreciate the delicate magic of her gift, before it inevitably diminished. A dancer must make every performance count, she reminded herself – each a poignant memory to preserve as her legacy unfolded. It was as if a deeper understanding of her artistry surfaced – an awakening of both creative and existential awareness. Her dedication to the artform, once fueled solely by an unrelenting passion for dancing, was now informed by an acute understanding of her own mortality. In this space, Altynai’s artistry began to take on a new, poignant dimension. Her performances, whilst breathtakingly elegant, acquired a profound sense of honesty and rawness – an undeniable vulnerability that deepened her connection with audiences, a subtle emotional dimension that they resonated with on a deeply personal level.
This was her journey - a constant struggle to reconcile the demands of ballet with the fragility of a dancer’s existence, each day, each step a conscious choice, and each performance a beautiful testament to her strength, artistry, and resilience.
Altynai remained active with the Bolshoi for a considerable time – a formidable talent performing for over 15 years – becoming a mainstay on the Russian ballet stage, a constant source of inspiration to her peers, and a constant presence that captivated audiences. It’s always inspiring to witness a dancer transcend expectations – but it’s even more compelling when they do so while staying grounded, keeping that inner sense of self that guides every step they take. There is a beautiful sense of closure in knowing that after an illustrious career on stage, Altynai moved into a teaching role, giving back to the dance world that she so wholeheartedly embraced, mentoring new generations, inspiring future ballerinas to explore the same path, each one stepping into the footsteps of this inspiring icon of ballet.
It has been a true privilege to share my experiences as a young ballerina, the same dance floor upon which Altynai once so effortlessly glided – the stage of the Bolshoi. It’s through such shared stories that the heritage of ballet lives on.
A dance legend who shaped the landscape of ballet as we know it – for that I will always be thankful to Altynai Asylmuratova. Her story, a testament to the beauty, strength and enduring legacy of this extraordinary art form.