Biography
Ballet was truly my life, and I really wanted to study and remain at the school – even though it wasn’t easy.
Early Life
1982-
Born in Sevastopol, Ukraine in 1982, Anastasia began her dance journey at age six in a folk dance ensemble. At 13, her path shifted dramatically when a talented ballet teacher in Sevastopol recognised her potential and encouraged her to apply to the Kyiv Choreographic School. Despite being a latecomer to ballet, Anastasia, at 14, earned a probationary admission to the school in 1996. Facing the formidable challenges of catching up with rigorous training and adjusting to dormitory life away from her parents, she dedicated herself fully. Her tireless effort paid off, and within a few years, she had established an excellent reputation in her class. Anastasia graduated from the Kiev State Choreographic School in 2001.
Career Beginnings
2001-
Upon graduation, she joined the National Opera of Ukraine in Kiev, and her talent shone brightly, elevating to the rank of soloist within six months. Anastasia’s early career was also marked by achievements in international ballet competitions, including a best duet prize and first prize at the Varna International Ballet Competition (2004), and a gold medal at the X International Ballet and Choreography Competition in Moscow (2005), alongside other awards.
In St. Petersburg
2007-
Anastasia’s artistic journey flourished at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she captivated audiences from 2007 to 2009 as a principal dancer. Subsequently, she joined the Mariinsky Theatre as a first soloist in 2009. Anastasia has toured extensively, performing across Europe, the United States, Japan, China and beyond. Notably, in addition to performing demanding roles at the Mariinsky, she also held long-term guest principal positions at the New National Theatre in Japan (2003-2017) and the Novosibirsk Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Russia (2016-2018) as well as her work as a ballet producer at the Vaganova Academy (2018-2020). Anastasia and her family made the decision to leave St. Petersburg in 2022, due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
New Life in Slovenia
2022-
Following their departure from St. Petersburg in 2022, Anastasia and her husband, Denis Matvienko, an internationally acclaimed dancer, established a new chapter in Slovenia with their two children. Anastasia’s artistic journey continues to flourish there, where she not only pursues her performance career but also shares her expertise as a ballet master and choreographer. From 2022 to 2024, she was a guest soloist at the Slovenian National Theatre (Ljubljana SNG) and now a guest soloist and a ballet teacher at the Slovenian National Theatre Maribor.
Ballet Stage
2022-
While continuing her performances across Europe as a freelance dancer, Anastasia embraced a new role in 2022, co-founding Ballet Stage with her husband Denis Matvienko and her sister Aleksandra. This platform supports young talent and provides opportunities for professional growth in the ballet community. Currently, Ballet Stage is developing further projects, including summer intensive programmes, masterclasses, auditions and competitions, evolving into a global network connecting dancers, educators and institutions. As a teacher and a tutor, Anastasia further dedicates herself to the ballet world by sharing her invaluable experience and expertise with aspiring dancers.
When I left the Mariinsky Theatre, I thought my dance career was coming to an end, but sometimes amazing things happen – things I dreamed about but didn’t really believe would come true.