Ninel Petrova, the ballerina from Leningrad that became a true legend, recently passed away at the age of 101. Our deepest condolences to her loved ones. For anyone with an appreciation for ballet as an art form, Ninel Petrova will forever remain as symbol of selfless devotion to the thespian craft, and a symbol of elegance and beauty. She was the first ballerina to perform Leonid Yacobson’s Eternal Spring. Her rendition of the miniature is now deeply etched into the history of choreography. 
 

Ninel Petrova first began working together with the great ballet master when she was still in dance school, and when he created his trailblazing Spartacus at the Kirov Ballet Theatre, she went on to star in the show as Phrygia. This part is rightly counted among the most flawless in her body of work. After retiring from stage, Ninel Petrova found her calling as a teacher, giving her heart and soul to tutoring Leonid Yacobson’s Choreographic Miniatures troupe. Ballet generations come and go, but her memory shines eternal.