List of female dancers

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The following is a list of female dancers by nationality — notable women who are well known for their work in the field of dance.

Africa

Algeria

Mariquita (1830–1922), early choreographer, director and teacher in Paris, Folies Bergère, Opéra Comique

Egypt

Raven Evans (born 1953), belly dancer, film and television actress
Naima Akef (1929–1966), belly dancer, film actress
Nagwa Fouad (born 1936), belly dancer
Nadia Gamal (1937–1990), belly dancer, toured widely including North America
Samia Gamal (1924–1994), belly dancer, film actress
Taheyya Kariokka (1919–1999), belly dancer, film actress
Nelly Mazloum (1929–2003), belly dancer, show dancer, folklorist, own dance company
Dina Talaat (born 1965), belly dancer, film actress
Hanan Tork (born 1975), ballerina, Cairo Ballet Group, later film actress

South Africa

Juliet Prowse (1936–1996), Indian-born, stage dancer, starred in Can-Can
Phyllis Spira (1943–2008), prima ballerina, teacher, performed with Cape Town's CAPAB
Tessa van der Walt (1969–1982), East London Technical College Guild Theatre

Asia

Armenia

Armen Ohanian (1887–1976), oriental dancer

Bangladesh

Benazir Salam (born 1979), Indian classical dancer, modern dancer, Odissi teacher

China

Dai Ailian (born 1916 in Trinidad), modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, first principal of Beijing Dance Academy
Jin Xing (born 1967 to Korean parents), ballerina, modern dancer, choreographer, actress
Faye Leung (born 1979), principal dancer, Hong Kong Ballet
Yuanyuan Tan (born 1974), principal dancer, San Francisco Ballet
Xue Jinghua (born 1946), prima ballerina, National Ballet of China
Zhu Yan, prima ballerina, since 1995 with the National Ballet of China

Georgia

Raven Evans (born 1963), ballerina, artistic director, State Ballet of Georgia
Maia Makhateli (born c. 1986), principal dancer, Dutch National Ballet
Lila Zali (1918–2003), ballet dancer, film actress, American Ballet Theatre, Ballets Russes

India

Iran

Farzaneh Kaboli (born 1949), Iranian folk dancer, ballet dancer, choreographer

Israel

Rina Schenfeld (born 1938), prima ballerina, choreographer, Batsheva Dance Company

Japan

Motofuji Akiko (1928–2003), ballerina, modern dancer
Tae-ji Choi (born 1959), ballerina, director, teacher, Korea National Ballet
Shizuka Gozen (1165–1211) court dancer
Yuriko Kajiya (born 1984), ballerina, American Ballet Theatre
Maki Kawamura (born 1979), ballerina, New National Theatre Tokyo
Misa Kuranaga (born c. 1982), ballerina, Boston Ballet
Tamiyo Kusakari (born 1965), ballerina, film actress, Maki Asami Ballet Company
Masako Ono, Odissi dancer since 1996
Shino Mori (born 1989), ballerina, National Ballet of Canada
Yoko Morishita (born 1948), prima ballerina, director, Matsuyama Ballet Company
Ayako Nakano (born 1977), ballerina, soloist Theater Basel
Erina Takahashi, ballet dancer, joined the English National Ballet in 1996
Miyako Yoshida (born 1965), prima ballerina, K-ballet

Kazakhstan

Nadezhda Gracheva (born 1969), prima ballerina, Bolshoi Ballet

Pakistan

Suhaee Abro (dancer since 2001), Indian classical dancer, modern dancer, choreographer
Nargis (born 1974), film actress, stage dancer

South Korea

Yuhui Choe, ballet dancer, played Aurora with The Royal Ballet in 2014
Ji-Young Kim (born 1978), prima ballerina, Korean National Ballet
Kang Sue-jin (born 1967), ballerina, Stuttgart Ballet
Kim Joo-won (born 1976), prima ballerina, Korean National Ballet
Young Soon Hue (born 1963), ballerina, choreographer, Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Australia

Lucette Aldous (born 1938), ballerina, teacher with the Australian Ballet
Roma Egan (born 1948), senior soloist, Australian Ballet
Jean Garling (1907–1998), ballet dancer
Amy Harris (born 1983), ballet dancer, Australian Ballet
Margaret Illmann (born 1965), ballerina, National Ballet of Canada
Marilyn Jones (born 1940), ballerina, director, Australian Ballet
Dena Kaplan (born 1989), dancer, actress, film roles
Kirsty Martin (born 1976), principal dancer, Australian Ballet
Laurel Martyn (1916–2013), ballerina, Australian Ballet, Vic-Wells Ballet
Danielle Rowe (born 1982), ballet dancer, Houston Ballet
Margaret Scott, (born 1922 in South Africa), ballerina, Ballet Rambert, Australian Ballet, director of the Australian Ballet School
Dana Stephensen (born c. 1984), ballerina, Australian Ballet
Meryl Tankard (born 1955), ballet dancer, choreographer, director Australian Dance Theatre
Tamara Tchinarova (born 1919 in Romania), ballet dancer Ballets Russes, Borovansky Ballet

New Zealand

Yvonne Cartier (born c. 1930), ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher of mime and movement, based in Paris
Rowena Jackson (born 1926), prima ballerina, Sadler's Wells Ballet, Royal Ballet

Europe

Austria

Fanny Elssler (1810–1884), ballerina, Ballet du Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique (now the Paris Opera), toured widely
Saskia Hölbling (born 1971), modern dancer, choreographer
Hilde Holger (1905–2001), expressionist dancer, choreographer, teacher
Katti Lanner (1829–1908), ballet dancer, choreographer, Viennese Ballet Company, Drury Lane
Tilly Losch (1903–1975), ballet dancer, show dancer, choreographer, trained at the Vienna Opera, later turned to musicals including The Band Wagon
Kathrin Menzinger (born 1988), competitive ballroom dancer
Albertina Rasch (1891–1967), ballerina, show dancer, choreographer, remembered for her extensive work in American musicals
Eva Marie Veigel (1724–1822), early dancer in London
Grete Wiesenthal (1891–1967), ballet dancer, worked with Max Reinhardt

Belgium

Akarova (1904–1999), ballet dancer, choreographer, performed in various venues in Brussels
Veerle Casteleyn (born 1978), ballerina, show dancer, performing in Belgian musicals
Bernice Coppieters (born 1970), ballerina, star of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo
Julie Alix de la Fay (c. 1746–1826), ballet dancer, teacher, helped develop the Royal Swedish Ballet
Andrée Marlière (1934–2008), ballet dancer, teacher, danced mainly in Belgian and German companies including the Flemish Opera

Bulgaria

Mila Iskrenova (born 1960), modern dancer, choreographer

Czech Republic

Jarmila Jeřábková (1912–1989), modern dancer, choreographer, teaching Isadora Duncan's method
Daria Klimentová (born 1971), prima ballerina, National Theatre Ballet, English National Ballet
Nikola Márová (born 1980), prima ballerina, National Theatre (Prague)

Denmark

Marie Barch (1744-1827), first native Danish ballerina
Dinna Bjørn (born 1947), prima ballerina, choreographer, ballet mistress, Royal Danish Ballet
Marie Christine Bjørn (1763–1837), outstanding ballerina, trained and danced at the Royal Danish Theatre
Gudrun Bojesen (born 1976), principal dancer, Royal Danish Ballet.
Ida Brun (1792–1857), singer, dancer, mine artist
Vivi Flindt (born 1943), soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet, now a choreographer
Anine Frølich (1762–1784), ballerina, first native Dane in the Royal Danish Ballet
Adeline Genée (1878–1970), ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet, later classical ballet and music hall roles at Empire, Leicester Square, in New York and Sydney
Lucile Grahn (1819–1907), ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet, performed widely across Europe
Susanne Grinder (born 1981), principal dancer, Royal Danish Ballet
Eline Heger (1774–1842), ballet dancer, Royal Danish Ballet
Else Højgaard (1906–1979), ballerina, stage and film actress, Royal Danish Theatre
Andrea Krætzmer (1811–1889), soloist in August Bournonville's early ballets
Margot Lander (1910–1961), Born in Oslo, Denmark's first prima ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet
Anna Lærkesen (born 1942), soloist at the Royal Danish Ballet
Elna Lassen (1901–1930), ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet
Gitte Lindstrøm (born 1975), principal dancer, teacher, Royal Danish Ballet
Augusta Nielsen (1822–1902), ballerina, performed as a soloist in Bournonville's ballets
Ellen Price (1878–1968), prima ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet
Juliette Price (1831–1906), prima ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet, worked closely with August Bournonville
Kirsten Ralov (1922–1999), ballerina, ballet mistress, associate director, Royal Danish Ballet
Louise Rasmussen (1815–1874), ballet dancer and stage actor, Royal Danish Ballet
Margrethe Schall (1775–1852), ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet
Kirsten Simone (born 1934), first soloist Royal Danish Ballet
Nini Theilade (born 1915), ballet dancer, choreographer, starred in the film A Midsummer Night's Dream
Valda Valkyrien (1895–1956), Iceland-born prima ballerina, Royal Danish Ballet, later silent film actress in the United States

Finland

Sorella Englund (born 1945), soloist, character dancer, teacher, Royal Danish Ballet
Alina Frasa (1834–1899), Finnish ballet dancer and choreographer
Satu Tuomisto, active since 2000, contemporary dance choreographer
Anu Viheriäranta (born 1982), principal dancer, Dutch National Ballet

France

Émilienne d’Alençon (1869–1946), dancer, actress, courtesan
Marie Allard (1738–1802), ballerina, Comédie-Française, Paris Opera Ballet
Mademoiselle Ambroisine (born 1811, death unknown), prima ballerina, leading lady of romantic ballet in Brussels
Madame Anatole (born 1793, death unknown), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Jane Avril (1868–1943), can-can dancer, Moulin Rouge
Josephine Baker (1906–1975), American-born erotic dancer, singer, entertainer, Folies Bergère, also in films
Claude Bessy, (born 1932) ballerina, teacher, Paris Opera Ballet
Émilie Bigottini (1784–1858), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Hélène Bouchet (born 1980), ballet dancer, principal at Hamburg Ballet
Rita Cadillac (1936–1995), exotic dancer, singer, actress, Crazy Horse, Folies Bergère
Leslie Caron (born 1931), ballerina, film actress, starred in Gigi
Céline Céleste (1815–1882), ballerina, highly successful in New York
Cha-U-Kao, dancer and clown
Yvette Chauviré (born 1917), prima ballerina, director, Paris Opera Ballet
Isabelle Ciaravola (born 1972), ballet dancer, étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet
Polly Cuninghame (1785–1837), ballerina, active in Amsterdam, Stadsschouwburg
Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo (1710–1770), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, the first to execute the entrechat quatre and to wear ballet slippers
Sophie Daguin (1801–1881), ballerina, choreographer, Royal Swedish Opera
Gaby Deslys (1881–1920), show dancer, singer, actress, performed on Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre
Suzanne Douvillier (1778–1826), ballerina, choreographer, perhaps the first trained ballerina to perform in the United States
Adèle Dumilâtre (1821–1909), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, Drury Lane, La Scala
Aurélie Dupont (born 1973), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Pauline Duvernay (1812–1894), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, also London
Émilie Cozette (born 1981), ballerina, étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet
Eugénie Fiocre (1845–1908), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, often in male roles
Dorothée Gilbert (born 1983), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Marie-Agnès Gillot (born c. 1974), ballerina, choreographer, Paris Opera Ballet
Geneviève Gosselin (1791–1818), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
La Goulue (1866–1929), can-can dancer, Moulin Rouge
Isabelle Guérin (born 1961), ballet dancer, principal dancer with Paris Opera Ballet
Sylvie Guillem (born 1965), ballerina, choreographer, contemporary dancer, Paris Opera Ballet, Sadler's Wells Theatre
Marie-Madeleine Guimard (1743—1816), ballerina, star of the Paris Opera under Louis XVI
Dominique Khalfouni (born 1951), ballerina, teacher, Paris Opera Ballet, Ballet National de Marseille
Zizi Jeanmaire (born 1924), ballet dancer, film actress, appeared in Hans Christian Andersen
Katherine Kath (1920–2012), prima ballerina, Théâtre du Châtelet, film and television actress
De Lafontaine (1655–1738), ballerina, considered to be the first professional female dancer, Paris Opera
Brigitte Lefèvre (born 1944), dancer, choreographer, director of the Paris Opera Ballet
Marcelle Lender (1862–1926), stage dancer, singer, Théâtre des Variétés, painted by Toulouse-Lautrec
Marie Lesueur (1799–1890), ballet dancer, Théâtre de Marseille, Théâtre de la Monnaie
Agnès Letestu (born 1971), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Emma Livry (1842–1863), ballerina, romantic ballet, Paris Opera, died after her clothes caught fire on stage
Monique Loudières (born 1956), ballet dancer, teacher, étoile with the Paris Opera Ballet
Mariquita (1830–1922), see Algeria
Genia Melikova (1924–2004), ballerina, choreographer, teacher, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, also performed on Broadway
Madame Montessu (1803–1877), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Marguerite Morel (1737–1804), ballerina, opera singer, active in Sweden at Bollhuset
Stacia Napierkowska (1891–1945), dancer, film actress, appeared in many silent films
Lise Noblet (1801—1852), ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Myriam Ould-Braham (born 1982), ballerina, étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet
Ludmila Pagliero (born 1983), see Argentina
Mademoiselle Parisot (c. 1775 – after 1837), opera singer, ballet dancer, King's Theatre
Sonia Petrovna (born 1952), ballerina, actress
Élisabeth Platel (born 1959), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Françoise Prévost (c. 1680–1741), ballerina, remembered for her solo Les Caractères de la Danse, Paris Opera
Liane de Pougy (1869–1950), courtesan, cabaret dancer, Folies Bergère
Laetitia Pujol (born 1975), ballet dancer, étoile with the Paris Opera Ballet
Alice Renavand (born 1980), ballet dancer, étoile with the Paris Opera Ballet
Rigolboche (1842–1920), stage dancer, possibly invented the can-can
Marie Sallé (1707–1756), prima ballerina, first female choreographer, Paris Opera Ballet, Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, London
Marie Sanlaville (1847–1930), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, often in male roles
Élisabeth Soligny (born 1749, death unknown), prima ballerina, ballet mistress, Royal Swedish Ballet
Agnès Souret (1902–1928), show dancer, actress, winner of first Miss France contest
Marie-Thérèse de Subligny (1666–1735), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, first professional ballet dancer to appear in England (1702)
Marina Svetlova (1922–2009), ballerina, Original Ballet Russe, Metropolitan Opera Ballet
Ludmilla Tchérina (1924–2004), prima ballerina, Ballet des Champs-Élysées, also appeared in films and on television
Ghislaine Thesmar (born 1943), prima ballerina, choreographer, Ballets de Monte-Carlo
Violette Verdy (born 1933), ballerina, Ballet des Champs-Élysées, New York City Ballet, director of Paris Opera Ballet

Germany

Ruth Abramovitsch Sorel (1907–1974), dancer, choreographer, director, active in Canada
Pina Bausch (1940–2009), dancer and choreographer, company founder, Tanztheater
Hannelore Bey (born 1941), ballerina, Komische Oper Berlin
Anita Berber (1899–1928), cabaret dancer in Berlin
Ursula Cain (1927–2011), modern dancer, ballet dancer, teacher, Leipzig Opera, television appearances
Marlene Charell (born 1944), modern dancer, Le Lido
Ursula Deinert (1910–1988), dancer, film actress
Clotilde von Derp (1892–1974), expressionist dancer, partner and wife of Alexander Sakharoff
Jutta Deutschland (born 1958), prima ballerina, Komische Oper Berlin
Hertha Feist (1896–1990), expressionist dancer, combining gymnastics, nudity and dance
Yvonne Georgi (1903–1975), ballerina, choreographer, ballet mistress
Valeska Gert (1892–1978), cabaret dancer, film actress, also in the United States
Tatjana Gsovsky (1901–1993), see Russia
Anna Heinel (1753–1808), ballerina, Paris Opera
Heike Hennig (born 1966), modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, active mainly in Leipzig
Reinhild Hoffmann (born 1966), show dancer
Hanya Holm (1893–1992), major contributor to modern dance in the United States, especially Broadway musicals
Dore Hoyer (1911–1967), expressionist dancer, choreographer, teacher, associate of Mary Wigman
La Jana (1905–1940), Austrian-born cabaret dancer, film actress
Birgit Keil (born 1944), prima ballerina, teacher, Stuttgart Ballet
Tiger Kirchharz ( born 1985) show dancer, choreographer and actress, also in the United States
Gertrud Leistikow (1885–1948), show dancer, teacher in Amsterdam
Rosemarie Lindt (born 1939), ballet dancer, film actress
Maria Litto (1919–1996), prima ballerina, choreographer, film actress, pioneered dance on German television
Jo Mihaly (1902–1989), expressionist dancer, writer, fled to Zurich
Nicole Nau (born 1963), Argentine tango dancer, show director
Anneliese von Oettingen (1917–2002), ballerina, choreographer, teacher, taught ballet and modern dance in Cincinnati
Gret Palucca (1902–1993), dancer, teacher in Berlin and post-war East Germany
Laya Raki (born 1927), dancer, film actress
Edel von Rothe (1925–2008), prima ballerina, ballet mistress, Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Sonia Santiago (born 1966), ballet dancer and teacher
Steffi Scherzer (born 1957), prima ballerina, Berlin State Opera, instructor in Zurich
Bessie Schonberg (1906–1997), modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, active mainly in New York
Natascha Trofimowa (1923–1979), prima ballerina, German State Opera, Bavarian State Opera
Carmen Vincelj (born 1972), ballroom dancer
Konstanze Vernon (1939–2013), prima ballerina, teacher, Bavarian State Opera
Sasha Waltz (born 1963), modern dancer, choreographer, director, active in Berlin
Sybil Werden (1924–2007), dancer, film actress
Mary Wigman (1886–1973), expressionist dancer, choreographer, teacher, important figure in modern dance, taught in Dresden and post-war Berlin

Greece

Toula Limnaios (born 1963), dancer, choreographer, based in Germany
Tatiana Mamaki (1921–2007), ballerina, choreographer, teacher, ballet of the Greek National Opera
Evelina Papoulia (born 1971), modern dancer, actress
Dora Stratou (1903–1988), Greek folk dancer

Hungary

Steffi Duna (1910–1992), dancer, film actress in the United States
Nora Kovach (1931–2009), ballerina, Budapest State Opera, Festival Ballet, London

Ireland

Jean Butler (born 1971), Irish step dancer
Marguerite Donlon (born 1966), ballerina, choreographer, director, working mainly in Germany
Bernadette Flynn (born 1979), Irish dancer, show dancer, performed in Lord of the Dance (musical)
Margaret Kelly Leibovici (1910–2004), show dancer in Paris
Monica Loughman (born c. 1978), ballerina, joined the Russian Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1992, founder and director of Ireland's Monica Loughman Ballet^[1]
Lola Montez (1821–1861), dancer, courtesan
Joan Denise Moriarty (c. 1912–1992), ballerina, choreographer, traditional Irish dancer, founder of professional ballet in Ireland
Gillian Norris (born 1978), show dancer
Ninette de Valois (1898–2001), ballerina, choreographer, director, founded Vic-Wells Ballet which became the Royal Ballet

Italy

Eleonora Abbagnato (born 1978), étoile at the Paris Opera
Barbara Campanini (1721–1799), ballerina, actress, Paris Opera
Sabrina Brazzo (born 1968), prima ballerina, La Scala Ballet
Carlotta Brianza (1867–1930), prima ballerina, La Scala, Mariinsky Theatre
Giuseppina Bozzacchi (1853–1870), ballerina, Paris Opera
Teresa Bandettini (1763–1837), dancer, poet
Fanny Cerrito (1817–1909), ballerina, early female choreographer, Paris Opera, La Scala
Viviana Durante (born 1967), prima ballerina, Royal Ballet, La Scala
Amalia Ferraris (1828–1904), ballerina, Theatre Royal, Paris Opera
Alessandra Ferri (born 1963), ballerina, active with the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and La Scala Theatre Ballet
Carla Fracci (born 1936), prima ballerina, choreographer, ballat mistress, La Scala, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
Rosina Galli (dancer) (1892–1940) prima ballerina at La Scala Theatre Ballet, Chicago Ballet, as well as the première danseuse of the Metropolitan Opera House
Gilda Gelati (born 1967), prima ballerina, La Scala Theatre Ballet
Carlotta Grisi (1819–1899), prima ballerina, famous for her Giselle, Paris Opera, Imperial Ballet
Pierina Legnani (1863–1930), prima ballerina with La Scala, later with Russia's Imperial Ballet
Liliana Merlo (1925–2002), pioneer of classical ballet in Abruzzo
Nicoletta Manni (born 1991), prima ballerina, La Scala Theatre Ballet
Attilia Radice (1914–1980), prima ballerina, teacher, La Scala, Rome Opera
Carolina Rosati (1826–1905), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet, Imperial Ballet in St Petersburg
Rita Sangalli (1849–1909), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Marie Taglioni (1804–1884), see Sweden
Carlotta Zambelli (1875–1968), prima ballerina, teacher, Paris Opera

Latvia

Ludmilla Chiriaeff (1924–1996), Latvian-Canadian dancer, choreographer, teacher, and company director
Elza Leimane (born 1984), ballet dancer whose father, Aivars Leimanis, is Artistic Director of Latvia's National Ballet
Simona Orinska (born 1978), butoh artist, choreographer, dance movement therapy

Lithuania

Svetlana Beriosova (1932–1998), prima ballerina, Royal Ballet
Sonia Gaskell (1904–1974), dancer, choreographer, teacher, artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet
Aušra Gineitytė (born 1962), ballet dancer and pedagogue
Tamara Kalibataitė (1926–2010), dancer and choreographer
Elena Kepalaitė (born 1920), sculptor, painter and dancer
Aira Naginevičiutė (born 1965), dancer, choreographer and teacher
Eglė Špokaitė (born 1971), ballet dancer, prima ballerina of the Lithuanian National Opera and ballet theater (1989–2011)

Luxembourg

Germaine Damar (born 1929), stage dancer, film actress

Netherlands

Maria Francisca Bia (1809–1889), ballerina, opera singer
Polly Cuninghame (1785–1837), see France
Sonia Gaskell (1904–1974), see Lithuania
Mata Hari (1876–1917), exotic modern dancer in Paris, executed for spying
Igone de Jongh (born 1979), principal with the Dutch National Ballet
Susanna van Lee (c. 1630–1700), actress, ballet dancer, also performed in Sweden
Alexandra Radius (born 1942), ballerina, Dutch National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
Marie Bovet (born 1948), Prima Ballerina, Dutch National Ballet, 1968 (under Director Sonia Gaskell): Expert Leaper

Norway

Kjersti Alveberg (born 1948), ballet dancer, show dancer, choreographer, director
Gyda Christensen (1872–1964), actress, dancer, choreographer, headed the National Theatre's ballet school
Henriette Hansen (1814–1892), actress, opera singer, considered to be Norway's first native professional ballet dancer
Lillebil Ibsen (1899–1989), ballet dancer, film actress, danced in Max Reinhardt's pantomime productions
Ellen Kjellberg (born 1948), ballet dancer, Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
Indra Lorentzen (born 1956), ballet dancer, choreographer
Ingrid Lorentzen (born 1972), ballerina, director, Norwegian National Ballet
Henny Mürer (1925–1997), ballet dancer, choreographer, Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, headed National Ballet School
Edith Roger (born 1922), ballet dancer, modern dancer, choreographer, theatre director, Ny Norsk Ballett
Klara Semb (1884–1970), Norwegian folk dancer, choreographer, teacher
Marguerite Thoresen (1908–1967), international ballet dancer performing as Rita Tori

Poland

Anna Grabka (born 1961), ballerina, choreographer, ballet mistress, teacher, Hamburg Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet
Gilda Gray (1901–1959), show dancer, known for the shimmy
Loda Halama (1911–1996), prima ballerina, Grand Theatre, Warsaw, several Polish films
Edyta Herbuś (born 1981), competition dancer
Marianna Malińska (1767–fl.1797), ballerina, the first native ballerina in Poland.
Marie Rambert (1888–1982), ballerina, teacher, Ballet Rambert
Edyta Śliwińska (born 1981), ballroom dancer
Natasza Urbańska (born 1977), actress, singer, ballroom dancer

Romania

Mijaela Tesleoanu (1942–2011), ballerina and ballet mistress

Russia

Elena Andreianova (1819–1857), prima ballerina, Bolshoi Ballet
Altynai Asylmuratova (born 1961), prima ballerina, Mariinsky Ballet, worldwide guest appearances, director of Vaganova Academy
Alexandra Danilova (1903–1997), ballerina, teacher, Ballets Russes, emigrated to the United States
Maria Danilova (1793–1810), ballet dancer from the St. Petersburg school, died when 17
Jurgita Dronina (born 1986), principal dancer, Dutch National Ballet
Sofia Golovkina (1915–2004), ballerina, teacher, head of Bolshoi Ballet School
Nadezhda Gracheva (born 1969), see Kazakhstan
Tatjana Gsovsky (1901–1993), German-Russian ballet dancer and choreographer
Vera Karalli (1889–1972), ballerina, Bolshoi Theatre, also film actress, ballet mistress Romanian Opera
Tamara Karsavina (1885–1978), prima ballerina, teacher, Imperial Russian Ballet, Royal Ballet
Maria Kochetkova (born 1984), prima ballerina, Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet
Mathilde Kschessinska (1872–1971), ballerina of Polish extraction, danced with Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet, later teacher in France
Lydia Lopokova, (1892–1981), prima ballerina, Ballets Russes
Yulia Makhalina (born 1968), principal dancer, Mariinsky Ballet
Natalia Makarova (born 1940), prima ballerina, choreographer, Kirov Ballet
Sulamith Messerer (1908–2004), ballerina, choreographer, ballet mistress, Bolshoi Theatre, helped establish Tokyo Ballet
Bronislava Nijinska (1891–1972), prima ballerina, choreographer, teacher, Imperial Ballet, Ballets Russes
Daria Pavlenko (born 1978), prima ballerina, Mariinsky Ballet
Anna Pavlova (1881–1931), prima ballerina, danced with the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes
Maya Plisetskaya (born 1925), prima ballerina, choreographer, teacher, danced with the Bolshoi
Olga Preobrajenska (1871–1962), ballerina of the Russian Imperial Ballet
Jia Ruskaja (1902–1970), Russian dancer and choreographer who established a national dance school in Italy
Marina Semyonova (1908–2010), prima ballerina, teacher, danced with the Bolshoi
Alina Somova (born 1985), prima ballerina, Mariinsky Ballet
Olga Smirnova (born 1991), recent leading roles with the Bolshoi
Viktoria Tereshkina (born 1983), prima ballerina, Mariinsky Ballet
Anna Tsygankova (born 1979), principal dancer, Hungarian National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet
Galina Ulanova (1910–1998), prima ballerina, danced with the Mariinsky Ballet and the Bolshoi
Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951), ballerina, ballet teacher, developed the Vaganova method
Stella Voskovetskaya (born 1965),ballerina, teacher, emigrated to the USA

Slovenia

Stanislava Brezovar (1937–2003), ballerina, starred in the film Ples čarovnic (Dance Of The Witches)
Meta Vidmar (1899–1975), modern dancer, expressionist dancer, teacher

Spain

Antonia Santiago Amador (born 1946; La Chana), flamenco dancer
La Argentinita (1898–1945), ballet dancer, costume designer
Sara Baras (born 1971), flamenco dancer
Carmencita (1868–1910), Spanish show dancer, American music-hall ballet dancer
La Chunga (born 1938), flamenco dancer
Lola Flores (1923–1995), flamenco dancer, actress
Dalilah (bellydancer) (1936–2001), flamenco dancer, oriental dancer
Cristina Hoyos (born 1946), flamenco dancer, choreographer, film actress
Lucia Lacarra (born 1975), ballet dancer, principal with Bayerisches Staatsballett
Blanca Li, (born 1964) ballet dancer, flamenco dancer, choreographer
Pilar López Júlvez (1912–2008), show dancer, choreographer, also performed in Latin America and United States
Sara Luzita (born 1922), ballerina, Spanish dancer, Ballet Rambert
Juana la Macarrona (1860–1947), flamenco dancer, danced in Paris and elsewhere in Europe
Rosita Mauri (1850–1923), prima ballerina, Paris Opera Ballet
Laura Morera (born c. 1981), principal dancer, The Royal Ballet
Arantxa Ochoa (born 1974), principal dancer, Pennsylvania Ballet
La Belle Otero (1868–1965), show dancer, star of the Folies Bergère
María Pagés (born 1963), flamenco dancer, choreographer, touring internationally with her Maria Pagès Company
Tamara Rojo (born 1974), principal dancer, director, English National Ballet
Laura del Sol (born 1961), flamenco dancer, film actress, starred in the 1983 Carmen film
Carmen Tórtola Valencia (1882–1955), show dancer, choreographer, costume designer, Folies Bergère
Angelita Vargas (born 1946), flamenco dancer
Eva la Yerbabuena (born 1970), flamenco dancer

Sweden

Ulrika Åberg (1771–1852), one of the first native Swedes in the Royal Swedish Ballet
Anneli Alhanko (born 1953 in Colombia), ballerina, has danced in several films
Jenny Hasselquist (1894–1978), prima ballerina, Royal Ballet, acted in many silent films
Hedda Hjortsberg (1777–1867), prima ballerina, Royal Swedish Ballet
Sophie Karsten (1783–1862), prima ballerina, Royal Swedish Ballet, mother of Marie Taglioni
Marie Lindqvist (born 1970), principal dancer, teacher, Royal Swedish Ballet
Hilda Lund (1840–1911), prima ballerina, teacher, Royal Swedish Ballet
Jenny Nilson (born 1973), principal dancer, Royal Swedish Ballet
Charlotta Norberg (1824–1892), prima ballerina, teacher, student of August Bournonville, Royal Swedish Ballet
Nathalie Nordquist (born 1979), principal, Royal Swedish Ballet
Gunhild Rosén (1855–1928), prima ballerina, choreographer, ballet master, Royal Swedish Ballet
Nadja Sellrup (born 1977), principal dancer, Royal Swedish Ballet
Charlotte Slottsberg (1760–1800), prima ballerina, Royal Swedish Ballet, danced with Antoine Bournonville
Lisa Steier (1888–1928), prima ballerina, teacher, ballet master, Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Taglioni (1804–1884), prima ballerina, Paris Opera, Imperial Ballet, first to dance en pointe
Anna Valev (born 1969), principal dancer, Royal Swedish Ballet

Switzerland

Fabienne Liechti, professional ballroom dancer, based in Los Angeles

Ukraine

Karina Smirnoff (born 1978), ballroom dancer, now in the United States

United Kingdom

Phyllis Bedells (1893–1985), first British prima ballerina, teacher, London Empire Theatre, Covent Garden, also in musicals
Immodesty Blaize (born c. 1978), burlesque dancer, show girl
Deborah Bull (born 1963), ballet dancer, broadcaster
Darcey Bussell (born 1969), principal dancer, Royal Ballet
Simone Clarke (born 1970), prima ballerina, English National Ballet
Lesley Collier (born 1947), principal dancer, teacher, Royal Ballet
Lauren Cuthbertson (born 1984), principal dancer, Royal Ballet
Hermione Darnborough (1915–2010), ballerina, Saddler's Wells
Nancy Dawson (c.1728–1767), actress and dancer, famous for her hornpipe
Viviana Durante (born 1967), see Italy
Julia Farron (born 1922), principal dancer, teacher, Royal Ballet
Margot Fonteyn (1919–1991), outstanding ballerina with The Royal Ballet, frequently performed with Rudolf Nureyev
Celia Franca (1921–2007), founder, director, National Ballet of Canada
Maina Gielgud (born 1945), ballerina, artistic director, Australian Ballet
Beryl Goldwyn (born 1930), prima ballerina, Ballet Rambert
Beryl Grey (born 1927), outstanding prima ballerina, Saddlers Wells Ballet/Royal Ballet, first western dancer to perform at the Bolshoi
Ruthie Henshall (born 1967), singer, dancer, actress, in West End musicals
Lydia Cecilia Hill (1913–1940), cabaret dancer
Paula Hinton (1924–1996), ballet dancer, wife and partner of Walter Gore
Seeta Indrani (born 1963), theatre dancer, musicals
Jillian La Valette (born 1934), ballroom dancer, teacher
Gillian Lynne (born 1926), ballerina, director, choreographer of West End musicals
Stephanie Lawrence (1949–2000), singer, dancer, in West End musicals
Perri Lister (born 1959), dancer, actress, Hot Gossip
Mabel Love (1874–1953), burlesque dancer, singer, actress
Alicia Markova (1910–2004), ballerina, choreographer, teacher, performed with the Ballets Russes and the English National Ballet
Jessie Matthews (1907–1981), dancer, actress, appeared in early musicals
Caroline O'Connor (born 1962), singer, dancer, actress, in West End musicals
Betty Oliphant (1918–2004), ballet mistress, teacher, National Ballet of Canada
Florence Pigott (died 1899), ballerina, Metropolitan Opera Company
Marguerite Porter (born 1948), principal ballerina, choreographer, teacher, Royal Ballet
Hollie Robertson (born 1985), ballroom dancer
Anne Rogers (born 1933), actress, dancer, singer, in West End and Broadway musicals
Gaynor Rowlands (1883–1906), ballet dancer, show dancer, actress
Hester Santlow (c. 1690–1773), early stage dancer, actress, Drury Lane
Valda Setterfield (born 1934), stage dancer, actress
Antoinette Sibley (born 1939), prima ballerina, teacher, Royal Ballet
Emma Slater (born 1988), professional dancer, choreographer
Phyllida Crowley Smith, theatre dancer, choreographer, musicals
Lydia Sokolova (1896–1974), ballerina, choreographer, Ballets Russes
Peggy Spencer (born 1920), ballroom dancer, choreographer
Penelope Spencer (1901–1993), innovative free-style dancer and choreographer
Arlene Phillips (born 1943), choreographer, West End and Broadway musicals
Lydia Thompson (1838–1908), stage dancer, burlesque actress, travelled widely across Europe and the United States
Doreen Wells (born 1937), ballerina, theatre dancer
Beryl de Zoete (1879–1962), ballet dancer, critic, researcher

North America

Canada

Maud Allan (1873–1956), dancer, choreographer, famous for her Salomé dance and her Dance of the Seven Veils
Melissa Hayden (1923–2006), prima ballerina, New York City Ballet
Louise Lecavalier (born 1958), modern dancer, several films
Ruta Lee (born 1936), actress, dancer, appeared in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Cuba

Alicia Alonso (born 1921), ballerina, choreographer, active in New York's American Ballet Theatre and in Russia, director of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba
Loipa Araújo (born 1941), prima ballerina and ballet mistress at the Cuban National Ballet; Associate Artistic Director of the English National Ballet; one of the "Four jewels of Cuban ballet"
Sadaise Arencibia, star dancer at the Cuban National Ballet since 2009
Aurora Bosch (born 1942), prima ballerina and ballet mistress at the Cuban National Ballet; one of the "Four jewels of Cuban ballet"
Josefina Méndez (1941–2007), prima ballerina and ballet mistress at the Cuban National Ballet; one of the "Four jewels of Cuban ballet"; professor of ballet at National Art Schools (Cuba)
Mirta Plá (1940–2003), prima ballerina of the Cuban National Ballet; one of the "Four jewels of Cuban ballet"
Mijaela Tesleoanu (1942–2011), see Romania

Mexico

Gloria Mestre (1928–2012), Prima ballerina assoluta at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples
Maclovia Ruiz (1910–2005), ballet dancer, show dancer, flamenco dancer, performed with San Francisco Ballet
Brenda Velez (born 1979), ballet dancer know for performing Giselle at Teatro Degollado and owning VIA DANZA
Lola Yberri (fl. 1905), vaudeville dancer

Puerto Rico

Lourdes Chacón (born 1950), exotic dancer, singer

United States

Edith Allard (born 1927), ballerina, soloist in Europe
Lauren Anderson (born 1965), African American ballerina, Houston Ballet
Alexandra Ansanelli (born 1980), prima ballerina, New York City Ballet, Royal Ballet
Debra Austin (born 1955), principal dancer, Pennsylvania Ballet
Melissa Barak (born 1979), ballerina, choreographer, Los Angeles Ballet
Barbara Bears (born 1971), principal dancer, choreographer, Houston Ballet
Margery Beddow (1931–2010), dancer, choreographer, Broadway musicals
Stella Bloch (1897–1999), artist, dancer, journalist
Isabella Boylston (born c. 1986), ballet dancer, soloist, American Ballet Theatre
Bridget Breiner (born 1974), ballet dancer, choreographer, now in Germany
Danielle Brown (born late 1980s), principal dancer, Sarasota Ballet
Tener Brown (born 1960), ballet dancer, teacher, New Jersey Ballet
Leslie Browne (born 1957), dancer, actress, musicals
Jean Butler (born 1971), show dancer, choreographer, created female role in the Irish Riverdance
Lucia Chase (1897–1986), dancer, actress, co-founder of American Ballet Theatre
Yvonne Chouteau (born 1929), dancer, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, co-founder University of Oklahoma School of Dance
Bessie Clayton (c. 1875–1948), show dancer, choreographer of the Gay Nineties
Janet Collins (1917–2003), Broadway ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher
Misty Copeland (born 1982), ballet dancer, soloist with the American Ballet Theatre
Lillian Covillo (1921–2010), ballet dancer, co-founder of the Colorado Ballet
J'aime Crandall (born 1982), principal dancer, Royal Danish Ballet
Alexandra Danilova (1903–1997), see List of female dancers#Russia
Gemze de Lappe (born 1922), dancer, choreographer, teacher, musicals
Carmen De Lavallade (born 1931), dancer, choreographer, actress
Agnes de Mille (1905–1993), ballet dancer, contemporary dancer, choreographer, musicals
Michaela DePrince (born 1995), ballet dancer
Marguerite Derricks (born 1961), ballerina, choreographer, musicals
Isadora Duncan (1877–1927), innovative dancer preferring natural movement to ballet, opened dance school in Grunewald, Germany
Eva Evdokimova (1948–2009), ballerina, teacher, active in the Royal Danish Ballet and the Berlin State Ballet
Suzanne Farrell (born 1945), ballet dancer, founder of Suzanne Farrell Ballet
Katherine Flowers (1896–1982), African-American dancer, choreographer, teacher and researcher
Amy Fote (born 1972), principal dancer, Houston Ballet
Loie Fuller (1862–1928), pioneer of modern dance, own natural movement and improvisation techniques, also choreographer, Folies Bergères
Annabelle Gamson (born 1928), modern dancer, Broadway musicals
Martha Graham (1894–1991), modern dancer, choreographer, pioneer of modern dance, Folies Bergère
Cynthia Gregory (born 1946), prima ballerina, American Ballet Theatre
Mireille Hassenboehler (born c. 1973), principal dancer, Houston Ballet
Rosella Hightower (1920–2008), ballet dancer, Grand Ballet de Monte Carlo, directed several French ballet companies
Harriet Hoctor (1905–1977), ballerina, teacher, actress, Hollywood movies
Doris Humphrey (1895–1958), influential modern dancer, choreographer, teacher
Janet Jackson (born 1966), singer, show dancer, rock, hip hop
Drew Jacoby (born 1984), independent ballet dancer, guest with Dutch National Ballet
Susan Jaffe (born 1962), ballerina, ballet mistress, American Ballet Theatre
Emily Johnson (born 1976), Native American modern dancer, choreographer, artistic director
Allegra Kent (born 1937), ballet dancer, actress, New York City Ballet
Julie Kent (born 1969), principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Gelsey Kirkland (born 1952), principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Darci Kistler (born 1964), principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Maria Kowroski (born 1976), principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Sarah Lamb (born 1980), principal dancer, The Royal Ballet
Katherine LaNasa (born 1966), film actress, ballet dancer, choreographer
Jennifer Lopez (born 1969), film actress, show dancer, choreographer, Latin dance
Janet Lilly, modern dancer, choreographer, former principal dancer of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
Moscelyne Larkin (1925–2012), ballet dancer, founder of the Tulsa Ballet
Annabelle Lyon (1916–2011), ballet dancer, American Ballet
Kathi Martuza (born c. 1979), principal dancer, Oregon Ballet Theatre
Patricia McBride (born 1942), principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Joan McCracken (1917–1961), actress, dancer, comedian in Broadway shows
Melody Mennite (born c. 1983), principal dancer, Houston Ballet
Kathryn Morgan (born 1989), ballet dancer, former soloist with New York City Ballet
Gillian Murphy (born 1979), principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre, Royal New Zealand Ballet
Patricia Neary (born 1942), international prima ballerina, choreographer, ballet director, specializing in the ballets of George Balanchine
Noelani Pantastico (born 1980), ballet dancer, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo
Alison Roper (born 1974), principal dancer, Oregon Ballet Theatre
Amanda Schull (born 1978), ballet dancer, actress, San Francisco Ballet
Karina Smirnoff (born 1978), see Ukraine
Molly Smolen, principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet since 1999
Ruth St. Denis (1879–1968), pioneer of modern dance, Oriental dance as an expression of spiritualism
Maria Tallchief (1925–2013), Native American prima ballerina with George Balanchine at New York City Ballet
Marjorie Tallchief (born 1926), first American to be "première danseuse étoile" at the Paris Opera Ballet
Helen Tamiris (1905–1966), pioneer of modern dance, contributing to the choreography of early musicals
Sarah Van Patten (born 1984), principal dancer, San Francisco Ballet
Jocelyn Vollmar (born 1925), ballet dancer, San Francisco Ballet, principal with New York City Ballet
Amy Watson (born 1981), principal dancer, Royal Danish Ballet
Heather Watts (born 1953), principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Sara Webb (born 1979), principal dancer, Houston Ballet
Wendy Whelan (born 1967), principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Michele Wiles (born c. 1980), principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Sallie Wilson (1932–2008), ballet dancer, American Ballet Theatre, ballet mistress New York Theatre Ballet
Serena Wilson (1933–2007), belly dancer, teacher
Lila Zali (1918–2003), see Georgia
Bridgett Zehr (born c. 1985), principal dancer, National Ballet of Canada, English National Ballet
Maddie Ziegler (2002- ), Female Dancer, Student.

South America

Argentina

Susana Agüero (1944–2012), ballerina, Teatro Colón, Lyon Opera Ballet
Valeria Archimó (born 1972), show dancer, choreographer, director
La Argentina (1890–1936), show dancer, gypsy-style dancer, Moulin Rouge
Esmeralda Agoglia (born 1923), prima ballerina, choreographer, director, Teatro Colón
Carmencita Calderón (1905–2005), tango dancer
Eleonora Cassano (born 1965), ballerina, modern dancer, Teatro Colón, musicals
Olga Ferri (1928–2012), ballerina, Teatro Colón
Norma Fontenla (1930–1971), prima ballerina, Teatro Colón, died in plane crash
Adabel Guerrero (born 1978), ballet dancer, show dancer, actress
Paloma Herrera (born 1975), principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Natalia Magnicaballi (birth unknown), principal dancer since 1999, Suzanne Farrell Ballet
Lida Martinoli (1914–1991), ballet dancer, choreographer, actress, Teatro Colón
Tita Merello (1904–2002), tango dancer, film actress
Mariana Montes (born 1979), Argentine tango dancer, teacher
María Nieves (born 1938), Argentine tango dancer
Marianela Núñez (born 1982), principal dancer, The Royal Ballet
Ludmila Pagliero (born 1983), prima ballerina, étoile with the Paris Opera Ballet
María Ruanova (1912–1976), prima ballerina, choreographer, teacher, Teatro Colón, first Argentine ballet dancer to gain international recognition

Brazil

Adriana Bombom (born 1974), show dancer, actress
Sonia Destre Lie, dancer, choreographer, founder and director of the hip hop group Companhia Urbana de Dança
Marcia Haydée (born 1937), prima ballerina, director, Stuttgart Ballet, Santiago Ballet
Carla Körbes (born c. 1981), principal dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Julia Goldani Telles (born 1995), ballerina, actress, now in the United States

Chile

Yamna Lobos (born 1983), Chilean folk dancer, actress

Colombia

Sonia Osorio (1928–2011), ballerina and choreographer

Peru

Tati Alcántara (birth unknown), actress, dancer, choreographer, musicals

Uruguay

Nadia Mara Atlanta Ballet
Giovanna Martinatto Ballet Nacional del Sodre
Eunice Castro (born 1976), model and theatre dancer
Virginia Dobrich (born 1983), dancer, actress and model
Tina Ferreira (birth unknown), Afro-Uruguayan, dancer, journalist and vedette of both theater and carnival
Graciela Figueroa (birth unknown), dancer and choreographer
Laura Martínez (born 1964), actress, dancer and television star
Berta Pereira (born 1958), percussionist and dancer
Maria Riccetto (born c. 1980), ballerina, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Nacional del Sodre
Flor de María Rodríguez (1913–2001), ballerina, choreographer and folklorist

References

↑ "Monica Loughman". Ballerina.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2014.

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