Irina Ivanova

Irina Ivanova Portillo, prestigious Venezuelan

Ballerina, initiates her artistic career at a very early
age, when she begins to stand out for her talent and
artistic temperament. At 18 years of age she was
invited as guest artist for the National Ballet of
Venezuela.
She performed as the prima ballerina for the
Classical Ballet of Venezuela Nina Novak and prima
ballerina for the Ballet del Zulia
She participated as guest prima ballerina with the
Kinemerland Ballet in Holland, to dance the lead
role of The Corsaire, and Don Quixote. Also, she
was invited as guest artist with the ballet Master Eric
Volodin to dance at the Teatro National de Bogota
at the gala of the Chamber Orchestra of the Bolshoi
Theater, dancing the lead role in Don Quixote and
the Dying Swan
In 1980 she developed her artistic career in Russia,
dancing at the famous theaters: The Bolshoi of
Moscow and the Kirov of Leningrad. She shared the
stage with famous stars such as: Gabriela Convleva,
Altynai Asylmuratova, Vladimir Lopujov, Olga
Chenchikova, Tatiana Terekhova, Valentina
Ganivalova, Olga Kashering, Ekaterina Maximova,
Konstantine Zaklinsky, among others.
In 1982 she graduates as choreographer and ballet
master in pedagogy at the G.I.T.I.S Institute of
Moscow (A.V. Lunasharky), under the direction of
prestigious stars such as Marina Semionova, Raiza
Struchkova, Marina Kondratieva, Elena Yenchuyina,
Olga Tarasova, among others.
She polishes and improves her technique with
Masters Natalia Dudinskaya, Inna Suvkovskaya, Alla
Shelest, Tatiana Vesheslova, and Gusev.
In 1984 she works at the Vaganova School of
Leningrad as ballet master and assistant for Natalia
Dudinskaya. Also in this year she participates in
international tours dancing the lead roles of Romeo
and Juliet, The Dying Swan, Raimonda, Paquita,
among others.
In 1987 she returns to Venezuela and works as ballet
teacher at the School of Ballet Gustavo Franklin and
the Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas.
In 1988 she founded the Ballet Russo Irina Ivanova
Foundation, in charge of providing ballet training to
kids with no resources.
In 1991 becomes ballet master, choreographer,
repertoire specialist, and dancer at the Venezuelan
Classical Ballet Foundation.
In 1995 she becomes the artistic director and Vice-
president of the Teresa Carreno Ballet School. Later
in 2002 she is promoted to president of this
institution.
In 1998 she becomes ballet master and repertoire
specialist of the National Ballet of Caracas Company
for the production of the ballet Swan Lake
In 2004 she moves to Maracaibo, Venezuela. She
moves the Ballet Russo Irina Ivanova Foundation to
this city where she works as the artistic director of
the school and ballet company. She also becomes
faculty at the Zulia University for the arts
department.
In 2005 she joins the Nervin Disenos Company in
Maracaibo, and supports them with her knowledge
of design and costume production, teaching classes
in traditional and historic costume production and in
antique design history.
In 2013 she is invited as a guest teacher and jury for
the School of Ballet Grad Ballet Academy, in
Weston, FL, where she was invited to teach master
classes and support the school as a guest jury for the
project International Ballet Workshop 2013.