The Romanian-born ballet star will dance Odette/Odile in two Brisbane performances of Swan Lake in May.

Romanian-born prima ballerina Alina Cojocaru is returning to Queensland Ballet in May to guest star in two performances of Swan Lake.

“Alina Cojocaru is widely considered to be one of the best ballerinas dancing in the world today so we are thrilled that she will be dancing the roles of Odette and Odile in select performances during our season of Swan Lake,” said QB Artistic Director Li Cunxin.

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Cojocaru is a Leading Principal Dancer with English National Ballet and a Guest Artist with Hamburg Ballet. After starting her career with the Kiev Ballet, she joined London’s Royal Ballet in 1999, where she was promoted to Principal Artist in 2001. In 2013, she took the dance world by surprise when she and her fiancé and then dance partner Johan Kobborg abruptly left the Royal for other opportunities. The petite Cojocaru – who has been described as “a pocket Venus” – was quickly snapped up by the ENB.

Last year, Cojocaru danced the role of Aurora in Greg Horsman’s production of The Sleeping Beauty for QB....