American Dancer at the Mariinsky

American Keenan Kampa hired by the Mariinsky Ballet!

Keenan Kampa has become the first American ballet dancer to graduate from the St. Petersburg Vaganova Academy and be hired on as a dancer by the world famous Mariinsky Ballet.

The prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in it's 274 year history has trained such world famous dancers as Anna Pavlova, Natalia Makarova, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

After graduating from the Vaganova Academy Kampa signed a two year contract to dance for the Boston Ballet, however she has always dreamed of staying in St. Peterburg and dancing for the Mariinsky Ballet. After one year in Boston her dream came true, the Mariinsky called and invited her to join the company. Due to her two year contract, Kampa could only join the Mariinsky at the end of summer this year.

Finally in September of 2012 Kampa's dream was realized when she arrived back in St. Petersburg and began her first full season as a dancer of the Mariinsky Ballet.