SOLOIST MASHA TOLSTUNOVA
Masha Tolstunova was born in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and received her dance training at the ballet school of the Vienna State Opera. Brigitte Stadler, Galina Skuratova and Martin Schläpfer are among her most important teachers.
From 2013 to 2015 she was a member of the Vienna State Ballet, under the direction of Manuel Legris, where she appeared in works by Rudolf Nurejew, John Neumeier, Peter Wright, Maurice Béjart and Boris Eifman.
From 2015 to 2018 she was a member of the Hamburg Ballet and performed in numerous solo parts, including John Neumeier's “St. Matthew Passion”, “Christmas Oratorio”, “Nutcracker”, “Nijinsky”, “Anna Karenina” and the “Beethoven Project”.
Masha dedicated the 2018/19 season to her dance development - quite unconventionally as a freelancer. For example, she moved to Miami, to Magaly Suarez. She also used the time for free, international collaborations with young creative people. The Russia tour with Sergei Polunin was particularly influential.
Last season (2019/20) she was part of the Ballett am Rhein under the direction of Martin Schläpfer. And with the current season, the young dancer is returning to the stage of the Vienna State Opera as a demi-soloist together with Schläpfer.
Masha Tolstunova is the laureate of many international prizes: In 2012 she received the 1st prize at the 4th Prague International Ballet Competition, as well as the category “Most characterful interpretation”. She took second place at the Berlin Dance Olympics. In 2015 she won 3rd prize at the Vienna World Competition (ÖTR Contest).
