![Natalia Bashkatova](https://yagp.org/misc/Images/judges_b&w/Natalia Bashkatova.jpg)
Position: Former Principal Dancer, Bolshoi Theater, Cirque du Soleil
Affiliation with organization: 1989 – 2018
Years active at YAGP: 2018 – Present
Contact: Facebook
Natalia Bashkatova trained at Bolshoi Ballet Academy, joined the Bolshoi Ballet after graduating and became a Principal dancer, performing many title classical roles. She was named Best Ballerina during the 1992 Spoleto International Arts Festival in Italy. After moving to the United States, Ms. Bashkatova became a Principal Ballerina at the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, and enjoyed a long and fruitful career there. Ms. Bashkatova received her teaching degree from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, and brings her classical and crossover experience into teaching her classes.