Russian ballet dancers have been involved in a swathe of scandals over the years, from Soviet-era defections to the West to acid attacks.
Now a Russian star ballerina at the Royal Ballet in London is facing allegations that she faked an illness to avoid returning home for a performance in St Petersburg.
Natalia Osipova, 35, was scheduled to dance at the Mikhailovsky theatre tomorrow but failed to arrive in time for rehearsals. Its artistic director has accused her of snubbing her homeland for a performance in Covent Garden.
“She was supposed to arrive in St Petersburg today but never boarded the plane,” Vladimir Kekhman said. “Her partner informed us that Natalia Osipova is in hospital and it is impossible to contact her.”
Kekhman said that
