Yana Volkova was born in Russia. She began her studies at the Professional Academy of Ballet in Voronezh, Russia, where Yana was getting her Intensive studying of Vaganova Ballet Method. She graduated with honors from the State Ballet Academy and was invited to work in one of Moscow’s leading companies. Here she was given the opportunity to perform as a soloist. At the same time, she attended the most famed University of Theatrical Arts-Moscow (GITIS), Russia, where she earned a B.A. in Choreography and Character Dance. Studying with Lev Golovanov (Professor of Dance and Choreographer Assistant at the Moyeseev Company).

In 1996, Yana was a principal dancer with Moscow Ballet in world-known “Riverdance the show”. After four years of intense touring in England, Europe, Canada, and America, the show took over the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. It was renamed “Riverdance on Broadway”. In 2005 Yana Volkova joined Metropolitan Opera, where she is currently works.

After many years of being a professional dancer, in 2007 Yana started to teach and since then has been instructing classes in ballet, pointe, stretching and character for schools in the United States. Her class format emphasizes correct development of both the technical and artistic elements of classical ballet and is a clear reflection of her pure traditional training.

For the last several years, Yana Volkova was working as Artistic Director of Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive in NYC.

Formerly with Ballet Ambassadors, Yana has been Artistic Director for Art of the Dance World for the past two years, bringing her powerful performing abilities and his-her teaching excellence to countless students and communities.