Lidiia Volkova

Lidiia Volkova was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. She lived in Ukraine for 3 years before moving to the United States with her mom, Yulia Ilina, a former dancer of Eifman Ballet, Russia. At age 9, she began training with Yulia, the Ballet Director of Next Step Dance Performing Arts Center. After pursuing strictly classical training, Lidiia participated in competitions such as YAGP and ADCIBC, winning top 3 awards and becoming a six and a 2-time finalist, respectively. She holds 1st place awards at the Playa Del Carmen International Ballet Competition and World Art International Ballet Competition while being named a 4-time scholarship recipient at the Dance Council of North Texas. Spending summers at Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Alonzo King Ballet, and Next Generation Ballet Summer Intensives, Lidiia was invited to pursue a full-time study of classical dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. Lidiia was a Ballet Rosa and Allegro Dance Boutique ambassador during her dance career.

Lidiia is a student at Washington University in St. Louis, studying International Affairs with Spanish and French on a pre-law track. She is a Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society member and works as a student mentor at the College Prep Program. She is also a Community Engagement Chair for Questbridge Scholars Network and a Lead Editor of Social Sciences for the Washington University Journal of Undergraduate Research. Back in Texas, Lidiia assists Yulia Ilina by helping her train dancers for various ballet competitions.