Ludmila Pagliero

Ludmila Pagliero (born 15 October 1983) is an Argentinian ballet dancer. From 2003 to her retirement in 2025, she danced with the Paris Opera Ballet, where she was a danseuse étoile (the highest rank of the Paris Opera Ballet) since 2012.

Early life Pagliero was born in Buenos Aires, in the Palermo district, to an electrician and a masseuse. At the age of 8, she started classical dance lessons, but it was a disappointment. She switched to jazz, but later went back to classical dance at the suggestion of her teacher.

Her new dance teacher suggested she should participate in the entrance competition for the Instituto Superior de Arte of the Teatro Colón. Though it was challenging, she was accepted, then 10 years old. She said in an interview that "all [her] dreams of being a dancer were born at the Teatro Colón".

Career Before the POB She was offered a one-year contract at the Chilean National Ballet, also called Ballet of Santiago. the latter of which secured her a one-year contract with the American Ballet Theatre.

In March 2012, there was a planned performance and cinema relay of Rudolf Nureyev's La Bayadère, but both Dorothée Gilbert, who had been cast for Gamzatti, and the understudy were injured. Pagliero, who had not performed the role in two years was asked to step in, and only had a quick rehearsal with Josua Hoffalt (Solor) and Dupont (Nikiya).

Pagliero retired from the Paris Opera Ballet following a performance of Mats Ek's Apartment on 17 April 2025.

She has been part of international cooperations, such as with the Bolshoi Theatre and the Mariinsky Theatre.