Maia Makhateli

Maia Makhateli (; born November 5, 1985)

Early life Makhateli was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her parents, Nikoloz Makhateli and Marina Loladze, were dancers at the Georgian National Ballet. Her grandfather was a notable folk dancer and her grandmother was an opera singer. Her older brother David is also a dancer (formerly a principal with The Royal Ballet). Starting at age 9, she trained in ballet at the Vakhtang Chabukiani Choreographic Choreographic Institute

Career When she was 15, her father was offered a job with the Sun Valley Ballet School in Ketchum, Idaho, US. Makhateli also attended the school, where she danced in The Nutcracker together with her brother David.

In 2002, she joined the Colorado Ballet. She made her full length principal role debut at age 19, dancing Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. After finding England 'too cold and grey', she auditioned for the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. She joined the DNB in 2007 as a . Two years later, she became a soloist, and she was promoted to principal dancer in 2010. In 2020, Makhateli originated the role of Frida Kahlo in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Frida.

She was a guest teacher at The Hague's 2014 Summerschool Den Haag program and a guest artist at the Oregon Ballet in Portland, Oregon.

Awards Makhateli has received many awards for her dancing.

2020, Dance Europe Critic's Choice Dancer of the Year Award. 2019, Dance Europe Critic's Choice, Outstanding performance by a female dancer, twice. 2019, Prix Benois de la Danse, nomination. 2015, Alexandra Radius Award (Netherlands). 2011, Nina Ananiashvili & Gilbert Star Award (Georgia). 2002, Youth America Grand Prix (New York City, United States), finalist. 2002, Denver Ballet Guild's Young Dancers competition (United States), 1st. 2002, Youth America Grand Prix (Denver, United States), 2nd. 2001, Chabukiani-Balanchine Festival of Ballet, Award. 2001, International Ballet Festival (Kazan, Russia), 'diplomat'.