Irina Lerman is a 33-year-old accomplished artist with a diverse background in ballet and choreography. She graduated from the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in 2011, under the tutelage of Professor Ludmila Kovaleva, and subsequently joined the Mariinsky Ballet, where she danced for seven years. Irina has performed in classical, neoclassical, contemporary, and modern repertoire, touring internationally across Europe, Japan, China, the UAE, and the United States.

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At the age of 21, Irina made her choreographic debut at the Workshop of Young Choreographers at the Mariinsky Theatre and later earned a Master’s Degree in Choreography from the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Her choreographic talent was recognized early when she became a finalist at an international competition in Riga, Latvia, earning a Silver Medal as a choreographer.
 

In 2015, Irina broadened her artistic horizons by training with Nederlands Dans Theater, performing works by choreographers such as Crystal Pite, Paul Lightfoot, and Sol León. She also participated in workshops led by renowned choreographers Wayne McGregor and Edward Clug, fulfilling long-held artistic aspirations.

Irina’s international presence extends to independent productions across the USA and Europe. Notably, she has performed at high-profile events such as the Closing Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Games, the 2019 Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the 2012 Cannes Film Festival as an actress.

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From 2019, Irina served as a Leading Soloist with Atlantic Ballet of Canada before transitioning in 2021 to work as an independent artist, teacher, and choreographer. Her choreography has been featured at the Dance Ontario Showcase and the Dance Film Festival in Mexico, and her students have earned awards at competitions in both Canada and the USA.

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In the summer of 2022, Irina launched Artistry and Performance, a ballet summer intensive in Toronto. Later that year, she participated in the National Ballet of Canada's Open Space Programme, where she created the duet Phado Mehnor.

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Irina has received notable recognition and support from the Toronto Arts Council, earning the Newcomer Arts Award and the Space Arts Award in both 2022 and 2023. She has also secured project grants from the Ontario Arts Council for her choreographic work.

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One of her most groundbreaking recent projects was Neural Ballet, a full-length production developed in collaboration with AI-generated visuals. This innovative show, which blended traditional ballet with emerging technologies, was a culmination of her artistic exploration in post-pandemic Canada. Neural Ballet was met with critical acclaim and sold-out performances in 2023 and 2024 years in Stratford, ON.

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Currently, Irina continues to explore new projects, create choreography, and perform, consistently pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

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