The Bolshoi Theatre certainly appears to be a dangerous place to work. Just last week, ArtsHub reported that artistic director of the ballet company Sergei Filin was recovering in hospital after an acid attack. Now, the company’s leading ballerina Svetlana Lunkina has been the recipient of death threats that have left her too afraid to return to Russia.
The 33-year-old ballet star told the media that she intends to extend her leave and remain in Canada. Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova later confirmed that Lunkina’s leave extension had been approved. Although Lunkina admits she did not have a good relationship with Filin, she says she was terrified by what happened to him.