Yulia Makhalina is almost like a woman’s love story. She is the embodiment of what women dream of for themselves and what they can empathise with: a victress and a femme fatale who knows how to suffer; a victim of intrigues and circumstances; despairing, vulnerable and yet powerful and stylish. She is not always correct, but she is always sincere and honest with her audience. She has repaid all of the ‘advance fees’ given her by destiny with interest. Makhalina’s greatest achievement was becoming the face of the ballet generation ‘after’ Mezentseva and ‘before’ Lopatkina. And not every ballerina, not even an outstanding one, has the right to her own time in the history of theatre.

Nezavisimaya gazeta