Romanian dancer Alina Cojocaru is a former Principal of The Royal Ballet. She joined The Royal Ballet School for six months in 1997 on a Lausanne scholarship and on graduation joined the Kiev Ballet as a principal. After one season with Kiev she entered the corps of The Royal Ballet in 1999, promoted to Soloist at the end of her first Season and in April 2001 promoted to Principal at the age of 19. With Royal Ballet Principal Johan Kobborg she forged an iconic dance partnership, celebrated in their performances with the Company and as guest artists around the world. Cojocaru left The Royal Ballet at the end of the 2012/13 Season to dance with English National Ballet.