Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko in the Nutcracker Duet

Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko in the Nutcracker Duet, music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, choreography by Jean-Christophe Maillot. Ballet Icons Gala 2026, London Coliseum 15.2.2026.

Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko are one of the most celebrated power couples in the world of classical ballet. Both are stars at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where they frequently perform together as lead partners.

Nicoletta Manni

• Title: Étoile of the Teatro alla Scala (the highest rank a dancer can achieve).
• Background: An Italian dancer who joined the La Scala Ballet in 2009 and was promoted to prima ballerina in 2014.
• Significance: In 2023, she was named Étoile by the director of the theater and the artistic director of the ballet on stage at the end of a performance of Onegin. She was the first dancer to be promoted to this rank from within the company in nearly 40 years.

Timofej Andrijashenko

• Title: Principal Dancer of the Teatro alla Scala.
• Background: Born in Latvia, he moved to Italy to study at the Russian Ballet College in Genoa before joining La Scala’s company in 2014. He was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2018.
• Reputation: Known for his elegant technique and “princely” stage presence, he is a frequent partner to both Manni and other global stars like Svetlana Zakharova.

A Partnership On and Off Stage

The two are famously married. Their personal story went viral in July 2022 when Timofej proposed to Nicoletta on stage at the Arena di Verona during the Roberto Bolle and Friends gala, right after they had performed the duet from Romeo and Juliet.

They continue to lead major productions at La Scala and frequently tour internationally. In early 2026, they are headlining their own gala project titled “The Joy of Dancing” (La gioia di danzare), which showcases their range across both classical and contemporary choreography.

Photos by Jack Devant © with kind permission of the Ballet Icons Gala, special thanks to Olga Bakaleets