Maria Kochetkova is Leaving San Francisco Ballet

San Francisco Ballet star Maria Kochetkova just announced that she’ll be leaving the company at the end of this season, after the much-anticipated Unbound Festival. The exact date will be announced later.

Kochetkova has been with SFB for 11 years as a principal dancer, ever since artistic director Helgi Tomasson plucked her from the English National Ballet corps. Today, she is a bonafide superstar, making frequent guest appearances around the world. Her 171,000 Instagram followers track her adventures performing in top international opera houses—most recently, Teatro Colon—and love her for her kooky sense of style.

Although she is no longer a principal at American Ballet Theatre, either, she shows no signs of slowing down. Yet her announcement on Instagram this morning gave away nothing about her plans for her next steps.

“I don’t know what my next big step is going to be but I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

In a press release, Tomasson said, “Masha is a beautiful dancer and it’s been a pleasure to watch her grow and further develop her exceptional talent during the past 11 years here at SF Ballet. Along with San Francisco audiences, we will miss her, but we wish her all the best in her next adventure.”

Wherever she lands, we wish her merde!