Alla Osipenko was born in Leningrad, U.S.S.R. in 1932. She studied for Agrippina Vaganova in Leningrad. Alla graduated in 1950 and was immediately accepted at the Kirov Ballet as a soloist. She was Nureyev's partner, until he defected, and then also Barishnikov's. She began teaching at the Vaganova School in 1966.