Karina Zolotareva was born in Voronezh.
In 2011 she graduated from the Voronezh State Choreographic College (class of Sania Kurtosmanova).
In 2011–2014 worked at Moscow City Ballet (also known as the Smirnov-Golovanov Classical Ballet Theatre).
She has participated in tours around various countries, including Great Britain, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Spain, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
In 2014 joined the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Since 2016, she has been a member of the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre.
Repertoire at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre includes:
Swan Lake (Waltz-Polonaise, Swans, Neapolitan Dance, Black Swans); choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, revised choreography by Konstantin Sergeyev,
The Nutcracker (Snowflakes, Mices, Waltz of the Flowers); choreography by Eldar Aliev,
The Sleeping Beauty (Waltz, Suite Lilac Fairy, Mazurka, the Nereids, the Little Red Riding Hood); choreography by Marius Petipa revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev and Eldar Aliev,
Le Corsaire (Le Jardin animé, Harem, Pirate Women); choreography by Eldar Aliev using fragments of Marius Petipa’s choreography,
Don Quixote (Seguidilla, Dream); choreography by Alexander Gorsky based after Marius Petipa,
Giselle (Waltz, Peasant Dance, the Wilis); choreography by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa,
The Little Humpbacked Horse (Firebirds, Sea Girls),
The Firebird (Kashchei’s Kingdom); choreography by Eldar Aliev,
A Thousand and One Nights (Mourning, The Marketplace Scene); choreography by Eldar Aliev,
Raymonda (Saracen dance, Girls in the Dream Scene); choreography by Marius Petipa revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev and Eldar Aliev,
Bambi (Birds), In the Jungle (Birds); choreography by Anton Pimonov,
Daphnis et Chloé (Shepherdesses); choreography by Dmitry Pimonov,
Serenade (Women); choreography by George Balanchine,
Grand pas de deux Carnevale di Venezia from Satanella (Girls); choreography by Marius Petipa.
