[b]Background:[/b]
Karina Dolohovna was born in Russia into a family of good middle-class standing. Her father was a shrewd businessman, managing an import and export enterprise. However, whispers of her parentage swirled around their immediate family circle, suggesting that she might be the outcome of an affair between her mother and one of her father's business associates. Despite the rumors, her father raised her as his own, publically at least. However, within the family, his dislike for for Karina was well enough known, he certainly never held any great social aspiration for her nor any inclination to make any effort with her.

[b]Education[/b]:
At the age of ten, instead of following in the footsteps of her siblings and attending Durmstrang, Karina was enrolled in the Magical Academy of Drama in St. Petersburg. Where she was trained in ballet with a rigour that surpassed all of the aspects of basic magic that the school taught. While far from the only lady of middle-class breeding in the school, she was one of few who remained at the school and went on to professional training. Most of her more genteel peers transferred to finishing schools at 15.

[b]Ballet Career:[/b]
Instead - at the age of 15, Karina joined the corps de ballet at the prestigious Mariinsky Imperial Ballet, where she crossed paths with the talented Sophia Voss. The two formed a close bond, with Karina viewing Sophia as an older sister and mentor. She spent the next few years playing flowers, swans, nymphs or any other part of the chorus that was required.

[b]Romantic Entanglements:[/b]
A brief courtship with the second son of a Russian aristocrat brought both excitement and a touch of scandal into Karina's life. The relationship ended dramatically with a duel, sparked by a misunderstanding and resulting in the young man being shot through the hand. Karina secretly relishes in recounting this story, finding pleasure in the tale of a duel fought in her honor. Even if that's only sort of the story - the full details don't really matter and she's never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[b]Following Sophia to England:[/b]
Life in Russia was good, her career was progressing nicely, then - the fire. Friends died, she heard girls she knew scream as they burned. To her shame she had not thought about trying to help, she had simply fled. Mr Voss, Sophia's husband, a man she had liked immensely lost his life in the fire. She still wakes at night feeling the heat from the flames, or imagining the cloying acrid smoke pulling at her lungs. It seemed as though the survivors would be scattered to the winds - their income and positions gone - much more of a problem for the Corps than the senior dancers. When Sophia Voss decided to pursue opportunities in England, Karina was quick to follow suit. Joining the corps de ballet there, she continued to carve out her place in the ballet, securing not only a position in the ballet but also some coveted minor solo roles.