At the Imperial Ballet School, Petipa and Anna's teachers, Ekaterina Vazem and Pavel Gerdt, quickly recognized her extraordinary gift. A dedicated and ambitious student, Anna knew a successful ballet career would require a lot more than just talent. Her natural gift for dance, combined with her tireless work ethic, is here summarized in her own words: "No one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent, work transforms talent into genius." In 1899 Anna graduated the St. Petersburg Imperial Dance School at the age of 18—gracefully leaping from school to stage in her hard-earned transformation from ballet student to prima ballerina in the making.