By Catherine Davis BBC News

One of Russia's best known ballerinas, Anastasia Volochkova, has become embroiled in a bitter row with the Bolshoi Ballet Company, whom she accuses of conspiring against her.

A celebrity in Russia, Ms Volochkova's height and striking looks are said to match her exuberant personality.

But now the ballerina says the Bolshoi has refused to renew her contract for the full dancing season.

These people are hiding my partner who I danced with for 10 years Anastasia Volochkova

She claims her dance partner has been hidden by the Bolshoi as part of a plot to stop her performing. "I'm thinking there is somebody behind this whole situation," she said.

"These people are hiding my partner who I danced with for 10 years. Nobody knows where he is. One director of the Bolshoi theatre says he broke his knee or something but it's absolutely untrue," she said.

The crowd-pulling ballerina is unusually tall for a dancer and according to some reports, her partner, Yevgeny Ivanchenko, was hospitalised after injuring his back trying to lift her.

The tall ballerina has lost her partner - and her repertoire

The Bolshoi says it is true that he was injured while performing and sought medical help afterwards.

The company says he then wrote a letter requesting his contract not be renewed because of health problems.

Mr Ivanchenko was hired from another ballet company specifically to dance with Anastasia.

Ekaterina Novikova, a spokesperson for the Bolshoi, insisted the company was not hiding Mr Ivanchenko.

But she emphasised Anastasia faced a problem because all the main classical ballets were based on two dancers.

"Anastasia is a real star in Russia, praised by many people and she has developed a wonderful and outrageous career.

"I think she should stay in the Bolshoi company if she has a repertoire, but on the other hand if she doesn't have a partner and she doesn't have a repertoire what's the point of staying dancing?"

The row between Anastasia and the Bolshoi's management has become increasingly public with Anastasia's supporters picketing the theatre last week.