Ananiashvili took a medical leave from the company in September 2004, missing ABT's fall season at City Center; in February 2005, ABT announced that she would also miss the spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. At the time, ABT said that she planned to return in early 2006.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Ananiashvili trained at the Moscow Ballet School and joined the Bolshoi Ballet at the age of 18. She has been a principal dancer with ABT since 1993. Last year she was appointed artistic director of the National Ballet of Georgia.