Irina Čaban Bilandžić was born in 1984 in Odesa, Ukraine. She began practising gymnastics at the age of three and ballet at the age of five. From 1991 to 1998, she studied at the National Ballet School in her hometown. From 1999 to 2003, she attended the K. F. Dankevych College of Arts and Culture in Odesa, earning a degree as a choreographer and instructor in classical ballet art.

In 2003 and 2004, she danced at the National Odesa Opera and Ballet Theatre, and subsequently joined the Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre. Until 2006, she toured with various Ukrainian ballet ensembles, performing in France, Germany, Italy, Thailand, and other countries.

She began working at the Croatian National Theatre Split in 2006, where she has delivered numerous acclaimed performances, ranging from classical roles such as Odette in Swan Lake, Giselle in A. Adam’s Giselle, Tatiana in Onegin, and Esmeralda in C. Pugni’s ballet of the same name, to contemporary and dramatic roles. For her performance as Medora in the ballet Le Corsaire, she was awarded the Croatian Actor Award in 2019.

The Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia awards the title of national principal dancer upon the recommendation of the management of Croatian national theatre houses. This title is given to actors, opera, and ballet artists who have made an exceptional contribution to theatrical art, and whose performances are recognised for their outstanding quality and unique, original expression.