Liepe Ilze Marisovna was born on 22 November 1963 in the family of the well-known dancer Maris Liepa in Moscow.

In 1981 she graduated from the Russia Academic Choreography College (in N. V. Zolotariova’s class) and in 1991 she finished her course of studies at the Pedagogic Faculty of Moscow Òheatre Art Academy.

Liepa’s dancing "speaks" the language void of canon rules and at the same time retains its strictly academic shape. Since 1994 Ilze has been the art director of “ Gold Century “ Association and at present she is also on the Board of Maris Liepa Charity Fund. In 1996 she was awarded the rank of Honoured Artist of Russia, and in 2002 that of Russia People’s Artist. In 2003 Ilze won the national theatre prize " Gold Mask " in the Best Female Ballet Role nomination.

Her versatile concert repertoire includes classical and modern works: " Dying Swan ", " Vision of a rose ", as well as the works by Ê. Goleizovski and L.Yakobson. Choreographers D. Bryantsev, G. Aleksidze and T. Serdukova created their choreography miniatures specially for the ballerina to star.

She was filmed in the following movies: "The Shining world" (1984), "Bembi" (1985), in the telefilm "Ìichailo Lomonosov" (1984-86).

While studying at the ballet college Ilze’s parents used to be informed that their children, Ilze and Andris, were supposed not to be transferred to a senior college course - they received that notification by mail every year. The notification read that Àndris and Ilze’s graduation was in question due to Àndris’ overweight, and Ilze’s overheight.