Ivan Vasiliev is a Russian ballet dancer, a star of the St. Petersburg Mikhailovsky Theater, who previously performed at the Bolshoi Theater, where he was also a premier. Vasiliev made his debut as a choreographer, presenting to the audience his original performance “Ballet No. 1”.
Ivan was born in the village of Tavrichanka, Primorsky Territory, into the family of a military officer Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev. But soon my father was transferred to the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk, where Vasiliev spent his early years. When the boy was 4 years old, he, along with his mother and older brother Victor, went to watch a children's folk ensemble. Initially, only his brother planned to go there, but Vanya so zealously showed interest in dancing that the teachers took him too.
Since then, no matter where Ivan Vasiliev studied, he always found himself 2-3 years younger than his classmates. At the age of 7, the boy saw a ballet performance for the first time and fell in love with this art form. From the folk ensemble, Vasiliev went to the Dnepropetrovsk choreographic school, and later studied classical dance at the Belarusian State Choreographic College under the guidance of choreographer Alexander Kolyadenko. Vasilyev was accepted into college immediately as a third-year student: the young man was already free to perform those elements that his peers had not yet even begun.
During his studies, Ivan interned at the National Academic Bolshoi Theater of the Republic of Belarus and performed on stage in productions of “Don Quixote” and “Corsair”. And after college, the young man went to Moscow and won the right to join the troupe of the most famous theater in post-Soviet territory.
Ballet
In 2006, a young and talented dancer appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. It took the artist only four years to bypass the title of leading soloist and become the premier of the ballet troupe. In addition to the main roles in the performances “Spartacus”, “Don Quixote”, “The Nutcracker”, “Petrushka”, “Giselle”, Ivan Vasiliev participated in the international project “Kings of Dance”.
Ivan Vasiliev's dance, according to critics, is distinguished by expression, impulsiveness, and strength. The dancer's jumps to great heights and with hovering look not like an acrobatic sketch, but as a manifestation of emotions, glee and excitement. The performance “Romeo and Juliet” in a chamber production, where Ivan Vasiliev danced the leading roles, was especially loved by the public. The dancers managed to bring to life the tragedy of two lovers on stage. Critics noted Vasiliev’s readiness to experience strong emotions on stage and demonstrate dramatic talent.
And suddenly, at the end of 2011, the news came out like a bolt from the blue: the leaders of the Bolshoi Theater Ivan Vasiliev and Natalya Osipova were moving to St. Petersburg, and not even to the Mariinsky Theater, but to the Mikhailovsky Theater, which at that time was much lower in the ranking.
It turned out that the dancer needed a new serious challenge, tough motivation to grow further. In addition, in the new dance group the artist was offered roles of dramatic and lyrical content, while at the Bolshoi, Vasiliev’s repertoire consisted mainly of heroic images.
This focus was primarily due to the artist’s physical characteristics: with average height, Ivan Vasiliev has developed muscles and wide hips, while for lyrical images, according to generally accepted canons, an elegant and sophisticated figure is required.
In St. Petersburg, Vasiliev managed to expand the boundaries of his own repertoire and go beyond the confines of one role. At the Mikhailovsky Theater, the artist mastered the roles of Prince Désiré from The Sleeping Beauty, Frondoso from Laurencia, and Solor from La Bayadère.
In addition to the St. Petersburg theater, Vasiliev regularly appears on the stage of the American Ballet Theater, and also participates as a guest artist in enterprise performances, author’s projects - “Solo for Two” in contemporary style and at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics in the film “Natasha Rostova’s First Ball”. The last performance was staged by a choreographer, and the prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater danced with Ivan.
The actor is considered one of the highest paid ballet dancers in the world. But this fact is of little interest to the young man. Ivan Vasiliev sees ballet primarily as an art and proved this by trying himself as a choreographer. Ivan staged an unusual performance “Ballet No. 1”, in which he tried to show the capabilities of the human body both in solo roles and in duets.
The artist generously shares information about his creative achievements and plans for the future from the pages of the official website. There is also a biography and colorful photos of Ivan Vasiliev, who is a soloist in the leading roles. The dancer posts videos and announcements of new productions on the page in “ Instagram", where there are also family photographs.
Personal life
The dancer's personal life develops in parallel with his professional activities. Almost immediately after Ivan Vasiliev moved from Belarus to Moscow, the dancer began a warm relationship with the ballerina Natalya Osipova. The young people together reached the rank of prime minister and prima and became a couple on stage and in life.
Then they went to St. Petersburg together. For many years, acquaintances expected the artists' wedding, but in the end the young people separated. This happened largely due to Natalya’s desire to leave her homeland and go to London. Ivan did not plan to move. Natalya Osipova fulfilled her dream on her own and became the prima of London's The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden.
At the Bolshoi Theater, the dancer met a new love, ballerina Maria Vinogradova. At that time, the girl was the wife of Alexander Savitsky, owner of the Trekhmer company. Vasiliev and Vinogradova danced together in the ballet “Spartak” and immediately felt an attraction to each other. For the first date, Ivan invited the girl to the Bolshoi Theater, although to the opera.
Vasiliev proposed to his beloved in a romantic style: the whole room was strewn with fresh rose petals, the young man, like a knight from a novel, got down on one knee and gave Maria an expensive ring from a jewelry brand.
Of course, the girl in love could not resist and agreed. The official wedding ceremony took place in June 2015. And exactly a year later the couple had a daughter, who was named Anna.
Ivan Vasiliev now
Now Ivan Vasiliev continues to collaborate with the Mikhailovsky and Bolshoi theaters. In St. Petersburg, the dancer is engaged in the main roles of the ballets “Corsair”, “Flames of Paris”, performs in Gala concerts of ballet stars, and in Moscow Vasiliev dances in productions of “Ivan the Terrible”, “Bright Stream”. Together with Maria Vinogradova, Ivan Vasiliev forms a duet of the main characters in the ballet “Giselle”.
The couple prepares numbers for solo performances together. At the concert “Stars of Benois de la Danse – laureates for a quarter of a century,” the dancers presented the duet “Memories” to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven.
In May 2018, the artist plans the premiere of the play “The Beginning. Strings. Amadeus" author's project V.I.V.A.T., which will take place on the stage of the Moscow RAMT theater. This is a chamber ballet, the main roles of which will be performed by stars of the Bolshoi Theater.
Parties
- 2006 - “Don Quixote” (Bazil)
- 2008 - “Corsair” (Conrad)
- 2008 - “Spartak” (Spartak)
- 2008 - “Bright Stream” (Peter)
- 2009 - “La Bayadère” (Solor)
- 2010 - “The Nutcracker” (Nutcracker Prince)
- 2010 - “Petrushka” (Petrushka)
- 2011 - “Giselle” (Count Albert)
- 2011 - “Sleeping Beauty” (Prince Desire)
- 2012 - “Laurencia” (Frondoso)
- 2012 - “Swan Lake” (Evil Genius)
- 2012 - “Romeo and Juliet” (Romeo)
- 2015 - “Ivan the Terrible” (Ivan the Terrible)
Ivan Vasiliev is changing his profession. Ivan Vasiliev got married. Ivan Vasiliev is ready to say “no” to the President of Russia for the sake of homemade cutlets... The famous ballet dancer, star of the Mikhailovsky and Bolshoi Theaters Ivan Vasiliev told the editor-in-chief of HELLO magazine! Svetlana Bondarchuk about the recent wedding with Maria Vinogradova, which took place on June 6 in Moscow, a new round in his career - in May, Ivan made his debut as a choreographer, presenting his first performance "Ballet No. 1" at the Barvikha Luxury Village concert hall - and also recalled interesting stories from his ballet background.
Ivan Vasiliev and Svetlana Bondarchuk during an interview at the Vanil restaurant
Svetlana. I think that even those who are not so familiar with ballet and have not seen Ivan Vasiliev on stage remembered him at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi, in the part of the show where the scene of Natasha Rostova’s first ball was played out. A handsome young man with romantic curls in a spectacular hussar jacket performed several jumps - incredible flying jumps that simply took your breath away.
I had the opportunity to see the duet of Ivan Vasiliev with ballerina Natalya Osipova on the stage of the Bolshoi more than once - it always made a huge impression. And one day it turned out that I found myself in the epicenter of... I don’t want to say a scandal, but Natasha and Ivan really shocked us then. Imagine, HELLO! conducts photography at the Mikhailovsky Theater and suddenly we learn that Natalya Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev have signed a contract with the Mikhailovsky Theater. Incredible: the stars of the country's main stage "escaped" to St. Petersburg. And not even to the Mariinsky Theater. Literally half an hour later the information spread across all news agencies, and in the evening it was reported on the news on central channels. But we were the first to know about it!
Today, fortunately, nothing prevents Ivan from dancing both at the Mikhailovsky Theater and at the Bolshoi (now he is a guest star here). Recently, Ivan made his debut with his own choreography: at Barvikha Luxury Village he presented his first project - “Ballet No. 1”. I'm sure this was not the last performance. Bolshoi stars took part in the performance, but I can say for sure that that evening the closest eyes were directed at the ballerina Maria Vinogradova. Many people already knew then that she and Ivan Vasiliev were engaged. And now I am pleased to inform the readers of HELLO! that Ivan and Maria got married last Saturday, for which I sincerely congratulate them.
Svetlana. Ivan, we met you, if I’m not mistaken, about seven years ago. It was at Chapurina's bar. It was a lot of fun. We even drank, I remember.
Ivan.(Laughs.)
Svetlana. At that time I didn’t have many acquaintances from the world of ballet, and it was a discovery for me that you, ballet people, are so completely down to earth and nothing human is alien to you. You can have fun and dance. In my opinion, you have a wonderful sense of humor, and, in fact, what I’m getting at is: I would like you to repeat HELLO for the readers! that amazing story related to the Olympics, which he once told me.
Ivan. Yes, it was a really funny incident. The fact is that during preparation for this ceremony I spent a week and a half in Sochi without going anywhere. I was not allowed to go to Moscow even for one day, although I was eager to go there with all my might. It is clear that after the opening ceremony, the first thing I did was rush to the hotel, grab my suitcase, get into a taxi to quickly get to the airport, and from there to Moscow. Because in Moscow Masha was already waiting for me with turkey cutlets with peppers, which she prepared and even sent me photos via Viber. And here I am driving in the car, and suddenly - bam! - call: “Vanya, Vladimir Vladimirovich is gathering everyone tomorrow. You should be there.” I say: “No, I can’t, I have a plane!” - “But this is Vladimir Vladimirovich...” And then I say: “Well, maybe he can meet me in Moscow?” - “Vanya, it will be quite awkward for me to tell Putin about this.” Well, it’s awkward, so oops! And I hung up. Let's move on. Ten seconds pass, and suddenly it begins: everyone who could call me called me. Finally, Masha called me: “Vanya, okay, the cutlets will wait, just stay.” So, I asked to turn the car around and stayed another day.
Svetlana. This means that love is the most important thing for you. Love for homemade cutlets. (Laughs.)
Ivan. Yes, Masha jokes about me: “That’s why you love me - for the cutlets.”
Svetlana. Is she really that good at cooking?
Ivan. My wife cooks everything perfectly: from basic buckwheat with mushrooms to Tom Yum soup. In general, she spoils me terribly. Thanks to her, I am so spoiled and terribly picky. I only need the most delicious things. (Laughs.)
Svetlana. The other day you and Masha got married, congratulations again!
Ivan. Thank you.
Svetlana. But a month earlier, another important event happened for you: you made your debut as a choreographer. Was this really such a long-time dream?
Ivan. You could say it was a childhood dream. Because, as a 12-year-old teenager, I already knew that I would definitely bet. Now I am at such a stage in my career: I have danced a lot of what I had in mind, and now I need to move on. I don’t just want to dance, I want to create something new and interesting. In this project "Ballet No. 1" I gathered the best Bolshoi artists: Denis Savin, Kristina Kretova, Anna Okuneva, Alexander Smolyaninov... I saw at rehearsals that they were really passionate about the process, that they wanted to work, they were open to any of my craziest ideas. (Laughs.)
Svetlana. If this was your long-time dream, surely there was someone who pushed you to this decision, helped you take a step?
Ivan. Masha, for which I am very grateful to her. I am the kind of person who always has a lot of plans in my head. I can get sick of them endlessly. Walking around the apartment until three o’clock in the morning, coming up with something, thinking about it, saying: “I want, I want, I want.” And at some point Masha simply told me: “Do you want it? Go ahead!” So, you see, I needed to hear these words from my loved one: “Come on.” I needed this “start” shot to make me run. And now I will run until I reach the red flag on the high mountain.
Svetlana. We need to warn Masha so that she still takes care of you. (Laughs.)
Ivan. Now she herself suffers because I sometimes jump up in the middle of the night: I’m inspired. I start to come up with a new choreography, wander around the apartment, and suddenly find myself in the kitchen. I don’t understand how I ended up there... (Laughs.) Masha comes into the kitchen. The lights are off, I’m standing in the dark, somehow shaking... (Laughs.) She looks: “Vanya...”
Svetlana. It seems, Ivan, that you are not looking for easy ways. You have a wonderful career as a dancer, and suddenly you embark on the path of an unknown for you - choreography. If you dance at the Bolshoi, you suddenly move to the Mikhailovsky Theater.
Ivan. You're right. When I get too comfortable, I want to change everything and start over. Leave the Bolshoi, where I could dance Spartacus, Don Quixote and so on for years, and go to the theater, which at that time did not sound like it does now, and grow in a new way.
Svetlana. Your dad, a military man, apparently didn’t look for easy ways either when he enrolled you in ballet. For a man to send his son to ballet is, you must admit, a little unusual. Especially if he himself is not associated with this art. How did this happen?
Ivan. It was difficult not to give me away, because, in fact, from the age of four I danced in a folk ensemble in Dnepropetrovsk, where we moved from the Primorsky Territory, where I was born. And then, when I saw ballet for the first time, I declared that I only wanted to do ballet.
Svetlana. How old were you?
Ivan. Seven years.
Svetlana. How did you know it was yours?
Ivan. I don’t know, it’s as if something is leading me through life. It’s as if something is sitting inside and pushing me in the right direction. And I think I’ve gone in the right direction: I’m doing what I love. I go to work not under pressure, but with pleasure. Only if you don't have to get up at seven in the morning for her. (Laughs.)
Svetlana. So do you like to sleep?
Ivan. For me, this is a necessary thing - to get enough sleep. I like to sleep a lot. All theaters struggle with this. But my current status in the ballet allows me to request late rehearsals.
Svetlana. Did you immediately begin to stand out at the choreographic school?
Ivan. I have always stood out for my character. I have the character of a leader: I strive to be the best in everything I undertake. But my teachers, on the contrary, doubted it. A teacher from a folk dance ensemble said: “Well, where should he go to ballet? Look, he has short legs, small, plump...” Time has shown that he was wrong.
Svetlana. Absolutely. Fundamentally. But there are still certain physical standards. It turns out that you are destroying stereotypes?
Ivan. Standards are all relative. If you compare me with today's long-legged princes, then yes, I am beyond the standards. But if you look a little wider or a little further, into the past, then no. Vladimir Vasiliev is not tall, Rudolf Nureyev’s legs were not the longest.
Svetlana. You remind me of Nureyev most of all.
Ivan. Thank you. This is my favorite dancer.
Svetlana. But when you started, everyone probably compared you to Vasiliev? Maybe they even thought you were his relative?
Ivan. Yes, there were a lot of questions. Moreover, my dad is the complete namesake of Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev. One day they called me from some competition and asked: “Ivan, can you take part in our gala concert?” I replied: “Unfortunately, I can’t.” - “Will your dad be able to come to us and sit on the jury?” I replied: “Of course he can. But he will only evaluate the marching step.”
Svetlana. You have, one might say, inherited Vasiliev's crown game - Spartak. Are your Spartakis similar?
Ivan. No, we are completely different Spartakis. He is the Spartacus that the time needed: the greatest and noblest hero.
Svetlana. Now what kind of heroes are needed?
Ivan. My Spartak, in my opinion, is more down to earth, more humane. As they say, life. But, of course, Vladimir Viktorovich always made a colossal impression on me in this game. It is impossible to repeat it. In general, it is impossible to copy artists of such stature as Vasiliev, Lavrovsky, Vladimirov, Nuriev. And those who strive for this are mistaken. You need to create your own.
Svetlana. But I can say for sure what you and Vasiliev have in common - pronounced masculine charisma. Although, in the minds of the average person, a ballet dancer is, frankly speaking, not a very masculine profession. Well, there are certain stereotypes? They also exist for actors. But you don't have it at all.
Ivan. In fact, there are a lot of real men in the ballet world. (Laughs.) And sometimes we laugh at ourselves: what kind of profession have we chosen - we paint eyelashes, put on tights. We love to laugh at this. Because there are ballets - the so-called blue classics like "Giselle", "La Sylphide", where all the dramaturgy fits into a simple scheme: fell in love - swore - got married. Or fell in love - swore - everyone died. It's just fun to laugh at tights. Although at the same time this is art, this is a fairy tale. And we are inside this fairy tale.
Svetlana. Ivan, do you and Masha dance a lot together now?
Ivan. Yes, we dance in a lot of places: in “Giselle”, “La Sylphide”, “Spartacus” and “Ivan the Terrible”.
Svetlana. Tell me, are you the owner? Jealous man?
Ivan. Yes.
Svetlana. For example, what if your wife dances with another partner?
Ivan. This is absolutely normal. This is a theatre. And if I dance with another partner, I have no doubt that Masha will calmly survive it. I dance in all the theaters of the world, with different ballerinas of different nationalities. It's just our profession.
Svetlana. What about these close encounters in ballet? All this support...
Ivan. Well, that's how we were raised. We have been dancing duet dances since childhood. We grab girls by the legs to lift them up. They don't perceive it as harassment. (Laughs.)
Svetlana. Explain to me: this is what it’s like to dance with the woman you love? On the one hand, this is probably simpler, but on the other...
Ivan. More responsible. This is a double burden on the nerves. I will never forgive myself if I lose my soulmate. (Laughs.) Although, thank God, I haven’t dropped anyone yet.
Svetlana. I know that you are one of the highest paid ballet dancers in the world. But now that you have a family, your financial needs should probably increase even more? To what extent is the money side of the issue decisive for you?
Ivan. I was never put off by the number of zeros in my fees. And I don't intend to do this in the future. For me, creativity is a priority. If I'm interested in a job, it doesn't matter how much I get paid for it. Speaking specifically about choreography, the main thing for me as a choreographer is to create something new. This is my goal now.
Svetlana. Do you want children?
Ivan. Yes very.
Svetlana. What about Maria’s career? She's ready?
Ivan. Certainly. Everything has its time.
Svetlana. Will you have a honeymoon?
Ivan. Unfortunately, we only have two weeks of vacation. We are planning to go to Dubai in August.
Svetlana. Don't, it's terrible. It's very hot there at this time.
Ivan. It's late, that's it. We are already going there. Because we spent our last vacation in Mauritius and it was cold there. This summer I decided to go to a place where it will be one hundred percent very hot.
Svetlana Bondarchuk and Ivan VasilievSvetlana. Ivan, I want to ask you: what is the most important thing in life for you? What comes first?
Ivan. My favorite. I live for my family basically. If I didn’t have a family, my beloved woman, mother, brother, grandmother, I don’t know what I would do... Live for myself? I don't understand this at all. I don’t do creative work for myself and I don’t dance for myself. I have a family, I have a home front, I have a place to return to, there are those for whom I go to the ends of the earth, twitch in tights, sweat, and then don’t sleep on the plane. Everything is just for them.
Svetlana. Thank you Ivan. You know what I was thinking: invite me to your rehearsal sometime?
Ivan. With pleasure.
Svetlana. When you set it yourself. I'm very interested in how this happens, honestly.
Ivan. With pleasure. Although at these moments I look a little like crazy. But I like it.
Facts about Ivan Vasiliev:
Dancer Ivan Vasiliev was born in the village of Tavrichanka in the Primorsky Territory into a military family. In 2006 he graduated from the Belarusian Choreographic College and in the same year became a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. A year after his admission, he was already entrusted with the main role in the ballet “Spartacus” by Yuri Grigorovich.
In 2009, Ivan participated in the “Kings of Dance” program along with five other best dancers in the world. In 2012, he became a guest soloist with the American Ballet Theater, and a year earlier he moved from the Bolshoi Theater to the Mikhailovsky Troupe in St. Petersburg.
Now Ivan Vasiliev dances both at the Mikhailovsky Theater and at the Bolshoi Theater as a guest soloist. This year at the Bolshoi he performed for the first time in the title role in the ballet Ivan the Terrible.
The duet of Ivan Vasiliev and ballerina Natalia Osipova has been one of the loudest in the ballet world for several years. Despite the fact that fate took the artists in different directions, they continue to often perform together.
Ivan Vasiliev and Bolshoi Theater soloist Maria Vinogradova got married on June 6 this year. Two and a half years ago they danced together for the first time in the ballet “Spartak” and have been dancing together ever since: on stage and in life.
Ivan Vasiliev’s schedule is planned months in advance; today we can already say where he can be seen on stage in the next season. On September 26, the dancer will take part in the Kremlin Gala “Ballet Stars of the 21st Century” at the State Kremlin Palace, an annual event held by the V. Vinokur Foundation in support of culture and art. Ivan will present a fragment from the ballet “Scheherazade” in a duet with Maria Vinogradova, as well as his own choreographic number to the music of Max Richter, which he will perform together with the Bolshoi Theater soloist Denis Savin.
On the stage National Opera of Ukraine this week the popular dance project “Kings of Dance”. This program traditionally involves the best dancers. But, perhaps, special attention was focused on Ivan Vasiliev- a 25-year-old artist who in a short period of time conquered the main music stages of the world.
A year ago, almost with a scandal, of his own free will (!), he parted ways with the Bolshoi Theater of Russia. And today Vasiliev is the premier of the Mikhailovsky Theater (St. Petersburg) and the American Ballet Theater (New York). The Grand Opera and many other famous theaters invite him to their performances. The best choreographers dream of seeing him in their productions, and ballet critics are delighted with his incredible somersaults.
Shortly before appearing on the Kyiv stage in “Kings of Dance,” Ivan Vasiliev told ZN.UA about his fees, his favorite city of London, as well as his special ballet diet.
The walls of our National Opera do not often “contemplate” such paintings. There are still about forty minutes until the end of the performance. And the entire orchestra rises from their seats in a single impulse, begins chanting, shouting “Bravo!”, unable to hide their delight at Ivan Vasiliev’s performance. The poignant culmination of “Kings of Dance” that evening was his solo mini-ballet “Labyrinth of Solitude” (choreographer Patrick de Bana, music by Tomaso Antonio). Vasiliev floats above the stage. It seems that gravity does not exist for this artist. It’s not for nothing that ballet critics talk about his amazing virtuosity and stage charm: “In his dance one can feel fatalism, the predetermination of fate... Fine-tuning of feelings is rare even among dancers of a higher caliber, and this distinguishes Vasiliev as an artist capable of living through emotional dilemmas on stage, rather than simply shock the viewer with its physical dynamism.”
He guides each viewer through the “labyrinths of loneliness”; Vasiliev draws the entire audience into his energy funnel. And it’s not for nothing that there is such demand for this artist today. His schedule spans several years.
And it all began in Ukraine, in Dnepropetrovsk. It was in this city that little Vanya had an uncontrollable desire to dance. He was born in the Primorsky Territory (Russian Federation), then his parents moved to Ukraine. And at the age of four he began to study folk dancing. Subsequently, the boy was fascinated by classical ballet. While still studying at the Minsk Choreographic School, he began to win almost all competitions where he was sent - Perm, Moscow, Varna. The young talent captivated strict ballet connoisseurs in Minsk during an internship at the National Academic Bolshoi Theater of the Republic of Belarus. Then he brilliantly performed the role of Basil in the ballet Don Quixote by L. Minkus. They heard about the ballet prodigy in Moscow. Alexei Ratmansky personally invited Vasiliev to the Bolshoi Theater of Russia. On the first musical stage of the Russian Federation, Ivan not only received the best repertoire (ballets “Don Quixote”, “La Bayadère”, “Corsair”, “Spartacus”, “Flames of Paris”, “Bright Stream”), but also the best life partner... The magnificent ballerina Natalya Osipov. We can say that the Bolshoi Theater “married” this star couple. Since then they have been trying to be together.
“We had seen Natalya before at different competitions, but we didn’t really know each other, since she was already in the adult category, and I was still dancing in the children’s category,” says Ivan Vasiliev. — Once, when Natasha and I appeared on stage in Don Quixote in London, literally the whole audience was on ears, and the critics said that we should not be given five stars (in the English press this is the highest rating), but seven .
— Ivan, do you often have to dance on the same stage with your wife today? And do you often travel together?
— You have to travel really often. And mostly for work. Sometimes together. It happens, and apart. Although we usually dance together. When Natalya is nearby, I certainly feel better, more pleasant, and... somehow whole.
— Does marital jealousy often arise when you have to let Osipova go to another country, to new stage partners?
- Of course, I treat these things quite jealously. But I still let go. Work is work.
— Last December, you and Natalya Osipova left the Bolshoi Theater - and this became one of the main musical sensations... Do you still have any obligations to the Bolshoi today?
— There are no obligations as such. But I hope that in the near future we will nevertheless build our relationship and our work with the Bolshoi Theater. Since there is no end to this story. And no one was going to install it. We will continue to work.
— When was the last time you appeared on that stage?
- Yes, I came out last December. Danced in Roland Petit's ballet "Young Man and Death" at the Bolshoi. And I danced with the troupe of this theater in February on tour.
— You are one of the most sought-after ballet dancers today... Are there any specific features of your contracts with the world’s largest theaters?
— You understand, any contract implies certain obligations. Be it the Mikhailovsky Theatre, the Bolshoi Theater or the American Ballet Theatre. You just need to fulfill certain conditions - you need to come and dance. Today I have two permanent jobs - in St. Petersburg and in New York. There are several other theaters where I just come to dance. For example, the Grand Opera in Paris, where they invite you to dance “Vain Precaution.”
— If you study your track record, it turns out that there are practically no famous ballets left in which you would not be involved... Or is it not so?
- Not certainly in that way. There are still many “untouched” works in which I would like to try myself. And over time, I hope, I will experience it. It’s every artist’s dream to have ballets staged specifically for him. And I also have a dream - MacMillan's Mayerling...
— Ivan, today you maintain a creative relationship with Alexei Ratmansky, who, by the way, once started in Kyiv, and he has a lot to do with our city...
— We have a wonderful relationship. We have known each other for a long time and have also been collaborating for a long time. He never ceases to make me happy. This is a most talented choreographer, one of the best today. And I would like to work with him again and again. As you know, it was Ratmansky’s idea to connect me on stage with Natalya Osipova. He felt that we were suitable for each other in temperament. And since then we have been together... Even before the Bolshoi, some people who saw me at various competitions spoke about me to Ratmansky. Alexey was then working as the chief choreographer of the Bolshoi and they had a principle there: to take the Bolshoi only from the Moscow Choreographic... At best, they took the corps de ballet from other schools first, as if for a probationary period. But it was Alexey who took me from Minsk - straight into the Bolshoi soloists.
— What do you think about Radu Poklitaru, another choreographer who still works in Kyiv today?
- I know him very well. I even worked with him. He played the number “Swan” for me. Radu does very interesting things. He has wonderful dramatic discoveries in ballets. And I hope to collaborate with him.
— Ivan, how did Yuri Grigorovich react to your departure from the Bolshoi Theater? After all, it was in his “Spartacus” that you established your status as the first dancer of the Bolshoi Theater?
— Yuri Nikolaevich is not the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theater. He is the choreographer of his works. Therefore, Natasha and I did not discuss our departure from the Bolshoi Theater with him. You know, I don’t want to talk about this topic at all... Some things remain in the past. But I hope there will be a future with Big One too.
- You travel a lot, you don’t stay anywhere for a long time... Which city would you call the most comfortable - for relaxation, for spending time?
— I love London very much. I can stay in it forever. This is my city". I just walk the streets and I already feel good. And in general, I associate this city with wonderful memories: my first tour with the Bolshoi, the ballet “Don Quixote”... I also remember the second tour in London (there were more performances then), but they opened with “Spartacus”. When, on the same tour, we again performed with Natasha in Don Quixote, the audience’s reaction was incredible: we were taken out of the theater through some secret corridors, as the fans simply went berserk.
— Ballet critics talk about your extraordinary capabilities on stage. Is there a “limit” to a ballet dancer’s technique?
- There are no limits. When a person thinks about the “limit”, then it’s time for him to finish. I don't hear people praising me at all. I don't want to hear this at all.
— But if you look on the Internet, you are met with sheer admiration and praise.
- Come on... The main thing is to understand your shortcomings. And develop.
— Do you often think about Dnepropetrovsk?
- Certainly. I started dancing there and taking ballet seriously. True, I haven’t been to this city for a long time. But from time to time I meet different people who are connected with Dnepropetrovsk - and I really enjoy these meetings.
- And if - suddenly - such an offer arises... Join the staff of the Minsk Opera and Ballet Theater for an unimaginable fee! At the personal invitation of Lukashenko. Will you agree to return?
— I don’t dance for big fees. They don't attract me. If I want, I will dance. If I don’t want to, no money will help here, no one will persuade me.
— Are there dancers in ballet who are “perfection itself” for you?
- These are many great artists. For myself, I will only mention Rudik. That is, Rudolf Nureyev. For me this is a special person. You can endlessly argue whether he is the best or not the best... But for me he is the most beloved and the most special.
— During the period of work at the Bolshoi Theater, when you were not yet twenty, who made more friends or enemies during this period?
- You know, there are few friends in this world. But if they exist, then for life. There are probably such friends at the Bolshoi too.
— Perhaps one of our readers will be interested: are there any taboos in the diet of the best ballet dancers...
—Are you talking about a diet? Yes, there is no diet! You saw for yourself - I came to the rehearsal straight from McDonald's...
Ivan Vasiliev was born on September 9, 1989 in the village of Tavrichanka, Primorsky Territory. The boy grew up in the family of a military officer, Vladimir Viktorovich. Soon, his father was transferred to the Ukrainian city of Dnepr, where the young man spent his early years. At the age of four, together with his mother and older brother Victor, he went to audition for a children's folk ensemble. Moreover, initially my brother planned to go there, but Vanya so zealously showed interest in dancing that the teachers took him too.
Since then, no matter where Vasiliev studied, he always found himself 2-3 years younger than his classmates. At seven, the boy saw a ballet performance for the first time and fell in love with this art form. From the folk ensemble he went to the Dnieper Choreographic School, and later studied classical dance at the Belarusian State Choreographic College under the guidance of choreographer Alexander Kolyadenko. By the way, Vasiliev was accepted into the college immediately as a third-year student, since the young man was fluent in performing those elements that his peers had not even started yet.
During his studies, Ivan interned at the National Academic Bolshoi Theater of the Republic of Belarus and performed on stage in such productions as Don Quixote and Corsair. After college, the young dancer went to Moscow, where he sought the right to join the troupe of the most famous theater in post-Soviet territory.
In 2006, a young and incredibly talented dancer Vasiliev appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. It took him only four years to, bypassing the title of leading soloist, become the premiere of the ballet troupe. In addition to the main roles in such legendary performances as “Spartacus”, “Don Quixote”, “The Nutcracker”, “Petrushka”, “Giselle”, Ivan, together with Nikolai Tsiskaridze, participated in the international project “Kings of Dance”.
At the end of 2011, the leaders of the Bolshoi Theater, Ivan Vasiliev and Natalya Osipova, moved to St. Petersburg, and not even to the Mariinsky Theater, but to the Mikhailovsky Theater, which at that time was much lower in the ranking. It turned out that the dancer needed a new serious challenge, tough motivation to grow further.
In addition to the St. Petersburg theater, Vasiliev regularly appeared on the stage of the American Ballet Theater, and also took part as a guest artist in famous enterprise performances. For example, in the project “Solo for Two” in contemporary style and at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi in the film “Natasha Rostova’s First Ball”. The last performance was staged by the amazing choreographer Radu Poklitaru, and prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater Svetlana Zakharova danced with Ivan.
On March 1, 2014, the ballet dancer signed an appeal from Russian cultural figures in support of the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine and Crimea.
Vasiliev is one of the highest paid ballet dancers in the world. However, this fact interests the young man little. Ivan Vladimirovich sees ballet as art, first and foremost, and proved this by trying himself as a choreographer, staging the unusual performance “Ballet No. 1” in 2015. In it, the choreographer tried to show the capabilities of the human body both in solo parts and in duets.
As a guest artist, Vasiliev performed in the role of Jose in the production of “Carmen Suite” in 2019, and also performed the role of Ferkhad in “The Legend of Love.”
Awards of Ivan Vasiliev
2004 - Laureate of the International Ballet Competition in Varna (III prize, junior group)
2005 - Laureate of the International Ballet Competition in Moscow (1st prize, junior group)
2006 - Laureate of the Open Competition of Russian Ballet Dancers “Arabesque” in Perm (1st prize and prize of the Korea Ballet Foundation)
2006 - Laureate of the International Ballet Competition in Varna (Special distinction)
2007 - Triumph Prize Youth Grant
2008 - Prize of the magazine “Ballet” “Soul of Dance” in the category “Rising Star”
2008 - National Dance Awards Critics Circle in the Spotlight Award category
2009 - Prize of the International Association of Choreographers “Benois de la dance” for performing the roles of Conrad in “The Corsair” and Philippe in “The Flames of Paris”
2010 - International Ballet Award Dance Open in the category “Mr. Virtuosity”
2011 - National Dance Awards Critics Circle in the category “Best Dancer”
2011 - Grand Prix of the International Ballet Award Dance Open
2011 - Leonid Massine Prize (Positano, Italy)
2014 - Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
Works of Ivan Vasiliev
Repertoire at the Mikhailovsky Theater
2011 - “Sleeping Beauty”, choreographer Nacho Duato - Prince Désiré
2012 - “Laurencia”, choreography by Vakhtang Chabukiani, revised by Mikhail Messerer - Frondoso
2012 - “La Bayadère”, choreography by Marius Petipa, new version by Mikhail Messerer - Solor
2012 - “Don Quixote”, choreography by Alexander Gorsky, new edition by Mikhail Messerer - Basil
2012 - “Swan Lake”, choreography by M. Petipa, L. Ivanov and A. Gorsky, revised by Mikhail Messerer - Evil Genius
2012 - “Romeo and Juliet”, choreographer Nacho Duato - Romeo
2013 - “Flames of Paris”, choreography by Vasily Vainonen, new edition by Mikhail Messerer - Philip
2014 - “A Vain Precaution”, choreography by Frederick Ashton, production by Mikhail Messerer and Michael O’Hair - Colin
2014 - “Class Concert”, choreography by Asaf Messerer, staged by Mikhail Messerer - Soloist - first performer
2014 - “Halt of the Cavalry”, choreography by Marius Petipa, revised by Pyotr Gusev - Pyotr
2015 - “Corsair”, choreography by Marius Petipa, staged by Mikhail Messerer - Conrad
Repertoire at the Bolshoi Theater
2006 - “Don Quixote”, choreography by Alexander Gorsky, revised by Alexey Fadeechev - Basil
2006 - “A Vain Precaution”, choreography by Frederick Ashton, production by Alexander Grant - Colin
2007 - “La Bayadère”, choreography by Nikolai Zubkovsky - Golden God
2007 - “Misericordes”, choreographer Christopher Wheeldon - Soloist
2007 - “Corsair”, choreography by Marius Petipa, production and new choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and Yuri Burlaka - Slave Dance - first performer
2007 - “Spartak”, choreographer Yuri Grigorovich - Three Shepherds
2007 - “Class Concert”, choreography by Asaf Messerer - Soloist - first performer
2008 - “Corsair”, choreography by Marius Petipa, production and new choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and Yuri Burlaka - Conrad
2008 - “The Flames of Paris”, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky using choreography by Vasily Vainonen - Philip
2008 - “Spartak”, choreographer Yuri Grigorovich - Spartak
2008 - “Bright Stream”, choreographer Alexei Ratmansky - Peter
2009 - “La Bayadère”, choreography by Marius Petipa, revised by Yuri Grigorovich - Solor
2009 - “Esmeralda”, choreography by Agrippina Vaganova - Actaeon - first performer
2010 - “The Nutcracker”, choreographer Yuri Grigorovich - The Nutcracker Prince
2010 - “Young Man and Death”, choreographer Roland Petit - Young Man - first performer
2010 - “Petrushka”, choreography by Mikhail Fokin, revised by Sergei Vikharev - Petrushka
2011 - “Raymonda”, choreography by Marius Petipa, revised by Yuri Grigorovich - Abderakhman
2011 - “Lost Illusions”, choreographer Alexei Ratmansky - Lucien - first performer
2011 - “Giselle”, edited by Yuri Grigorovich - Count Albert
2013 - “Coppelia”, choreography by Marius Petipa and Enrico Cecchetti, revised by Sergei Vikharev - Franz
2015 - “La Sylphide”, choreography by August Bournonville, edited by Johan Kobborg - James
2015 - “Ivan the Terrible”, choreographer Yuri Grigorovich - Ivan the Terrible
Tour
Anniversary concert in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Perm State Choreographic School in Perm
XX International Ballet Festival in Havana, pas de deux from the ballet “Flames of Paris” and pas de deux from the ballet “Don Quixote” with Natalia Osipova
Gala concert “Today's Stars and Tomorrow's Stars” (pas de deux from the ballet “Flames of Paris” with Natalia Osipova), which concluded the IX International Competition for ballet school students, the Youth America Grand Prix, established by former Bolshoi Ballet dancers Gennady and Larisa Savelyev
Basil in the Mikhailovsky Theater's play "Don Quixote" (Kitri - Irina Perren)
Gala concerts in Kazan that concluded the International Festival of Classical Ballet named after Rudolf Nureyev (pas de deux from the ballet “The Flames of Paris”, partner - Natalya Osipova)
Gala concert on the stage of the Lyon Amphitheater (variations and coda from the ballet “Don Quixote”, pas de deux from the ballet “Flames of Paris”, partner - Natalya Osipova)
As part of the First Siberian Ballet Festival - Basil in the performance of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater “Don Quixote” (with Natalya Osipova) and Albert in the ballet “Giselle” (Giselle - Natalya Osipova)
The role of Solor in the ballet “La Bayadère” (staged by Igor Zelensky) at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater (Nikia - Natalya Osipova)
The role of Albert in the ballet “Giselle” (edition by Nikita Dolgushin) with the troupe of the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg (Giselle - Natalya Osipova)
Basil's role at the Second Siberian Ballet Festival in the performance of the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater "Don Quixote" (Kitri - soloist of the NGATOB Anna Zharova)
Participant in the second series of the Ardani Artists agency project “Kings of Dance” (performed the miniature “Vestris” (choreography by Leonid Yakobson) and a part in the ballet “For 4” (choreography by Christopher Wheeldon)
The role of Frederi in the ballet Le d'Arlesienne (choreography by Roland Petit) in Rome with the ballet troupe of the Rome Opera
Guest soloist of the American Ballet Theater in performances on the stage of the New York Metropolitan Opera: Peter in the ballet “Bright Stream” (Zina - Xiomara Reyes) and Franz in the ballet “Coppelia” revised by F. Franklin (Swanilda - Xiomara Reyes)
Guest artist of the English National Ballet in performances on the stage of the London Coliseum: Romeo in Frederick Ashton's ballet "Romeo and Juliet" (Juliet - Natalya Osipova) and the Youth in Roland Petit Petit's ballet "Young Man and Death" (partner - Zhi Jang)
Gala concerts in Buenos Aires on the stage of the Coliseo Theater with Natalia Osipova: pas de deux from the ballet “Don Quixote” and “Serenade” (choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti)
As part of the Fifth Siberian Ballet Festival with the Novosibirsk Theater troupe: Spartacus (Phrygia - NGATOB soloist Anna Zharova) and Solor in the ballet “La Bayadère” (Nikia - NGATOB soloist Anna Odintsova).
Guest soloist (Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg): Prodigal Son in the ballet “Prodigal Son” (choreography by George Balanchine); A young man in the ballet “Young Man and Death” (choreography by Roland Petit) (partner - soloist of the Mariinsky Theater Victoria Tereshkina); Basil in the ballet “Don Quixote” (Choreography by Alexander Gorsky (1902) based on the play by Marius Petipa) (Kitris - soloist of the Mariinsky Theater Anastasia Matvienko)
The role of Solor in the ballet “La Bayadère” (staged by Natalia Makarova) in Moscow with the ballet troupe of the Moscow Musical Theater. K. S. Stanislavsky and Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko (Nikia - MAMT soloist Anna Ol, Gamzatti - MAMT soloist Oksana Kardash).
Guest soloist (La Scala, Milan): The Phantom of the Rose in the ballet “The Vision of the Rose” (choreography by Mikhail Fokine); Rubies in the ballet Jewels (choreography by George Balanchine)
Filmography
2010 - “Flames of Paris” - Philip
2011 - “Don Quixote” - Basil
Family of Ivan Vasiliev
Common-law wife - Natalya Osipova, ballerina.
He was told that his legs were too short and thick
Even those who have never been to musical theater have seen this dancer: he recently starred in a video for singer Valeria. And before that, Ivan performed at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi: a dancer in a hussar mantle performed several of his signature jumps.
It was the uniquely high flights on the verge of a stunt that became the calling card of this artist. Incredible male charisma makes him called a genius, Mr. Testosterone, a brutal macho. The halls on Vasiliev are sold out months in advance. One producer admitted that Ivan’s fees are so high that for a couple of tours he earns enough to buy an apartment in St. Petersburg.
The most interesting thing is that Vasiliev achieved world fame without having a ballet figure at all. Even at the Dnepropetrovsk Choreographic School (he, a native of the Primorsky Territory, came to Ukraine because of his military father), and then at the Minsk School, “well-wishers” warned the guy that he was short, had short and thick legs, and that such a “clumsy” “A career in ballet will not work out. Although “little” Ivan always studied with guys two or three years older than himself and at the same time surpassed them in technology.
Yes, compared to other ballet stars, Ivan is squat and stocky. Some strict guardians of ballet even believe that the roles of Princes in white tights, where the lines of the figure should be refined, are contraindicated for him. However, Ivan’s hurricane energy and charm, and especially his phenomenal jumping and flying, make you forget about the artist’s physique.
Vasiliev has no shortage of self-confidence. Having quickly taken leading positions at the Bolshoi Theater, he left six years later - to the Mikhailovsky Theater. But at the Bolshoi he is still a welcome guest today - he appears as a guest star. In addition, 27-year-old Vasiliev does not hide his ambitions as a choreographer: he staged several numbers and an entire performance.
As for the star’s personal life, Ivan’s heart always belongs to talented ballerinas. After a high-profile affair and separation from Natalya Osipova, he married another star, Maria Vinogradova, and she gave birth to his daughter a year ago...