The Russian ballet is a form of dance that has been entrancing audiences since the late 1700s. It is renowned for its grace and beauty, and the virtuosity of its performers. The most famous male Russian ballet dancers who are still living today have helped to shape the art form and bring it to the forefront of world culture.
Mikhail Baryshnikov is arguably the most famous male Russian ballet dancer who is still living today. He began his career in Leningrad in 1969 before joining the Kirov Ballet, where he soon became recognised as one of the greatest dancers of all time.
He then defected to Canada in 1974 and continued his career with the American Ballet Theatre, eventually becoming its artistic director. Baryshnikov has also appeared on stage, television, and film, as well as choreographing for various companies around the world.
Ivan Vasiliev is another highly acclaimed male Russian ballet dancer who is still living today. He began dancing at a young age and was accepted into Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet School in 2000.
After graduating from there, he joined the Bolshoi Ballet Company where he became principal dancer in 2006. Vasiliev has performed all over Europe and Asia, receiving acclaim for his captivating performances and technical prowess.
Sergei Polunin is yet another accomplished male Russian ballet dancer that is still living today. He began training at age seven at Kiev’s National Ballet Academy before joining the Kirov Ballet Company in 2003 where he was promoted to principal dancer within two years. Polunin left there in 2011 to pursue a freelance career which has seen him perform with companies all around Europe and America, including stints with English National Ballet and Royal Ballet Flanders.
Davit Karapetyan rounds out our list of famous male Russian ballet dancers that are still living today. The Armenian-born Karapetyan trained at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre School before joining Mariinsky Theatre where he became a principal soloist four years later. Karapetyan has earned numerous awards for his performances around Europe, including a nomination for Benois de la Danse for best male dancer in 1999.
Overall, these five performers are some of the greatest dancers alive today who have shaped what we know about classical ballet today with their impressive technical abilities and captivating performances.
Conclusion: The most famous male Russian ballet dancer that is still living today is Mikhail Baryshnikov whose career spans from Leningrad to North America and back again.