Vladimir Vasiliev: God of the Dance

Vladimir Vasiliev was a legendary Soviet-era dancer, one of the most influential dancers of the 20th Century. Although not as well known as Mikhail Baryshnikov or Rudolf Nureyev in the West, many critics considered Vasiliev their equal. Vasiliev made significant contributions to the development of males in ballet, and he embodied the strength of the Bolshoi men. He inspired younger dancers such as American Ballet Theatre’s Herman Cornejo and Paris Opera Ballet’s Mathias Heymann. Russian choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov called Vasiliev “God of the dance.” In this video, I focus on two of his variations to shed some light on what made him a one-of-a-kind artist. Thanks to Stephen Nelson for many helpful comments. Sources Videos Maximova and Vasiliev Don Quixote Pas de Deux, xxxFreyjaxxx YouTube channel: Vasiliev in Spartacus, Maximova&Vasiliev-Duet YouTube channel, from Katia et Volodia,