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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNpTK80e7g&t=38s
Vasiliev in Spartacus, Maximova&Vasiliev-Duet YouTube channel, from Katia et Volodia, Medici.tv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Y5kenGWK4
Maximova fouettés in Don Quixote, russianballetvideos2 YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAPJ1i3gSo8&t=361s
Angel Corella Don Quixote pirouettes, American Ballet Theatre Now, 2002, Image Entertainment
Mikhail Baryshnikov, The Turning Point, Anchor Bay, 2005
Vasiliev in Giselle, gramilano YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enrzR5-ThSE&t=362s

Photos
Vasiliev Spartacus thumbnail, Bolshoi Theatre website
Vasiliev photo in studio, ITAR-TASS News Agency/Almay Stock Photo
Vasiliev as a student, 3 photos, Melmoth blog
https://melmoth.blog/
Maximova and Vasiliev as students, 2 photos, Melmoth blog
Vasiliev in Narcissus and Echo, Alchetron.com
Baryshnikov in Giselle, Chicago, 1978, Vladimir Bliokh
Maximova and Vasiliev, Wikimedia Commons, July 28, 1964, Stoyan Lefedzhiev
Maximova and Vasilyev, Don Quixote, Bolshoi Theater, Wikipedia, RIA Novosti archive, image #503726/G. Soloviov/CC-BY-SA 3.0
Yuri Grigorovich profile photo, aho.ru
Vasiliev in studio, November 10, 1972, Wikipedia, Dutch National Archives
Bolshoi Theater at Night, Wikipedia, Dmitriy Guryanov
Bolshoi Theater A Quadriga sculptured by Peter Clodt von Jürgensburg, Moscow, A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons
Maximova and Vasiliev, June 29, 2008, ZUMA Press Inc./Almay Stock Photo
Vasiliev at Fireworks of Talents Choreography, October 8, 2018, St. Petersburg, Russia, Lilyana Vynogradova/Almay Stock Photo
Spartacus’ Death, Hermann Vogel, 1882, Wikipedia, United States Public Domain
Spartacus Slave Revolt in the Final Battle Crassus Defeats the Slaves and Spartacus is Killed, Nicola Sanesi, before 1889, Wikipedia, United States Public Domain
Spartacus statue by Denis Foyatier at the Louvre museum, Wikipedia
Aram Khachaturian, September 27, 1971, Wikipedia, Mieremet, Rob/Anefo
Maris Liepa in Spartacus, March 1, 1962, ITAR-TASS News Agency/Almay Stock Photo
Vasiliev, Spartacus, London Coliseum, June 10, 1974, Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Almay Stock Photo
Vasiliev, Spartacus, April 8, 1968, ITAR-TASS News Agency/Almay Stock Photo

Bio Information
Vasiliev.com-Vladimir Vasiliev’s website
https://www.vasiliev.com/eng_shkola_1.html
Wikipedia-“Vladimir Vasiliev”
Quotes from Baryshnikov, Vasiliev on Maximova’s death, Vasiliev on appearing taller on stage-Wendy Perron, Dance Matters, Dance Magazine, July 26, 2010
https://www.dancemagazine.com/dance-matters-vladimir-vasiliev/
Simon Morrison, Bolshoi Confidential, W.W. Norton & Co., 2016
https://www.amazon.com/Bolshoi-Confidential-Secrets-Russian-Ballet/dp/0871402963
Miscelana.com, When Ekaterine Maximova Almost Never Walked Again
https://miscelana.com/2021/02/21/when-ekaterina-maximova-almost-never-walked-again/
For ballet lovers only, Interview with Vladimir Vasiliev, London 16 March 2002
http://www.for-ballet-lovers-only.com/interviews-vvasiliev.html

Видео Vladimir Vasiliev: God of the Dance канала Kent G Becker