Vadim Muntagirov interview: from small steps to big leaps - in conversation with Deborah Weiss
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- Опубліковано 23 чер 2024
- Following the recent release of his book ‘From Small Steps to Big Leaps’, the London Ballet Circle was pleased to host Vadim Muntagirov, Principal Dancer at The Royal Ballet, in conversation with dance writer Deborah Weiss.
The conversation started with Vadim discussing his beginnings at Perm State Choreographic College. He described boarding school as a “shocking experience” and was subject to incredibly strict teaching. However his mastery of technique led him to success at the Prix de Lausanne, aged 16, after which he decided to join the Royal Ballet School. He said adapting to the RBS was difficult - “it was very different technique and method of teaching to what I was used to.”
Upon graduating, he joined English National Ballet, and shared stories with the audience about his partnerships with Daria Klimentova, Alina Cojocaru, and Tamara Rojo. He reminisced fondly on his time here, saying “from the first week I had opportunity to dance fantastic roles.” He left ENB to join The Royal Ballet in 2014. The wide-ranging conversation not only took in his career, but also topics such as physical health, making mistakes on stage, and coaching.
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He so sweet ….. a wonderful dancer and so humble ….❤
I had the honour of speaking to Vadim on a cold, dark night in November as I was walking to Covent Garden tube station. I had just attended an unforgettable performance of Mayerling and waited outside the Stage Door to catch a glimpse of my hero. There were so many people milling around and I was getting cold, so I took one blurry picture with my phone and left. As I approached the Tube station I was so shocked to see Vadim walking past me (holding many bouquets of flowers) that I gasped out loud and said, "Oh!! Vadim!!" He stopped immediately and turned around to face me. I stuttered and rambled (a combination of shock and old-age) and told him how much I had enjoyed the ballet and how I had just arrived the previous day from California. He was surprised at that and asked me the reason for my visit. I replied, "I came especially to see you!" He replied, "You came all that way to see me? That is incredible! Thank you so much!" He thanked ME -- and yet I just couldn't express to him how much I thanked HIM for the happiness he has brought me over the years, and what an amazing night I had had! We spoke for a few minutes, and then I realised how cold it was, and how heavy those flowers must have been. I told him he must go home and get some rest. He thanked me AGAIN for coming, and walked off to the tube station. No taxi -- he was taking the Piccadilly Line, as was I. I was careful to wait to use a different lift from his, as I didn't want him to think I was stalking him -- a woman of 76 could be scary! I didn't see him again that night, but I did get a book signed at the ROH the following year. Again, he was charming and polite, and grateful I had bought the book.
I once saw a short video made in his early 20s, and he said he thought it was very important to be a "nice person". Well, Vadim, you are certainly a VERY VERY nice person! My thanks and appreciation to your parents, who obviously brought you up to work hard -- and always be kind.
What a lovely young man and a fine dancer. Thank you Vadim.
Brilliant to see this interview again and many thanks to London Ballet Circle for posting it. I was lucky enough to be there for the live interview and a wonderful evening it was; well worth the trip from Lancashire! Despite his amazing talent, Vadim comes over as a modest, unassuming, very hard-working young man, and long may he continue to delight us with his wonderful dancing. Can't wait to see him in Don Q at the start of the Royal Ballet's new season. The book too, is excellent. A great read and makes you realise how early all the hard work that goes into being a great classical dancer has to start.
I saw him yesterday in Swan lake it was a great success with Fumi Kaneko , memorable
He is so adorable! I can't believe the choreographers aren't queueing up, begging to choreograph on him. ❤
This is a very emotionally aware young dancer. Everything he says is about his feelings, his confusion at a different language, his learning from English National Ballet - and most of all, how fellow dancers treated him and welcomed him and made him feel at ease.
Thank you Ballet circle for this opportunity to see this special interview with the amazing and lovely Vadim which I attended the first time and wanted to. See again as it is so interesting and best of all is Vadim's very heart felt thankyou to the audience , how much he appreciates our support of him, really so touching, such an incredible dancer and such a special person and his book is a page turner!❤❤
Wonderful interview with a wonderful dancer!
If anyone is interested to learn more about the Perm ballet school: there is a fantastic book written by Monica Loughman, a former Irish ballerina. She trained in Perm in the 1990s from the age of 13 oder 14, graduated from the school and later joined the Perm Ballet Company. It is actually quite shocking how she describes the training methods in Perm.
She is not a good interviewer