Vadim Muntagirov - Dancer of the Year 2021 

Having two parents who were dancers before him has something to do with his current success.

Him and Nela are the best partnership in the Royal Ballet, both sublime.

Interesting comment and I have to agree with you- to a certain degree. Maybe I am uninformed but I only know of Muntagirov, Osipova and Polunin as russian trained (or as dancers from Russia). Polunin and Muntagirov both choose to go to the Royal Ballet school after the prix. They had a variety of excellent schools to choose from who all would have happily accepted them. If they wanted to be trainded at the Rbs as their first choice then why shouldnt they go? They choose the rbs over their old schools for a reason. If Vadim wanted to he could get into any company he sets his eyes on and same applies to Osipova I guess. They are loved and celebrated ballet stars all around the globe. And this is (in part) because of the royal ballet. They have been given the chance to dance and shine and represent the ROH over and over again. Vadim has danced and trained in England since he was 15 or 16. Do you you really think that he didnt learn a thing from his new teachers and mentors and stopped growing? It is isnorant to say that he only is who he is now as an individual and artist because he recived russian training once. Their journey starte in Russia/Ukraine but the all are where they are now because they went every step of the road. Because the didnt stop training and growing when they came to England and they got excellent training and coaching from teachers and Coaches, who were Ballet stars themselves, provided by the RBS and RHO. And I can only imagine that you get better payment and more individual freedome at the RBs compared to russian Companies. Big plus: no director or dancer at the rbs had to survive attempted murder.

Vadim himself, in more than one interview, has credited his early Russian training and his wonderful teachers, but he also credits his RB training with teaching him different techniques including fast footwork and detail, which he struggled with when he came to the UK. He has said that he is the product of both schools - and let’s face it, he is a wonderful credit to them both. I have huge respect for Russian training and ballet, but the idea that only Russians can teach ballet to a high standard is untrue and outdated these days, although it may well have been the case in the past. If RB training were so inferior to his Russian training, then his technique would have slid over the years and he would not now be regarded as one of the finest classical dancers in the world.

The clownery of this comment...Muntagirov and Osipova are literally the only russians in the company, but go off I guess.

Limited programme in Russia, no close connection with other stylistics as with Ashton, MacMillan , Wheeldon, McGregor et al. It's why other Russians claim to have come to London, a broader, more flexible experience. Their choices.

Is he really? When did he say that?

I didn’t know about Muntagirov. I have read that Nureyev was a Tatar (as well).

@@m.h.6499 Two of my favorite ballet dancers are Nureyev and Mukhamedov. I know that they are both Tatars. But I’ve never heard Vadim mention that he was.

Well, I wouldn't call it "tiny." In fact, at almost 5.5 mln (4% of total population), Tartars are the largest ethnic minority group in Russia. Outside of Tatarstan, they live in Siberia, on the Volga, in the Urals Region, and in the Far East. Btw, it tajes about 13 hrs to drive from Chelyabinsk to Tatarstan, so they are not geographically close.

you can say that again

He is an absolutely grace and beauty to watch. His presence on stage is so carefree and magnificent

They are wonderful together..

Perfect partners

What delightful personality! So much talent and not a scintilla of arrogance! A beautiful spirit! His partnership with Marianela Nunez is a match made in heaven! ❤️