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Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev to Join the Mikhailovsky Theatre

Ballet stars Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev have decided to move to the Mikhailovsky Theatre. The renowned ballet dancers have appeared at the Mikhailovsky Theatre many times as guest performers; they will be joining the theatre’s company from 01 December 2011. Natalia Osipova will take the position of prima ballerina, and Ivan Vasiliev that of principal dancer of the Mikhailovsky Theatre.



Speaking about her move, Natalia Osipova commented, “Given my roots in Moscow, the decision to move to the Mikhailovsky was a very serious step for me. The main reason behind my decision to leave the Bolshoi Theatre was the lack of repertoire – I have danced everything I could possibly dance there. We have come for artistic freedom. My life had become too comfortable, and I feel a strong compulsion to change it somehow, to free myself from this fixed course, which had become rather too relaxed”.

Ivan Vasiliev said, “We are developing, we want to move forward, and at the Bolshoi Theatre it is very difficult to break out of the mould that we once created for ourselves. We do not want to be confined to two or three so-called ‘great roles’, but want to dance as many different parts as possible, especially new choreography. It is not the size of the stage that is important for dancers, but what can be performed on that stage and how it is achieved”.

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev have signed a five-year contract. Their first performance as Mikhailovsky Theatre soloists will be on 01 December, at the closing concert of the Mikhailovsky Theatre Grand Prix.