Principal Dancer at StaatsBalletBerlin
Born in Moldova, this internationally renowned artist is today an esteemed Principal Guest Artist on the world’s most prestigious stages. His solid training and a career studded with success have made him one of the leading figures in contemporary classical ballet.
From 1994 to 2000, he studied at the National Choreographic College under the guidance of Alexander Ivanov. He subsequently continued his training in Vienna from 2000 to 2002 at the Ballet Conservatory, where he studied with Maxim Abzalov.
In 2001, he was awarded Second Prize at the Ballet and Dance Contest in Austria. The year 2002 marked his definitive breakthrough, with victories at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne and the International Ballet Competition Arabesque in Perm, where he received First Prize. In 2023, his outstanding career was further recognized with the Premio Eccellenza della Danza (Dance Excellence Award).
In 2002, he joined the Ballett der Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, beginning a long and successful artistic association with the German capital. Promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2003, he became part of the newly established Staatsballett Berlin in 2004, where he was promoted to Soloist in 2007 and served as a Principal Dancer from 2012 to 2021. Since 2021, he has continued his collaboration with the prestigious Berlin company as a Principal Guest Artist.
Thanks to his versatility and stage charisma, he has been invited to perform in some of the most prestigious international gala events and venues, including the Fanny-Elssler-Gala in Vienna (2002), the Gran Gala in Nepal (2003), the Teatro alla Scala in Milan (2004), Scheveningen (2005), the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb (2006), and the renowned Vienna New Year’s Concert in 2009.
His wide repertoire ranges from the great classics of nineteenth-century ballet to the creations of contemporary masters.
Leading Roles and Grand Pas de Deux
• Swan Lake Prince Sigfrido
• Lescaut’s Mistress (Basilio) – coreografy of M. Petipa / J. Grigorovich and V. Ullate;
• Coppélia (Franz):
• Pas de deux celebri – Fiamme di Parigi, Diana e Atteone, Grand Pas Classique, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux (performed with Gillian Murphy for the 2006 Opening Gala).
Prominent Productions of the Staatsballett Berlin
Recent Creations: Children of the Night by Alexander Abdukarimov (LAB_WORKS 2022).
Rudolf Nureyev: The Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird and Princess Florine Pas de Deux).
Vladimir Malakhov: La Bayadère (The Golden Idol), Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty.
Patrice Bart: Giselle (Albrecht, Peasant Pas de Deux), Swan Lake (Benno, Siegfried), The Nutcracker (The Prince), Das flammende Herz.
George Balanchine: Ballet Imperial, Jewels (Rubies Pas de Deux), Allegro Brillante.
John Cranko: Onegin (the roles of Onegin and Lensky), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio).
Nacho Duato: Without Words, Ring Around the Ring, The Nutcracker (The Prince).
William Forsythe: The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, Herman Schmerman.
Other Great Masters: He has performed choreographies by Boris Eifman (Tchaikovsky), Jerome Robbins (Fancy Free), Alexei Ratmansky (La Bayadère), Marco Goecke, Benjamin Millepied, and Ben van Cauwenbergh’s iconic solo Les Bourgeois.