Sergei Filin

Sergei Yurevitch Filin (Russian: Серге́й Юрьевич Фи́лин) (born October 27, 1970) is a Russian ballet dancer. He is known as the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet. He is the former principal of the Bolshoi Ballet artistic director of the ballet at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre in Moscow.

Personal background

Sergei Filin was born on October 27, 1970, in Moscow, Russia. He earned a degree in Performing Arts from the Institute of Choreography.

On January 17, 2013, Filin was attacked with acid by an unknown assailant who cornered him outside of his home in Moscow. He suffered third-degree burns to his face. While it was initially reported that he was in danger of losing his eyesight, his doctor stated on January 21, 2013, that he would retain eyesight in one eye. The attack came after a lengthy period of infighting and rows within the Bolshoi Ballet company.

Career

Filin started dancing at age seven at the children's ensemble V. Lokteva of folk dances. At this time, he appeared with Oleg Popov in the film The Sun in the Bag. At the age of nine, he was accepted into the Moscow Choreographic Institute. In 1988, he entered the Bolshoi Ballet Company in the Corps de Ballet.

He was promoted to the rank of principal with the Bolshoi Theatre in 1990. He was also a principal dancer with the State Ballet of Georgia and guest soloist with the Vienna State Opera. His dance partners have included Galina Stepanenko, Nina Ananiashvili, Svetlana Lunkina, Maria Alexandrova, Svetlana Zakharova, and Natalia Osipova.

Among his repertoire, Filin danced as Colas in La Fille Mal Gardée, the Teacher in The Lesson, and as Classical Dancer in The Bright Stream, a role for which he received the prestigious award Golden Mask.

In December 2004, Filin suffered a severe injury while performing on stage at the Bolshoi Theatre. This incident put his career on hold for several months, before returning to the dance scene in the second half of the following year.

On March 18, 2011, he was appointed to serve as the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. In this capacity, he has led the Bolshoi Ballet Tours in Paris, Japan and North America.

Roles

Principal roles

Love for Love – as Benedict The Lesson – as Teacher Romeo & Juliette – as Paris/Romeo Cipollino – as Count Cherry Swan Lake – as Prince Siegfried Giselle – as Count Albrecht The Nutcracker – as Nutcracker Prince

Sleeping Beauty – as Prince Désiré/Bluebird La Bayadere – as Solor La Sylphide – as James Corsaire – as Konrad/Merchant Pas de Deux The Last Tango – as Tom Raymonda – as Jean de Brienne Don Quixote – as Basil

La Fille Du Pharaon – as Lord Wilson/Taor La Fille Mal Gardée – as Colas The Bright Stream – as Classical Dancer Leah – as Hanan Cinderella – as Prince Vain Precaution – as Colin Love Through the Eyes of a Detective – as Leading Role

Soloist roles

Symphony in C Dreams about Japan Mozartiana

Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux Charms of Mannierism Capriccio

Green Opus X Sagalobeni

Awards

• 1994: Prix Benois de la Danse for his role of Prince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty
• 1995: Dancer of the Year, Danza-Danza Magazine
• 1996: Merited Artist of the Russian Federation
• 2001: People's Artist of the Russian Federation
• 2002: Soul of Dance ("Star of Dance") Ballet Magazine
• 2004: Golden Mask International Theatre Prize for his role as The Classical Dancer in The Bright Stream
• 2006: International Ballet Award Stars of the XXI Century

External links

• Article in the Small Ballet Encyclopedia Template:Ru icon
• Biography
• Prix Benois de la Danse
• Resume as Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet
• Newsclip of Sergei Filin's Appointment as new Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet Template:Ru icon
• BBC News Interview, Feb 3rd, 2013