This inspirational autobiography opens a window on the uniquely individual life of Vadim Muntagirov, one of the most celebrated dancers of our time.
Vadim left home aged 10 to enter full time ballet training, arrived at The Royal Ballet School via the Prix de Lausanne aged 16 with no English, was cast as Albrecht in English National Ballet's Giselle aged 19 and danced Siegfried in Swan Lake at The Royal Albert Hall to considerable acclaim less than a year after graduating. Since then, with an expanded repertoire as a Principal with The Royal Ballet and in parallel demand as an international guest, Vadim's early promise has translated into a stellar career. Nicknamed Vadream, he is hugely admired and very much loved by audiences at home and abroad.
Vadim's story affords a real insight into the intense work and level of commitment needed to rise to the top in ballet - and stay there. It enables readers to see the experiences which have shaped him, including the lasting effect of separation from his family, his rigorous early training, his discovery of a world beyond his homeland, and the unstinting support he has received in his adopted country as a student and during his years in the profession.
This is a book which looks 'behind the scenes' and 'beyond the interviews' to reveal what is involved in becoming and being a Principal dancer, including the privilege of working with many ballet luminaries, the more informal moments, and the many etceteras which come with the job.
But Vadim makes it about so much more than the daily 'ins and outs' as he shares his reactions, thoughts and emotions in a way which allows others to get to know him as a person.
Muntagirov, Vadim: - Vadim Muntagirov was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, the son of two dancers. Having trained in Perm, he moved to The Royal Ballet Upper School, London, in 2006. He graduated into English National Ballet in 2009 and began to dance leading roles immediately, including the classical 'Princes', Apollo and Romeo in Rudolf Nureyev's production of Romeo and Juliet. Vadim joined The Royal Ballet as a Principal in February 2014. His roles include all the classics alongside works by Frederick Ashton (e.g. Colas in La Fille mal Gardée and Beliaev in A Month in the Country), Kenneth MacMillan (e.g. Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling and Des Grieux in Manon) and Christopher Wheeldon as well as various one act ballets and show piece pas de deux. In addition, Vadim has appeared as a guest in full length ballets with many other companies, including American Ballet Theatre, aris Opera Ballet, the Mariinsky, Shanghai Ballet, Cape Town Cith Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, the Mikhailovsky, and Wienerstaatsballett (Vienna). Dancing with Royal Ballet and leading international ballerinas, he also appears regularly in galas all over the world. In addition to his early successes at the Prix de Lausanne and the Youth America Grand Prix, Vadim's numerous awards include: Best Male Dancer (2014/15 and 2017/18) at the UK National Dance Awards. The Prix Benois de la Danse 2013 and 2019 and, as voted by readers of the two magazines, Dancer of the Year for Dance Europe in 2021; and for Shinshokan Japan in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
