VADIM MUNTAGIROV ‘In Conversation’ and BOOK signing … (now open to all)
An interview with Vadim about his autobiography, plus the chance to buy a copy and ask him to sign it. (ZOOM option has been confirmed.)
Photo credit : Book cover by Ashley Taylor, Wienerstaatsballett
Zoom facility is now confirmed, and is open to both members and non-members. Both should book access below.
The in-person event has now been opened up to members’ guests and non-members.
DATE: Tuesday 13 June 2023, at 7.30pm
VENUE: The Royal Ballet Upper School, 46 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DA
INTERVIEWER: Deborah Weiss
Vadim’s autobiography FROM SMALL STEPS TO BIG LEAPS will be published on 1st June and, although he will be in the UK for only 10 days between guesting in Hong Kong and touring to Japan with The Royal Ballet, the LBC has managed to ‘catch’ him for an evening.
Vadim will talk about the book and aspects of his career with dance writer Deborah Weiss. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to buy a copy of his book and ask Vadim to sign it.
The book can be ordered in due course (at £27.50) from the usual retailers, including the ROH shop. However, those attending this event will be able to purchase it at a specially reduced price of £25.00. There will be a card reader on site (fingers crossed that it will work on the night). We suggest you bring cash too, just in case.
Unfortunately, the book buying offer cannot be extended to those on Zoom as the time and cost of package and posting would be prohibitive.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Vadim’s autobiography opens a window on the life of one of the most widely known of The Royal Ballet’s Principal dancers.
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. He 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.
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.
The book 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 extras 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.
ABOUT VADIM
Vadim 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.
Vadim guests in full length ballets with many other companies, including American Ballet Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, the Mariinsky, Shanghai Ballet, Cape Town City Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, the Mikhailovsky, and Vienna State Ballet. Dancing with The 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.
*** in-person booking will close on Monday 12 June 2023 ***