He is deservedly called the best dancer of the century, but Vladimir Malakhov has come a long and difficult path to this honorary title. Now he is over fifty years old, but he keeps himself in excellent shape and looks great on stage.
Biography
Vladimir Malakhov was born in the Ukrainian city of Krivoy Rog in 1968. He studied ballet from almost four years old and never regretted it. His mother brought him to the studio of the House of Culture - so she wanted to make her childhood dream come true. And Volodya did not let her down, because he really liked to study, because all the lessons were in a playful way.
And when he was ten years old, the question arose: what to do next. The dance studio teacher said that the boy must be shown to professionals, because he has talent and he must get a good education. So Volodya ended up in Moscow, in the boarding school of the Moscow Academic Choreographic School.
At first it was very difficult, because from my mother’s care I had to move into an independent life: to take care of myself, to learn my own lessons. Well, at least they were fed in the dining room. But without parents it was still lonely, and the future dancer wrote pitiful letters home so that his mother would come as soon as possible. She came, calmed him down, and for some time he could study calmly. So a year passed, and then Volodya got used to it and began to live a normal metropolitan life. Also, the love of dance helped to overcome difficulties.
Career
In 1986, Malakhov graduated from college and had to think about where to go to work. As one of the most talented students, he hoped to get into the Bolshoi Theater, but he was refused because he did not have a Moscow residence permit. Until now, Vladimir Anatolyevich does not know whether this was the real reason or just an excuse. However, he is not offended, because it is not known what would have happened if he had got into the Bolshoi.
The young dancer was hired by the Moscow Classical Ballet Theater, where very soon he began to dance the first parts. Moreover, his colleagues did not even have envy that he "pushed them" - so much was his skill as a dancer.
So five years passed, and in 1991 Malakhov did not return from a tour in the United States, because he decided to show his work abroad. Then he was already confident in himself, in his capabilities. And foreign impresario immediately appreciated the artist at his true worth: he concluded several contracts with different theaters at once. As Vladimir Anatolyevich himself recalls, he had absolutely nothing to lose, so it was not at all scary to leave the old way of life, the usual way of life and the troupe that had become his own.
It was not easy: constant tours, flights, new contracts. And when Malakhov was offered to become the director of the Berlin State Opera, he immediately agreed. This was another difficult and at the same time fruitful period of Vladimir's life. He completely reorganized the theater, and then he had to lead the united troupe of the State Ballet of Berlin, and this added to the worries.
Free life
During the long twelve years of service in this position, the dancer and administrator made an enormous contribution to German ballet. However, the laws of Germany were against him, and he was simply fired.
Now Vladimir Malakhov, according to him, is a free artist. He has a lot of all kinds of awards: among them the Grand Prix, various prizes. However, the most valuable title is “the best dancer of the century”. This is what the International Dance Council called it.
