Vladimir Vasiliev (dancer) Vladimir Vasiliev (dancer) Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev (Russian: Влади́мир Ви́кторович Васи́льев), (born April 18, 1940) is a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer from Moscow, Russia. He was a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and its director from 1995 to 2000. He was best known for his role of Spartacus and his powerful leaps and turns. Vladimir Vasiliev was named "God of the dance" and is regarded as a classical dancer on the same level as Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. At the height of their careers, Vladimir Vasiliev and Ekaterina Maximova were the golden couple of Russian ballet. Vladimir Vasiliev
Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards principal artist), and Amber Scott (current principal artist). The inaugural nominees, in 2003, were Olivia Bell (retired principal artist), Annabel Bronner Reid, Madeleine Eastoe (retired principal artist), Tim Harbour (retired, now choreographer), Matthew Lawrence (retired, former principal artist Queensland Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet), and Danielle Rowe (Nederlands Dans Theater, former principal artist The Australian Ballet, Houston Ballet). Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards The Telstra Ballet Dancer Award has been made annually since 2003, in support of the aspirations of The Australian Ballet's elite young dancers. The winner receives a cash prize of $20,000. This is the biggest prize