Daniil Simkin

Daniil Simkin (born 12 October 1987 in Novosibirsk) is a Russian-born ballet dancer and principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and Berlin State Ballet.

Daniil Simkin
Born (1987-10-12) 12 October 1987
Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active2006–present
Current groupAmerican Ballet Theatre
Berlin State Ballet
Former groupsVienna State Ballet
WebsiteDaniilSimkin.com

Early life

Simkin's parents Dmitrij Simkin and Olga Aleksandrova are also ballet dancers.[1] The family left the Soviet Union in 1990. His parents were engaged to dance in Graz, then took engagements in various cities in Germany before settling in Wiesbaden in 1993, where he spent the rest of his childhood. [2]From the age of six he often appeared onstage, dancing alongside his father.[3]

Unlike most professional ballet dancers Simkin did not attend a vocational ballet school. He was coached privately by his mother at age 10.[3] He attended an ordinary high school.[2]

Career

Simkin joined the Vienna State Ballet in 2006 as a demi-soloist. In 2007, he danced his first principal role, Basilio in Don Quixote, as a guest with the Lithuanian National Opera. Simkin joined American Ballet Theatre as a Soloist in October 2008 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in November 2012.[3][2] In September 2017, Simkin announced he would join Berlin State Ballet the following year. He retains his position in ABT but is now based in Berlin.[4][5][6]

He is a regular on the international ballet gala circuit, and presented his own gala in Athens in 2009 in collaboration with his father, who now works as a choreographer and stage designer.

In contrast with his slight build and youthful demeanour, Simkin is noted for his jumps, the speed and precision of his pirouettes, and his instinctive communication with the audience.[7]

Selected repertoire

Sources:[3][5]

Awards
  • 2004 Junior Gold Medals at International Ballet Competitions in Varna and Vienna
  • 2004 Prize Mikhail Baryshnikov at the Arabesque Competition in Perm
  • 2004 Gold Medals at the International Ballet Competition Luxembourg
  • 2005 Grand Prix at the International Ballet Competition Helsinki
  • 2006 Senior Gold Medals at the International Ballet Competition Jackson

References
  1. Kozinn, Allan (29 November 2012). "American Ballet Theater Dancer Daniil Simkin Promoted to Principal". The New York Times. New York, United States. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  2. "Daniil Simkin, Standing Out, Reaching Out". 28 June 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. "Daniil Simkin". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. "Daniil Simkin Joins Staatsballett Berlin". 8 September 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. "Daniil Simkin". Berlin State Ballet. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. "Why Daniil Simkin is Joining Staatsballett Berlin as a Principal Dancer". Dance Magazine. dancemagazine.com. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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