Sergey Ignatiev

The Russian-born Sergey Ignatiev received his training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, where his most influential teacher was Alexander Prokofiev. During his studies, he already performed in productions of the Bolshoi Theatre and, at the age of sixteen, received his first engagements with various companies across Russia.

He went on to dance solo roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Don Quixote and Giselle. He was also selected for the first Russian-American project 12 + 12, in which outstanding students from both countries prepared a ballet evening in the USA. After participating in the Prix de Lausanne, Sergey Ignatiev was awarded a scholarship from the Pierino Ambrosoli Foundation in 1992 to study at the Zurich Dance Academy. Following an engagement with the Saxon State Opera in Dresden, where he performed in choreographies by John Neumeier among others, he was invited in 1995 by Heinz Spoerli to join the Ballet of Deutsche Oper am Rhein. When Youri Vámos later took over the directorship, he renewed his contract. Until 2009, Sergey Ignatiev danced solo roles there in works by Vámos, Erich Walters, Hans van Manen, Mats Ek, Nils Christe, John Neumeier, Jiří Kylián, Heinz Spoerli, Antony Tudor, Jochen Ulrich and many others. As a guest artist, he appeared with numerous ballet companies worldwide.

In 2007, Ignatiev began teaching. His first pedagogical steps took place at the Dance Academy in Münster, and as a guest ballet master, he worked with several companies, including Leipzig Ballet, as well as theatres in Wiesbaden, Würzburg, Düsseldorf/Duisburg, Salzburg and Vienna.

Since 2010, Sergey Ignatiev has been rehearsal manager and trainer, and since the 2020/21 season he has served as ballet master of the Vienna State Ballet.