Honored Artist of Russia
Born in Vladivostok in Russia, he studied at the Dnepropetrovsk Ballet School in Ukraine and later at the Belorussian State Choreographic College in Minsk, graduating in 2006 (class of Alexander Kolyadenko). Vasiliev danced Basil in Don Quixote and Ali in Le Corsaire with the Belorus National Ballet while still a student at the College. In 2006, he was invited to join Bolshoi Ballet as a soloist, making his debut with the company, at the age of 17, as Basil in Don Quixote. He was promoted to the rank of principal dancer in May 2010. In December 2011, he joined the Mikhailovsky Ballet Company.
He made his debut as guest artist with Ballet Company of Bavarian State Ballet (Munich) in 2012 in The Sleeping Beauty. In 2011, Vasiliev made his first appearance with American Ballet Theatre as a guest artist dancing Pyotr in The Bright Stream. His 2012 season with ABT included title roles in La Bayadere and Le Corsaire. In 2012/2013 season, Ivan Vasiliev became Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.
His 2013/2014 season included guest appearances in Romeo and Juliet, Le Spectre de la rose, Rubies and Le Jeune Homme et la Mort with Teatro alla Scala Ballet company; Don Quixote, Spartacus, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Giselle with the Bolshoi Ballet, as well as Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and Prodigal Son with the Mariinsky Ballet.
Since 2009 Ivan Vasiliev has been a member of the cast of Kings of the Dance Project.