Andrey Merkuriev. Photo: Damir Yusopov

Andrey Merkuriev is one of those dancers who possess a rare performing gift. The major stages of the world have witnessed his triumphant performances, his staggering dramatic acting and flamboyant charisma.

With each appearance of the dancer on the stage we behold the appearance of a strong personality. It is his artistry that makes him distinguished, his ability to get imbued into the role, to express his inner experiences with absolute emotionality.

The name Merkuriev is already enshrined into the golden history of the Russian ballet. His creative work and role interpretations belong to the national treasures of Russia and his name has become one of the symbols of modern Russian ballet.

Thanks to the depth and veracity of the personages he creates, his name stands next to ballet legends like Vatzlav Nijinsky, Leonid Myasin, Rudolf Nureyev and Vladimir Vasiliev.

He stirs our conscience

Merkuriev has learned to comprehend the truth with the language of choreography by using his body as a fine-tuned instrument like a Stradivarius. As dancer and choreographer he acts in the most subtle area – the domain of intellectual emotions and feelings. He stirs our conscience and our souls, his dance burns our hearts.

As follower and disciple of Alla Sigalova, an outstanding modern choreographer, Merkuriev applies her creed on stage and transforms himself into a source of energy, constantly generating emotions that involve the whole audience. He is the master of the stage, capturing the audience’s attention entirely. Thus when he shows up as Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, after the monotonous beginning, the children in the audience genuinely burst out with emotions. Children are the most sensitive indicators and they readily open their souls to a sincere performer.

Merkuriev makes of every stage appearance a puzzling magic. But dance, for him, is neither a ritual nor an observation of eternally frozen traditions. It is an embodiment of a living experiment. Thus, the variations of the exit of Duke Alberto in Giselle, executed in Merkuriev style, have become emblematic for the Bolshoi Theatre.

Merkuriev debut made his debut as choreographer and stage director in the production Yell, based on Alexander Zinoviev’s sociological novel Go to the Golgotha. As a writer Zinoviev provides a herculean challenge that can be taken up only by a strong personality. Only someone with Merkuriev’s mastery of ballet could have accepted to attempt the stage adaptation and direction of this iconic novel.

In all character roles presented by Merkuriev there is healing, catharsis, revelation and an answer to the most crucial question about the meaning of life.

Enjoy watching Merkuriev, don’t stay impartial, believe him – he will help you to discover and comprehend the beauty of the world.

The International Ballet Gala takes place on March 7 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. Tickets are available online.

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Alexey Blinov is vice president of the Alexander Zinoviev Biography Institute of Russia.