• Born in Labinsk
• Graduated from the Tbilisi School of Ballet and Trained at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
• 1988: joined the Mariinsky Ballet Company
• 1991: Promoted to Soloist
• 1992-1997: Principal Dancer with the NYCB
• 1997-2001: Guest Soloist with teh Royal Ballet, Covent Garden
• 2001-2006: Assistant Director of the Athens Opera House, choreographer and staging master, 
• 2006: Artistic Director of the Ballet Company of the Novosibirsk State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet
• Currently Principal Dancer of the Mariinsky Theatre BAllet

Toured with the Mariinsky Ballet in the Uk, the USa, Europe and SOuth America.

Since 1990: Guest Soloist with the Deutsche Oper (BErlin)

In 2000: Principal Guest Soloist with Bolshoi theatre where he eprformed La BAyadere and Swan Lake.

Awards and Prices

• 1990: Prize winner and recipient of the Grand Prix at the International Ballet Competition in Paris
• 2001: Recipient of the Baltika prize
• 2008: People's Artist of Russia