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Oleg Vinogradov ( born in 1937, Leningrad, USSR ) world renown choreographer, musical theater, ballet and TV director, scenery and costume designer, lecturer on ballet (Saint Petersburg, Russia).

He graduated from Leningrad State Vaganova Academy in 1958, classmate of Rudolph Nureyev, student of Aleksandr Pushkin, one of the most renowned ballet teachers and choreographers of all time. Vinogradov started his career in Novosibirsk State Theater (1958-65), first as a dancer, and later became a Ballet Master, Choreographer and Assistant Director of Opera Company. His first full length ballets, which brought him wide success and recognition throughout Russia, were Prokofiev's Cinderella (1964) and Romeo and Juliet (1965). In 1965 Yuri Grigorovich ( Artistic Director of Bolshoi Ballet) asked Vinogradov to join the Bolshoi Ballet Company as a choreographer, where, in 1967, he staged the full length ballet “Asel” (music by V. Vlasov). In 1968, the Kirov Ballet Company invited him to choreograph “Goryanka” (translated as “Mountain Girl”, music by M. Kazhlayev). From 1968 to 1972 he worked for Kirov Ballet as a resident choreographer. The Maly State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (now Mikhailovsky Theater) in Leningrad named him an Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer in 1973. During his work there until 1977, his experimentations did much to restore the theater's reputation for daring and innovation. From 1977 to 2001 Vinogradov has been the Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer of one of the oldest ballet companies in the world, the Kirov Ballet at the historic Mariinsky Theater.

As the Artistic Director of the Kirov Ballet, Vinogradov restructured the old Company by bringing in younger dancers, raising the artistic and aesthetic standards and changing the look and style of the dancers. He also preserved the legacy of classical ballet by restoring and reviving the best ballets of the past. He established broad contacts with many of the world’s most famous choreographers, developing an innovative cultural exchange with the West. He brought in new repertoire by Western choreographers, including works of August Bournonville, Pierre Lacotte, George Balanchine, Roland Petit, Anthony Tudor, Jerome Robbins, Maurice Béjart, Antal Fodor. Vinogradov also introduced many young dancers to international audiences around the world.

In 1989, Vinogradov founded The Universal Ballet Academy in Washington, D.C. (later officially renamed, The Kirov Academy of Ballet, USA) where he worked as the Artistic Director until 2008. In a speech, "Greetings from the Founding Artistic Director of Kirov Academy in Washington, DC”, Vinogradov stated:

"I was quite excited when I was invited, in 1990, by President George Bush, to come to America to help create a world class ballet academy. The Kirov Academy opened in September 1990, and has rapidly become a focus of international attention. An internationally recognized faculty training aspiring young dancers in a pedagogy based on that of the Vaganova Ballet Academy and the performance aesthetic of The Kirov Ballet now the Mariinsky. Such training has produced many of this century's most exceptional dancers, including: Pavlova, Nijinsky, Nureyev, Baryshnikov, Makarova, and Sizova. The Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, D.C. has provided an unprecedented opportunity for artistic and cultural exchange between Russia and the United States. Leaders of both nations have lauded this joint venture. My experience as the Artistic Director of the Kirov Ballet has allowed me to share much of the rich cultural heritage of Russian classical ballet with the rest of the world. Since I am also the Artistic Director of the Universal Ballet Company, a close working relationship exists between the company and the academy, allowing students unique performance opportunities" (Vinogradov, 1989).

From 1998 -2005, Vinogradov was the Artistic Director of the Universal Ballet in Seoul. He brought this company on tour to USA, Europe and Japan. Vinogradov’s works in Seoul include “Swan Lake”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “La Bayadere”, “Giselle”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Night of Masterpieces of Classical Ballet” and more.

Vinogradov is the author of a book “The Confessions of a Choreographer” (2007). It is not yet translated into English. His filmography includes: “Grand Pas in White Nights” (1987), “The Sleeping Beauty” (1989), “Kirov Classics” (1991), “My Religion ─ Ballet” (1998), “The Dame of Spades” (choreography, 2002), “Positions of Oleg Vinogradov” (2007), “Meet the Master” (2010) and “The Art to Live” (2010).

Vinogradov is currently the Dean of the Department of Musical Theater Direction (Opera and Ballet) of the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory (click here: Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory Web Site) as well as the Artistic Director of St. Petersburg Ballet Company. He continues to work as a Guest Artist all over the world and remains a citizen of both Russia and the United States.

Prizes and Awards

1968 - The Distinguished (also translated as Merited or Honored) Artist of Dagestan Republic

1970 - The State Prize of Russian Federation

1979 - The Marius Petipa Prize (The special award, University of Paris, for preserving and advancement of the art of classical ballet)

1981 - The Paris Academy of Dance Prize for the best modern choreography

1983 - The People's Artist of Russian Federation

1985 - The American Express Canada Prize

1985 - The Parliament of Greece Award

1986 - The Pablo Picasso Prize, for the choreography of the ballet The Knight in the Tiger Skin

1986 - Order of Chivalry and the title of Chevalier from The French Republic for special merit in the arts and culture and for furtherance of international relations

1987 - The People's Artist of USSR

1988 - The Laurence Olivier Prize

1989 - Prix Lumière (Lumière Award)

1991 - The Positano “Leonide Massine” Prize for the Art of Dance (Italy).