Daniil Simkin - Homepage

Well, what can I say. I am sitting here at 4am, packing for my various trips and cannot sleep… We are traveling tomorrow with ABT to LA and then I am off to various other places on the globe, but let me first recollect my experiences here in New York.

The season at the Metropolitan Opera, which always lasts 2 months in the year in the summer here in the currently hot and humid New York, is on the one side my favorite time of the year… on the other side I feel like all of us dancers at ABT definitely grow a couple of extra gray hairs in the process.

I feel extremely privileged to perform on such a special stage in front of up to 4000 viewers each night. Every week we perform different ballets, which means we rehearse one ballet and perform another one (or even various roles) in the evening (which differs from the usual European system…) To a certain degree there are times when everyone is on edge, physically and of course mentally. To put it in concrete terms, I performed in 11 different things in the course of this season. In the middle of it I suffered a minor ankle injury (from which I am still slightly recovering). I cried… I laughed… and I felt every and anything in between.

Nevertheless it is a special kind of sensation (and I’m trying now not  to be too clichée ) to be finished with the season. When it begins it seems it’s never-ending. When it ends, it seems like the time flew by like nothing.

To be honest I feel I cannot express myself in words well enough. I’m not a words person. I appreciate the written word, but am incapable of creating something worth of what I am trying to say.  I better stop and go to sleep. Enjoy the pictures. They hopefully capture a teeny-tiny-little bit of my life.
No more, no less.

Well, I’m back from Chicago and back in New York. I was supposed to spend this week in Germany rehearsing and working with my parents on some stuff (since we have an ‘off’ week with ABT), but due to the volcano ashes I am here for good. To be honest I do not really mind it that much. It gives me a small and needed break before our MET season with ABT and some time to enjoy the city with spring weather and the opportunity to get back together with friends.

Nevertheless here is the sum-up of the Chicago tour. First the couple of reviews we received with ABT and then my photos. The photos are not what you might expect, just so you know
Anyway here you go.

“In three breathtaking solo turns, Daniil Simkin (a dancer whose compact frame and airtight style are reminiscent of Baryshnikov’s) [...] made every gesture count and every moment pop in this quintessentially American street scene of a ballet. Glorious. “

- Hedy Weiss for the Chicago Sun-Times ,April 16, 2010

“Sparkly Daniil Simkin, a rising ABT spitfire, was electric as the first
sailor, flawless in the double spins and glissando-like split that
Robbins assigned the character.”

- Sid Smith for the Chicago Tribune ,April 16, 2010

“ABT is coming to town! In addition to a seven-performance run of Swan Lake (yes!), the New York-based troupe will present a one-night-only showcase of American choreographers. The All-American Celebration featuring works by Jerome Robbins, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp, is also the Chicago debut for 22-year-old soloist Daniil Simkin. This Russian-born wunderkind has exquisite technique, an inextinguishable creative curiosity and oodles of charm. Think of him as a mini Misha.”

- Vicki Crain for the Ruminations by a Rogue Ballerina Blog ,April 10, 2010

“[...]Now 22, Simkin makes his debut as one of three sailors in Robbins’ “Fancy Free” on Wednesday. “It’s iconic, and very American,” he says of the part…[...]“

- Sid Smith for the Chicago Tribune ,April 11, 2010

And here are the photos:

A quick note beforehand, I updated my Resume and Press section of the website !

And here are the promised photos of my ‘Dance Open’ gala in St. Petersburg, Russia on April 2nd. All photos by me…please don’t get too excited, they just give you a little glimpse of the trip…obviously I was too lazy to actually post-correct most of the pictures. I hope you enjoy them anyway…

Besides that we’re getting ready with ABT to tour to Chicago, where I’ll be performing the first sailor in Jerome Robbin’s Fancy Free for the first time! I’m a little tense and excited at the same time ! Anyway I’ll try to keep you posted on Twitter and here as much as possible!

Good night and see you back soon,
-Daniil

Repertoire:

- Don Quixote Pas De Deux (1st time)
- Les Bourgeois

Théâtre de Champs-Élysées – Paris
Repertoire:

- Le Corsaire Pas De Deux with Venus Villa
- Les Bourgeois