Andrey
Merkuriev

Benois de la Danse nominee

He graduated with honors from the Ufa Choreographic College in the class of S. A. Teregulov (1996) and the Moscow State Academy of Choreography as a teacher-choreographer (2003), where he also completed an assistant internship (2018). Ad-vanced his qualifications at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (2021). Also graduated from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (2023).

From 1994, he performed as a dancer and soloist at the Bashkir State Opera and Bal-let Theater (Ufa), the State Opera and Ballet Theater of the Komi Republic (Syktyv-kar), and the Mikhailovsky Theater (St. Petersburg). Soloist of the Mariinsky Theater (2001–2006), principal soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia (2006–2020). On these stages, he performed an extensive repertoire, including leading roles in classical ballet heritage and contemporary productions.
In 2020–2024, he served as Chief Choreographer of the Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of the Komi Republic (Syktyvkar).

He is the author of over 40 choreographic compositions. Among them are: The Scream (Odessa, Syktyvkar), Lament (Moscow, Bolshoi Theatre), Transfigured Night (Perm), And the Angels Weep (Voronezh), Birds (Tokyo), Don't Let Me Go (Chebo-ksary); Snow Introduction, The Little Mermaid, Carmen suite, Pavane, Alborada and Bolero (all Syktyvkar).

He has collaborated with many choreographers and ballet companies, and his perfor-mances have been broadcast on television and recorded on CD. Participated in over 20 ballet festivals and gala concerts in Russia and abroad (including New York, Lin-coln Center, La Scala Theater in Milan, Munich, Edinburgh, St. Petersburg, Prague).

Member of the jury and expert of Russian festivals and competitions. Member of the jury of the Golden Mask Award (2015).

Diploma winner of the Maya International Ballet Competition (1998).

Second prize winner of the Arabesque Russian Ballet Competition (2000, Perm), the Kazan International Competition (2001) and the XIII International Competition in Moscow (2017). Winner of the Leonid Myasin Prize in Positano, Italy, (2008), Gold-en Mask (2005) and Context. Diana Vishneva (2014). Winner of the XI Republican Competition named after Stepan Ermolin (2023, Syktyvkar).
Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (2014).