In 2018, Vsevolod Maievskyi fulfilled his dream of joining the Mariinsky Ballet. For four years, Maievskyi was on stage night after night, dancing everything from demanding corps roles to Prince Siegfried in Swan Lakea role in which he made his debut at the age of 23. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Maievskyi made the decision to leave the Mariinsky in 2022. He danced with the Dresden Semperoper Ballet from 2022 to 2023 and joined the English National Ballet last year as a junior soloist.

Maievskyi’s dancing is sophisticated yet relaxed (which he attributes to his background in ballroom dancing) and imbued with innate charisma. And as he settles into his new life in London, his passion for ballet continues to burn. “I often ask myself why I do this, and the answer is simple: I just love it,” he says.

Ballroom beginnings

“My mom started me in ballroom dancing when I was 5 – I didn’t start ballet until I was 12. Ballroom dancing training has so many benefits. I’ve learned to really feel each position, connect with my partner and vary my movements.”

A competitive advantage

“I grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine and always had big dreams. Ballet competitions like the Youth America Grand Prix helped me see a future in ballet. I competed in 2016 and 2018 and these scholarships helped me launch my career.”

A unique art form

“The experience of watching and dancing ballet is unique. It makes you feel alive. Life is so fragile and anything can happen. For me it doesn’t matter how perfect your technique is or if you made a mistake during a show. What matters is that you danced with real emotion and gave something to the audience.”

Character studies

“When I prepare for a role, music is everything. When I hear it, I really feel it – sometimes I almost start crying. I don’t even have to read anything about the character, I just let the music inspire me. I also like learning from other dancers and watching them play their roles. You can always learn something about yourself by watching others dance.”

Everything and more

“I want to dance as many different ballets as possible, from classics like Don Quixote, The BayadèreAnd Etudesto Edward Clugs Radio and Juliaor works by David Dawson and William Forsythe. I’m so open to everything and hungry to dance and learn.”