Helsinki V International Ballet Competition in May-June 2005 introduced Daniil Simkin, 17 years old dancer from Russian origin, living in Wiesbaden, Germany. Daniil is still young, rather short and has a boyish outlook. But when this guy starts to dance, forget the rubbish about a “cute little boy.“ Here comes the young master!
Helsinki competition was a celebration of male dancing, presenting many new talents from Germany, USA and China, but also Kazhakstan and Armenia, which earlier always were called “sovjet” dancers without proper nationality and identity.
Daniil Simkin belongs to the chain of excellent Russian male dancers. His education has been exceptional, without training at an “official” ballet school, he has mastered eight years Russian Vaganova education with his mother. For instance, his Albrecht of “Giselle“ was danced with details rare to be seen. Parents are both ballet dancers, the father Dimitri Simkin still on his professional track as first soloist in Ballet Wiesbaden. Father Dimitri and son Daniil will perform together in August at the international Ballet Gala in Imatra, the city at the
Russian border.
Simkin’s movement qualities remains me of those of Mikhail Baryshnikov. Great ability to make leaps and pirouettes en l’air, full of energy of a young tiger. There were in the competition some other young dancers with similar abilities but nobody else danced with such musicality, detailed attention and relaxed humour. Simkin is a newborn Baryshnikov.