Mariinsky Ballet principal dancers Kimin Kim and Renata Shakirova
Ballet Manila’s Pearl Year Performance Season reaches a spectacular finale with the highly anticipated production of Don Quixote, featuring Mariinsky Ballet principal dancers Kimin Kim and Renata Shakirova. Taking on the role of Basilio, this marks Kim’s first ever performance in the Philippines. Following her triumphant performance in Ballet Manila’s “Giselle” last year, Shakirova returns to perform the role of Kitri.
Kim is the first foreign male principal dancer in Mariinsky Ballet’s illustrious history, a groundbreaking achievement in the Russian ballet world. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he was introduced to ballet at the age of 10 when his mother, a composer, encouraged him to pursue the art. He trained under former Mariinsky soloists Margarita Kullik and Vladimir Kim at the Korea National University of Arts, refining his technique in the Vaganova method. His exceptional talent quickly gained international recognition, earning him top honors in prestigious ballet competitions, including Moscow, Varna, and Jackson.
