Meet Vladimir Issaev | Ballet Master, Artistic Director and Choreographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vladimir Issaev and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vladimir, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Miami International Ballet Competition was created to offer young emerging dancers a new and fresh opportunity to show off their skills in front of qualified and renowned jury members and get an educational aspect where everyone can share their knowledge.

The mission of MIBC is to create an opportunity for young dancers from different cultures and countries to share their knowledge and passion for dance. To offer a positive competitive atmosphere, in which artists will gain confidence, develop friendships and connections, and become the chief protagonists in the development of their futures.

The competition aims to unite young artists from the US and abroad and inspire them to share their art form in a positive atmosphere of discovery and collaboration. During the event, participants receive master classes from a distinguished panel of guest teachers in Ballet and Contemporary dance. The panel also provides constructive criticism and expert advice throughout the event to support each artist’s professional development.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As you may already know, besides being the Artistic Director of the Miami International Ballet Competition, I am also the Artistic Director of the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida, a 26 years old professional ballet company located in North Miami Beach that performs in three counties an entire season of performances. Additionally, I have my own ballet school: Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet and I am also the Artistic Director of the Asia Ballet Academy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Although I was born in Russia, I am a proud American Citizen, but mostly a Miamian, with the Latin flavor acquired from my stay in Venezuela for more than 10 years and enjoying this country for more than 26 years already. I am proud of every single dancer whom I have trained, from children to adults around the world. I have created already a few generations of dancers who I can artistically call my children and who already are professional dancers or educators too.

It wasn’t easy to get where I am now, I had to endure the hardship of living in a communist country and suffer the injustices of such a regime, After many frustrated applications I was able to leave the country during perestroika and finally defended in Venezuela. There I learned what freedom was… not only political freedom but once I started working with amazing Venezuelan Choreographer and Director Vicente Nebrada, I learned what freedom of movement was and started adapting both my teaching style and my choreographies to the neo-classical style. Unfortunately, 10 years later the political environment in Venezuela started to be difficult and I was lucky to receive an invitation to come to the US in 1997 where I relocated and the rest is history. I have a school of classical ballet, a professional ballet company, and the Miami International Ballet Competition.

I have learned that you have to be persistent, disciplined, hardworking, and believe in yourself. You don’t have to be attached or obliged to anyone or anything to conquer your objectives, and not to step on anyone’s toes to do what you love and what really moves you. You have to educate yourself and be kind and not selfish. It is a whole combination of principles that you need to have in order to succeed.

What I would like the world to know about me and my brand is that I am unique in my own way. I want people to know that I have a lot to offer as a Ballet Master and choreographer and I would love for younger generations to take advantage of my knowledge and absorb everything I have in my spirit as a dancer, as a ballet master and as an artist before is too late.

Miami International Ballet Competition is an open door to knowledge, to learning experiences, and to artistic opportunities beyond any other opportunities. MIBC is serious, takes talent and hard work into consideration, and offers a different aspect of the dance scene so you can grow as an artist in a safe environment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ah! Miami has so much to offer!
Depending on where they come from, the beach would be the first place to take them. The beaches in Miami are spectacular, the weather is always so convenient.
I usually take my guests to Miami Beach, to Sunny Isles Beach, to North Miami Beach and to South Beach; to Bayside and downtown and to Coral Gables to enjoy the city in all its splendor.

However, there are other places I love to visit with my friends, such as Bal Harbour and Surfside ( where I live), and to Miami Shores.

Obviously to see performances at the different theaters in Miami as the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center and the Arsht Center or the New World Center for any concert that happens there.

There are so many restaurants in Miami to choose from! There are some little gems of restaurants like the Petit Gourmet Diner in North Miami Beach or Emilio’s Trattoria in Bal Harbour or the Surfside Club.

The Aventura Mall or the Bal Harbour Shops are always places to take those looking for a shopping experience. There too are amazing restaurants to enjoy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to recognize my entire team, my wife Ruby Romero-Issaev, Executive Director of MIBC who has been key to the success of my story and looking into the Miami International Ballet Competition, which is one of my enterprises, to the kindness of our co-founder and former co-director Yanis Pikieris. He has now retired but during these past seven years, he has given tremendous support not only through his artistic reputation but also by his dedication to MIBC. He is focusing now on developing new and international projects but he continues supporting us as a consultant of MIBC. As for the MIBC team, I am very thankful to each one of them from the coordinator, technical crew, the international jury, prestigious schools and companies and all the sponsors who have supported these young talents and given them new opportunities and a new vision.

Website: www.miamiibc.org or www.vladimirissaev.com

Instagram: @miamiibc @maestrovladimir @abtflorida

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimirissaev/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miamiibc

Youtube: Miamiibc

Image Credits
All photos are by @Patriciasphotography and her credits are required.