The Ivan Vasiliev Dubai farewell gala is officially happening, and this one is genuinely the last time. Ivan Vasiliev, a principal dancer whose career has taken him through the Bolshoi Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, Teatro alla Scala, and the most prestigious stages on the planet, is making his farewell stop at Dubai Opera on May 30, 2026. The event is the Alexandrite Gala, an international ballet evening presented by M Premiere and Alexandrite World (MOST Co., Ltd), and tickets are on sale now from $82.18 USD.
Who Is Ivan Vasiliev?
Ivan Vasiliev has spent decades at the very top of the international ballet world. A principal dancer at the Bolshoi Theatre and Mikhailovsky Theatre, his career also includes headline performances at the American Ballet Theatre, Teatro alla Scala, and leading companies worldwide. His signature roles include Spartacus, Don Quixote, Flames of Paris, Talisman, and The Nutcracker, and he is widely recognized as one of the most powerful and influential figures in the history of modern ballet.
His farewell world tour marks the final chapter of that career. The Dubai show is one of the last chances for any audience, anywhere, to watch him perform live.
What to Expect at the Alexandrite Gala
The Alexandrite Gala is a full-scale international ballet evening built around Vasiliev’s farewell tour. At Dubai Opera, he will perform Don Quixote and Talisman. His partners are Prima Ballerina Kseniia Shevtsova of Bayerisches Staatsballett and First Soloist Inès McIntosh of the Paris Opera Ballet.
The cast pulls together principal artists from some of the most respected companies in the world, including the Bolshoi Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre, Mikhailovsky Theatre, Novosibirsk Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, and Het Nationale Ballet.
The full program:
- Opening Solo — Ivan Vasiliev
- Harlequinade — Mina Kobayashi and Takatoshi Machiyama
- Giselle — Elena Svinko and Adamzhan Bahtiar
- Flames of Paris — Kohei Fukuda and Riho Sakamoto
- Swan Lake Adagio — Irina Perren and Zverev Konstantin
- Talisman — Kseniia Shevtsova and Ivan Vasiliev
- Intermission
- GOPAK — Nikoloz Paradashvili
- Pas de Sclave — Riho Sakamoto and Nikita Ksenofontov
- Le Corsaire — Elena Svinko, Zverev Konstantin, Adamzhan Bahtiar
- Don Quixote — Inès McIntosh and Ivan Vasiliev
- Grand Finale
The evening also includes a special tribute inspired by the Freddie Mercury era and Queen, where classical ballet and a stadium-scale theatrical spectacle share the same stage in a completely unexpected way.
The Full Cast
| Artist | Company | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ivan Vasiliev | Bolshoi Theatre / Mikhailovsky Theatre | Guest Principal |
| Inès McIntosh | Paris Opera Ballet | First Soloist |
| Kseniia Shevtsova | Bayerisches Staatsballett | Prima Ballerina |
| Riho Sakamoto | Het Nationale Ballet | Prima Ballerina |
| Irina Perren | Mikhailovsky Theatre | Prima Ballerina, Honored Artist of Russia |
| Elena Svinko | Mariinsky Theatre | First Soloist |
| Zverev Konstantin | Mariinsky Theatre | First Soloist |
| Kohei Fukuda | Novosibirsk Theatre | First Soloist |
| Nikita Ksenofontov | Novosibirsk Theatre | Principal |
| Adamzhan Baktiyar | Astana Opera Ballet | Principal |
| Takatoshi Machiyama | Opera Poznan | Principal |
| Nikoloz Paradashvili | Mikhailovsky Theatre | Artist |
| Mina Kobayashi | K Ballet Tokyo | Former Principal Soloist |
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Start time: 8:00 PM
- Venue: Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai
- Tickets: From $82.18 USD | Book via Platinumlist
- Age restriction: 6 and above. Children under 6 are not permitted into the Main Auditorium.
- Dress code: Smart casual or formal attire required. Shorts and flip-flops are not permitted. Guests not meeting the dress code will be refused entry.
- Late arrivals: Latecomers will only be admitted during intermission, if applicable. No refunds for non-admittance due to late arrival.
Note: The Alexandrite Gala is a venue hire event presented by M Premiere and Alexandrite World (MOST Co., Ltd). It is not produced or presented by Dubai Opera.
Getting to Dubai Opera
By metro: Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station, then a 10-minute walk to the venue.
By car: From Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), take the Financial Center Road/D71 exit and follow signs for Burj Khalifa/Downtown Dubai. Continue straight along Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard and Dubai Opera will be on your right.
By taxi: Available from anywhere in the city. From Downtown, the journey typically takes 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Why This Night Matters
Vasiliev’s Dubai stop is one of the final dates on a farewell world tour that will not come around again. Performances like this are genuinely rare, and once the curtain falls on his career, that is it. Whether you have followed his work for years or simply want to witness a historic night on Dubai’s cultural calendar, the Alexandrite Gala at Dubai Opera is worth it.
Cover Image: Visit Dubai/Website
