As a choreographer I have always been fascinated by the figure of the outsider and that is why I chose Vladimir Derevianko for the character of the King in "Illusionen - wie Schwanensee". The King is isolated from all those who surround him and we can say that, in a way, Vladimir is "the" outsider among dancers. Although he is a star and a danseur noble, he definitely does not have the banal stereotype physique of the principal male dancer - a cliché that I detest. For this reason, he was the ideal interpreter for a choreographer like me who wants to enrich the literature of dance by creating unusual roles.
I am fascinated by the way that Derevianko, who has such great simplicity and is so unassuming in everyday life, suddenly transforms himself into a great dancer. King Ludwig in "Illusionen" could not be the typical, banal prince of the great classical ballets. The role of Ludwig certainly requires the aesthetic and the virtuoso qualities of the danseur noble but, in addition, fragility, sensitivity and vulnerability. I found all of these characteristics, together with a truly aristocratic bearing, in Vladimir Derevianko.
Drosselmeyer in my "Nutcracker" is also something of an exotic beast and that is why the role suits Derevianko so admirably. This character was inspired by the figure of the great 19th century choreographer Marius Petipa who, like all creators, was a terribly vulnerable being. Apart from having a healthy sense of humour, the dancer who interprets Drosselmeyer-Petipa needs to love dance through and through - just like Vladimir Derevianko.