He was born in the USSR and trained at the Academy of Dance in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 1978 to 1983. After graduating with Honours in 1983 he joined the Bolshoi Theatre in Tashkent as a junior dancer. He was promoted to Principle dancer in 1984 and during his Russian Army service he choreographed for and danced in the Red Army Assembly.

From 1990 to 1991 he attended the University of Arts in Moscow and during this time danced as guest artist with the New Russian Ballet, Moscow Academic Ballet and Lebeder's Contemporary Dance Theatre. Before joining CTCB in 1992 he danced over 30 different roles in 14 different countries.