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me how much they love living in America—“It is truly a new world for me; my conf idence has grown,” Osipova says— and especially in New York City. They go to the movies and discover seafood restaurants where Vasiliev, who grew up in Vladivostok, near North Korea, can enjoy fish and shellfish, especially oysters. What a study in contrasts they are! Vasiliev has a future, should he choose, on Comedy Central. His loose, unfettered sensibility is immediately apparent and endearing. “Thor Ivan” is always ready with a broad smile for conversation. His beloved, Osipova, is all focus and dedication, ser ious and composed—the traits we, of course, demand of our prima ballerinas. T h e c o u pl e r e ve a l e d t o me how they feel about each ot he r: “ I f i r st met Iva n at an international ballet competition in 2005. We didn’t dance together du r i ng that competition because he was i n a you nge r g r ou p,” s ays Osipova. “I love dancing with Ivan, being onstage with him, because his sincerity shines through so much. I just unde r st a nd h i m —whe n I a m
with him dancing I feel like we are truly delivering to the audience a message from our heart. I feel like my power onstage is doubled when I am with him. But the thing I love most about Ivan is his curly hair!’’ And now from the lips of Vasiliev: “For me, what I love most about Natasha is she is unique. There is no other person like Natasha who has ever been in my life. She is special.” There is such chemistry between them, even with all their fascinating differences, one of which being how they prepare for a performance. Osipova says, “I am always rehearsing. When I am performing, I often get to the theater six hours before I have to go onstage. It is just focus for me.” As for Vasiliev: “I love the whole process of putting on the makeup and the costume and taking on that role. I am a whole different person onstage. Before I go on, I look in that mirror and see that transformation—and I am just ready to go.” There is no denying it: The annals of millennial-era ballet have not seen a more mesmerizing duo than Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova.
Previous page: Dancer’s own tights. This page: Dress, $13,000, DIOR, 800-929-3467. Albion ring, $1,475, DAVID YURMAN, davidyurman.com. Opposite page: (On her) Keras cardigan, $495, ’S MAX MARA, 212-879-6100. Nadine swimsuit, $840, HERVÉ LÉGER BY MAX AZRIA, herveleger.com. Scarf, $320, FORGET ME NOT, barneys.com. (On him) Tank top, $27, EMPORIO ARMANI, macys.com. Dancer’s own sweatpants, POLO RALPH LAUREN, ralphlauren.com. Hair & Grooming: Deycke Heidorn using Shu Uemura Art of Hair at See Management. Makeup: Kristin Gallegos using Chanel at CLM.