At the opening of the Olympics in Sochi in the large scale scene after Tolstoy’s novel reproducing Natasha Rostova’s first ball, another discovery of Varna International Ballet Competition took part – Ivan Vasiliev. In 2006, the 17-year old at the time dancer became a total favourite of the audience and the Jury and was awarded the Special Distinction – Varna for the Junior Group, equivalent to the Grand Prix for dancers below the age of 19. At the opening of the Olympics in Sochi, that was watched by almost 3 billion people around the world, Ivan Vasiliev demonstrated why he was known as the King of the Jumps.
