Irek Mukhamedov dances Romeo

Irek Mukhamedov, who left the Bolshoi in 1990 to join the Royal Ballet, rehearsing for his role in Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet, which opens at the Royal Opera House in London on 21 July. His Juliet will be the Italian-born ballerina Viviana Durante. Mukhamedov, 31, has already danced to great acclaim with the Royal Ballet in London and New York in MacMillan works.

Photograph: Laurie Lewis

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