Paul Irmatov

Biography

Paul Irmatov is an exceptionally gifted artist known for his brilliant technique and self-confidence, particularly in classical variations and roles. He dazzles audiences with the profound beauty, poetry, and tenacity of his performances. A dancer of Russian origin, Paul grew up and studied in Germany. He received his initial dance education from his parents, Igor and Elvira Irmatov. After graduating from the Ballett-Akademie in Munich with Kirill Melnikov and under the tutelage of Jan Broeckx, he joined the Czech National Ballet in 2018. In April 2021, he was promoted to demi-soloist. Following his remarkable portrayal of the title role in Romeo and Juliet by John Cranko, Paul was immediately promoted to First Soloist after the Czech premiere in February 2022. In 2023, Paul was awarded the Director’s Prize for artists under 35 for his performances with the Czech National Ballet.

Paul has excelled in numerous leading roles, including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (John Cranko), Lensky in Onegin (John Cranko), Prince Desire and Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty (Márcia Haydée), Colas in La Fille mal gardée (Frederick Ashton), Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (John Neumeier), and James in La Sylphide (Johan Kobborg). His modern repertoire includes the Chosen Boy in Rite of Spring (Glen Tetley), The Second Detail (William Forsythe), Moving Rooms (Krzysztof Pastor), and Fly Paper Bird (Marco Goecke).

Paul has also danced prominent solo roles, including the Waltz and Russian Dance in The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol (Youri Vámos), the Golden Buddha in La Bayadère (Javier Torres), and Benno in Swan Lake (John Cranko). He has made notable appearances in neoclassical ballets such as Psalm Symphony, Petit Mort, and Bella Figura (Jiří Kylián), as well as in Puppet (Douglas Lee).

In addition, Paul portrayed King Shahryar in Sheherazade by Mauro Bigonzetti, and has performed the roles of Lescaut and Des Grieux in the Czech premiere of L’Histoire de Manon by Kenneth MacMillan in 2025.

Critical Acclaim

“Paul Irmatov's James and Alina Nanu's Sylph were superlative. Irmatov's first solo was explosive. His opening jumps propelled him so high into the air, it was as if someone had pressed the eject button. He kept up this momentum throughout the performance but always within the constraints of the music.”
— Weiss, D. (2025, March 20). Pure Bournonville bounce: Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide in Prague. Bachtrack.

“Paul Irmatov... was among some of the best over the two nights... his virtuosity was impressive.”
— Weiss, D. (2025, March 20). Beyond Vibrations: Czech National Ballet is electrifying. Bachtrack.

“Irrepressibly animated and full of vitality, they [Fujii and Irmatov] proved to be a winning combination... a polished and engaging performance.”
— Weiss, D. (2025, March 20). Czech National Ballet in Muscat: La Fille mal gardée is an instant hit!. Bachtrack.

“Irmatov's virtuosity was impressive... his wickedness in the role was a tough sell, but his performance was fresh and energetic.”
— Watts, G. (2025, March 20). Czech National Ballet’s Scheherazade: a fresh take on an old tale. Bachtrack.

“Lescaut was performed artfully by Paul Irmatov... impressively breaking the desk in Des Grieux’s lodgings... his forte came when giving a dignified portrayal as Des Grieux in a later performance.”
— Watts, G. (2025, March 20). L’Histoire de Manon: MacMillan’s great ballet comes to Prague. Bachtrack.

Classical Repertoire

• Coppélia – Franz (Roland Hynd)

• La Bayadère – Golden Buddha, Bodhisattva, Temple Man (Javier Torres)

• La Fille mal gardée – Colas (Frederick Ashton)

• La Sylphide – James (Johan Kobborg)

• Onegin – Lensky (John Cranko)

• Romeo and Juliet – Romeo, Mercutio (John Cranko)

• Sleeping Beauty – Prince Désiré, Bluebird, Prince of the West, Ali Baba (Márcia Haydée)

• Swan Lake – Prince Siegfried, Benno, Companion to the Neapolitan Princess, Tarantella (John Cranko)

• The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol – Bob Cratchit, Policeman Bobbie, The Devil, Nutcracker/Prince, Russian Dance, Harlequins, Waltz soloist, Guards (Youri Vámos)

Contemporary & Neoclassical Repertoire

• Aspects / Vertigo – Couples in Aspects (Mauro Bigonzetti)

• Ballet Gala – Firebreather, Pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet, Pas de deux from Don Quixote (Various)

• Beyond Vibrations – Fly Paper Bird (Marco Goecke), Moving Rooms (Krzysztof Pastor)

• bpm – Bohemian Gravity (Yemi A.D.), Bill (Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar)

• Brel – Vysockij – Kryl / Solo for Three – Dancer (Petr Zuska)

• Dance On... The Second Detail – The Second Detail (William Forsythe)

• Forsythe / Clug / McGregor – The Second Detail, Eden | Eden (William Forsythe, Edward Clug, Wayne McGregor)

• Kafka: The Trial – The Painter (Mauro Bigonzetti)

• Kylián – Bridges of Time – Psalm Symphony, Petite Mort, Bella Figura, Gods and Dogs (Jiří Kylián)

• L’Histoire de Manon – Lescaut, Des Grieux (Kenneth MacMillan)

• Leonce & Lena – Valerio (Christian Spuck)

• Phoenix – Puppet (Douglas Lee)

• Sheherazade – King Shahryar (Mauro Bigonzetti)

• Take Me with You – The Chosen One (Robert Bondara)

• Timeless – The Chosen One (Various)

• A Streetcar Named Desire – Stanley Kowalski (John Neumeier)

Additional Engagements & Notes

• Joined Czech National Ballet in 2018; promoted to Demi-Soloist (April 2021), then to First Soloist (February 2022).

• Awarded the Director’s Prize (2023) for artists under 35 at the Czech National Ballet.

• Notable international appearance at the Ballet Gala in Trento, Italy (2023), dancing Firebreather, as well as pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote.