Gelvan (Gelwan) Vladimir – ballet dancer.

Vladimir Gelvan trained at the Riga Choreographic School under A. Lembergs and began his professional career at the opera theatre. He was a member of touring companies from the Kirov Opera Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre abroad, performing extensively and taking on leading roles. His first international tour took place at the age of 17.

He was honoured with the title of Merited Artist of the Latvian SSR and was nominated for the title of People’s Artist of the Latvian SSR, though he did not receive it due to his emigration in 1974.

In West Berlin, Vladimir Gelvan became the principal soloist of the Berlin Opera and Ballet Theatre, where he notably danced in the ballet The Idiot. He later founded his own ballet school in Berlin and also worked as a répétiteur at the Berlin Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Sources:

Sovetskaya Molodezh, 13 Dec. 1970

Balets un deja Dejas Pasaule, 1990, No. 2, p. 16