A master's class

With a designated set of exercises, students displayed their classical ballet movements, which received warm applause from Malakhov.

"I can see the potential here and I am looking forward to working with you," Malakhov told the students after the session.

In the next three years, he is going to teach at the ballet department of Beijing Dance Academy and will live in China to explore the country, which, he says, is a longtime wish of his.

"It took a very long time for me to finally get here. The school sent me the invitation over a year ago. It is a challenge I am willing to take on," says Malakhov in an interview with China Daily.

Born in Ukraine, he began his dance training at the age of 4. He continued his training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow under the guidance of Peter Pestov, and upon graduation in 1986, Malakhov joined the Moscow Classical Ballet as that company's youngest principal dancer.