Stanislav Grigoryevich Popov was born on August 4, 1947, in Moscow, Russia (USSR at the time) into a loving family. His father, Grigory Petrovich Popov, and his mother, Sofya Vladislavovna Popova, supported his early curiosity and energy.
He attended Experimental School No. 315 of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, laying the groundwork for an education that would later span both technical and artistic disciplines. In 1972, Stanislav graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute with a degree in Industrial Electronics, and in 1985, he earned another degree—this time in choreography—from GITIS, the prestigious Russian Institute of Theatre Arts.
An Athlete’s Beginnings
Before he ever stepped onto a ballroom floor, Stanislav was already a formidable athlete. He excelled in swimming and later became a prizewinner in the Moscow Modern Pentathlon Championship (1964–1965), an event that combines fencing, shooting, swimming, horse riding and running. He achieved the title of Master of Sports in modern pentathlon—a sign of both discipline and versatility that would follow him into the dance world.
Dance Career
It was 1962 when Stanislav’s older brother, Viktor, a ballroom dancer himself, brought him to a dance school in Sokolniki. The instructors at the time—Anatoly Gubarev, Vyacheslav Ilyashevsky, and Margarita Solovyova—left an impression, but Stanislav wasn’t ready to commit to dance just yet.
That changed in 1967 at the civic center “Himick” (meaning “Chemist”), led by Bruno Belousov. There, he partnered with Anya Kushnareva and they danced together for a year.
But a turning point came in October 1968, when he formed a dance duo with Lyudmila Borodina (born on March 22, 1951), a soloist from the famed Konstantinovsky Ensemble—a group celebrated for its vibrant performances of Mediterranean and Eastern music traditions.
Stanislav had admired her from afar during his school years, often watching her on television. When they finally danced together, their connection was instant and powerful.
“Love is not to look at each other, love is to look in the same direction,” Stanislav once said. “Love that you can express by dancing can compensate for the lack of words.”
Their bond was more than artistic—in spring 1974, Stanislav and Lyudmila married. By 1981, they transitioned from amateur to professional dancers, cementing their place in the USSR’s ballroom legacy.
From 1971 to 1991, the Popovs not only competed but also taught dance. From 1980 to 1988, Stanislav and Lyudmila ran a dance club in the prestigious “Zvezdny Gorodok” (Star City) outside Moscow, home to the families of the first group of renowned Russian astronauts. They taught the children of all the famous families in the community.
Beginning in 1981, they organized the annual competition “Zvezdny Vals” (Star Waltz). The inaugural event was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight.
They became favorites on television and even in cinema—Stanislav appeared in A Dog Walked Across the Piano (1978) and Married Bachelor (1982).
Their dance partnership was legendary—lasting an incredible 27 years.
They were the first Soviet couple invited to the Blackpool Dance Festival.
In 1991, the magazine Ballet awarded them the “Soul of Dance” award in the “Knight of Dance” category.
Amateur Highlights
• 1975 – Winners of the 2nd All-Union Ballroom Dance Competition
• 1976 – 3rd place (Latin) at the Socialist Countries Championship, Brno, Czechoslovakia
• 1978 – 3rd place (Latin), Hungary
• 1979 – 1st in Latin, 2nd in European dances, Moscow
• 1980 – 1st place in both Latin and 10-dance, Bulgaria
Professional Achievements
• 1983 – 7th place at the European Professional Latin Championship, Southampton (UK); 14th at the World Championship, London
• 1985 & 1986 – Finalists at the World 10-Dance Cup, Munich, Germany
• 1988 – Final competitive appearance at the All Stars World Championship in Tokyo
On the rare occasions they were permitted to travel abroad from the Soviet Union, they took the opportunity to study with some of the leading experts of the time, including Walter Laird, Nina Hunt, Anthony Hurley, Benny Tolmeyer and Bob Burgess.
From 1980–1981, Stanislav also coached the USSR national dance team. However, growing popularity abroad worried Soviet authorities. For three years, they were banned from leaving the country—without explanation—despite receiving many international invitations.
New Horizons
In 1991, after retiring from competition, the Popovs were invited to the United States, receiving green cards under the category of individuals with “outstanding abilities and international recognition.” They joined the Washington Dance Club in Seattle, enjoying a new phase where they could coach and perform, while finally earning a comfortable living. The dream lasted until 1995.
Eventually, Stanislav returned to Russia, while Lyudmila and their daughter Ksenia remained in the United States. Ksenia studied vocal performance and became a soloist at the Opera San José, acclaimed for her beautiful soprano voice. Lyudmila found happiness again and remarried.
Stanislav also remarried. With his second wife, Irina Ostroumova, he welcomed a son, Nikita, in 1997. Nikita is also a child of the arts—he enjoys playing the guitar, writes poetry and is a talented dancer who has participated in Viennese Balls.
Irina has a deep passion for Argentine tango. She serves as Vice President of the Argentine Tango Federation and takes great joy in both dancing and teaching the art form.
Public Figure & Presenter
In the 1990s and 2000s, Stanislav became a well-known television personality, serving as a commentator for dance competitions on NTV, TV-6, TVS, and NTV-Plus. From 2006 to 2011 and again in 2016, he served as the head judge on the Russian version of Dancing with the Stars (Russia-1).
In 2007, he co-commentated the Eurovision Dance Contest live alongside Anastasia Zavorotnyuk.
A familiar host at prestigious dance championships, Stanislav’s presence was synonymous with elegance and professionalism.
The Kremlin Cup and Leadership
In 1995, his experience as an organizer led to the creation of the World Challenge Cup—later transformed into the World Latin Cup, held annually at the State Kremlin Palace. Since 1995 this has been one of the most prestigious international Latin dance competitions.
From 2001 to 2019, Stanislav organized thirty-three official WDC European and World Championships and from 1995 to 2022, he organized thirty-two editions of the “Kremlin Cup.”
Stanislav serves as the President of the Russian Dance Union (RDU) and Honorary Vice President of the World Dance Council (WDC).
The origins of RDU date back to 1982 when the all-USSR Soviet of Ballroom Dancing was established. Cosmonaut Leonid Popov served as Chairman; Cheslovas Norvaish was Vice-Chairman; and Stanislav led the competitive division. That same year, he also became head of the Moscow State Section of Ballroom Dance Teachers. In 1987, he initiated the creation of the USSR Musical Society’s artistic commission for ballroom choreography—ultimately evolving into the RDU, which joined the WDC in 1988.
Awards
Over the years, Stanislav Popov has been honored with numerous prestigious awards:
Honorary Certificate of the Mayor of Moscow – 2000, 2002
Honorary Diploma of the Moscow City Duma – September 13, 2000
Medal “For Labor and Homeland” – 2003
Honored Artist of the Russian Federation – March 21, 2007
Commemorative Medal – 30th Anniversary of the Moscow Olympics – 2010
Presidential Certificate of Honor – August 16, 2011
Commemorative Medal – Sochi Winter Olympics – 2014
Carl Alan Award for "Worldwide contribution to dance" – 2015
Honored Worker of Culture and Arts of the Tyumen Region – 2016
BDF (Ballroom Dancers Federation) Overseas Award – 2017
Highest Award from the Ministry of Culture – “For Contribution to Russian Culture” – 2018
Top Award from the Russian Olympic Committee – “For Contribution to the Olympic Movement” – 2018
Badge of Distinction “For Services to Moscow” – 2018
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation – April 3, 2024
A Legacy in Motion
From an energetic boy in Moscow to a master of dance known across continents, Stanislav Popov’s life is a testament to discipline, artistry and enduring love—for movement, music and the magic that happens when the two unite.
Personal note
I had the privilege of meeting Stanislav many times around the globe.
In my heart, he is not only a dance legend, but also an exceptionally kind and generous person. I was honored to be a guest at his Kremlin Cup in 2016.
To learn more about Stanislav's incredible life story, you are welcome to listen to our podcast on Spotify, Barbara's Dance Room.
