Vladimir Curbet is a renowned ballet master. He was born on 5 December 1930 in the village of Susleni, Orhei district. In 1981 he became a People’s Artist of the Soviet Union. Vladimir Сurbet graduated from the Stefan Neaga School of Music in Chisinau and was brought up from childhood in an environment favourable to the development of his artistic vocation, as his father conducted a brass band. In the years after the Second World War he became the leader of a group of amateur dancers in his native village, and in 1953-1957 he led the folk dance group in the village of Caragach, Slobozia district.

In 1958 he became artistic director and first ballet master of the Moldovan State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble “Joc”.

Vladimir Сurbet began to perform Moldovan folk dances in which he preserved the national specificity of the movements and the autochthonous manner of interpretation.

With the ensemble “Joc” Vladimir Curbet has staged about 50 folk dances, true performances of music, folk dance and folk costumes, with a high level of interpretation, achieving an artistic performance unprecedented in the world. Among them are “The Game of the Smiths”, “The Rake”, “The Beaten”, “Voiniceasca”, “Haiduceasca”, “The Girls’ Hora”, “The Little March”, “The Bracelets”, “Moldoveneasca”, “Peasant”, “The Rake”, “The Big Hora” and others. The “Gourds”, “Moldovan Wedding”, “Marzipan”, “Joy” suite, “Bugeac Suite”, “Carpathian Suite”, duets “At the Spring”, “At the Vine” have become the calling card of Moldovan culture and folklore and have been highly appreciated not only in Moldova and Romania, but also in many other countries all over the world. Vladimir Curbet has presented with the “Joc” ensemble about 10 000 performances in over 70 countries.

As an experienced choreographer, he contributed to the production of “Birds of our Youth” based on the drama by writer Ion Druță (at the Little Theatre in Moscow), the films “His Highness Hora” and “Red Meadows” (“Moldova-film”), as well as the famous film “Wedding at Malinovca” (“Lenfilm”).

He is the author of anthological books such as : “La vatra horelor”, “Promotori ai artei popolare”, “Tot cu cântecul mă mângâi”, “Asa-i gioco pe la noi” and “La gura unei caștera de comori”. He has collected more than 6000 folk songs and melodies, many of which have found a second life in his 9 published books.

He was the 13th leader of the “Game”, which he led for 60 years – a lifetime of Man.

He passed away on 8 December 2017. He is buried at the Armenian Сemetery in the capital.