Volodymyr Dantes is a well-known Ukrainian singer, TV and radio host, blogger, and since the start of the full-scale war — also a volunteer.
He was born on June 28, 1988, in Kharkiv to a family of law enforcement. As a child, he dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father, police colonel Ihor Vyacheslavovych, but eventually chose a very different path.
He showed musical talent from an early age: at four, he performed the children’s song “In the Grass Sat a Grasshopper” at a kindergarten celebration — and became a regular at all school events thereafter.
After school, he entered a music college and earned a degree as a vocal instructor. Later, at his parents’ request, he enrolled at the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” and graduated with a degree in business financial management. He worked in various jobs — from bartender to installer — until his life changed with participation in the talent show Star Factory.
Start of a music career
In 2008, he auditioned for season two of Star Factory with a powerful performance of the folk song “Oi, u poli try krynychenky.” The show became a launchpad: he not only won but adopted the stage name Dantes, marking the beginning of his creative journey.
He impressed with his singing, acting, and dancing skills, and his song “Konvert” became a hit. After the show, he committed to a music career.
The band “Dio.filmy”
After the show, he formed the duo Dantes & Oleynik with Vadym Oliinyk. Their producers included Natalia Mohylevska, Borys Bronshtein, and Talant Group. In 2010, they released their debut album. The band was nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award and was later renamed Dio.filmy. Despite success, the duo disbanded in 2015, and Dantes moved on to new creative directions.
Television and radio
Since 2012, Dantes has actively worked in TV and radio. He hosted shows on Lux FM, New Channel, the travel show Food, I Love You on Pyatnitsa, was a coach on Little Giants on 1+1, and took part in League of Laughter, Masquerade, and I Love Ukraine on TET.
YouTube projects
He launched a blog ironically titled Nadia Dorofeeva’s Husband, poking fun at rumors he was just a “plus-one” to his famous wife. He appeared in Heads & Tails: 10 Years, created the stand-up show Stand Up 380, the car delivery show Mom, I Drive Cars (for the military), and House of Culture — about cultural revival in de-occupied areas.
Solo music
In 2019, he returned to music with “Now You’re 30,” and in 2021 released his debut solo album Your Favorite Music, featuring collaborations with Nadia Dorofeeva, Jerry Heil, Potap, and Max Fadeev. Dantes wrote many of the songs himself. His latest releases include “Chuyesh,” “Kyty,” and a Ukrainian version of his old hit “Olya.”
Personal life
In 2015, he married Nadia Dorofeeva in a lavender-themed wedding. In March 2022, the couple announced their separation and finalized their divorce six months later. Dorofeeva later married Mykhailo Katsurin, a family friend, while Dantes began a relationship with Mykhailo’s ex-wife Dasha Katsurina. They are still together, though not officially married. Dantes spends a lot of time with Dasha’s children from her previous marriage.
Civic stance and volunteering
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, he has actively volunteered. He donated his Tesla to aid workers, helps with humanitarian and military support, raised over half a million hryvnias through charity concerts in Israel, and millions more with Oleksiy Durniev in their Pozhezha project. His 35th birthday fundraiser raised over 430,000 UAH in a single day. At his solo concert in November 2023, he raised 1 million UAH for the Armed Forces.
https://youtu.be/bJA1x4egHm4
Switching to Ukrainian
Before the war, he mainly spoke Russian, but after February 24, 2022, he gradually switched to Ukrainian. In interviews, he emphasizes the difficulty yet importance of this journey and urges understanding for those trying to make the transition.
Frontline concerts
Since 2022, he has regularly performed for soldiers at the front. He sang for the National Guard and emergency services in Kharkiv while delivering a vehicle to a brigade. He encourages other artists to honor defenders with such visits.
