Born in Leningrad.
Graduated from the Perm School of Ballet in 1984.
Joined the Mariinsky Theatre in 1991.
Since 2007 he has been a coach at the Mariinsky Theatre. Currently Viktor Baranov teaches classical duet dance at the performing faculty of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Repertoire at the Mariinsky Theatre included:
Giselle (Albrecht),
The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Désiré, Prince Fleur de Pois),
The Nutcracker (The Prince);choreography by Vasily Vainonen,
La Sylphide (James); choreography by August Bournonville, revised version by Elsa-Marianne von Rosen,
La Bayadere (Solor); choreography by Marius Petipa, revised version by Vakhtang Chabukiani,
“Paquita” Grand Pas; choreography by Marius Petipa,
Swan Lake (Siegfried); choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev,
Le Réveil de Flore (Apollo); choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, revival of the 1894 production,
Raymonda (Jean de Brienne); choreography by Marius Petipa, revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev,
Michel Fokine’s Chopiniana and The Firebird (Ivan Tsarevich),
The Fountain of Bakhchisarai (Vaslav); choreography by Rostislav Zakharov,
Romeo and Juliet (Romeo); choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky,
The Legend of Love (Ferkhad); choreography by Yuri Grigorovich,
George Balanchine’s Apollo, Serenade, Symphony in C (1st Movement) and Jewels (Emeralds),
Jerome Robbins’ In the Night,
Alexei Ratmansky’s Anna Karenina (Alexei Karenin), Le Baiser de la fée (Youth) and Le Poème de l’extase,
Donvena Pandoursky’s Metaphysics (the Man)
аnd John Neumeier’s ballets Spring and Fall and The Sounds of Empty Pages.
Has taken part in the festival Vladimir Spivakov Invites and the gala concert 20th Century Symphonic Dances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Russia under the baton of Vladimir Spivakov (2006).
Has toured with the Mariinsky Ballet Company throughout Europe, the USA and to Japan.