Born in Moscow. Graduated from Moscow Academic Choreographic Ballet School (Bolshoi Ballet Academy), Peter Pestov’class in 1968. This year joined to the Bolshoi Theatre as a soloist and soon a premier.

His repertoire included: Harlequin and Prince (The Nutcracker), Pan (Walpurgis Night), Philip (Flames of Paris), Basil (Don Quixote), Desiree (Sleeping Beauty), Albert (Giselle), Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), The Dreamer (Les Sylphides), Ferkhad (Legend of Love), Spartacus (Spartacus), Claudio (Love After Love), Icarus (Icarus), Sergei (Angara), Prince (The Wooden Prince, the first performer in A. Petrov’s production), Solor (Shadows from La Bayadere), etc.

He is a Laureate of All-Russian Ballet Competition, II Prize (1972) and International Ballet Competition in Moscow, I Prize and Gold medal (1973).

In 1975-1985 his duet with Nadezhda Pavlova gained immense popularity throughout Russia and abroad. From 1981 Gordeev began his works as a choreographer. In 1983 he graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University (M.V. Lomonosov). Also in 1987 he graduated from the Russian University for the Performing Arts receiving the highest form of education as a Ballet Master. 

In 1984 Gordeev took over a leadership of the Moscow Ensemble and turns it into the State Russian Ballet. He created 30 ballets, including the full length version of Cinderella, Flowing River and choreographic miniatures, such as Passacaglia, The Meeting, Guslyar, Memory, Steps, Revived Pictures, Unexpected Maneuvers (or Wedding with the General). He also staged and choreographed his own version of classical ballets. 

In 1995-1997 Gordeev was a Ballet director of the Bolshoi Theatre. In 2003-2006 he was a Ballet director of the Yekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.