316 replies to this topic

[Helene]

[Admin beanie on]

There are places on the internet where it's fine to post unsubstantiated allegations.  This isn't one of them.

Either cite official sources, or don't post the "info" here.

[Admin beanie off]

[Tiara]

Natalia, on 23 May 2013 - 03:43 AM, said:

Birdsall, I suspect that Fateev DOES read...and laughs at us. The more we complain, the more he gives the knowledgeable fans what they do NOT want because, in the end, he knows that a Swan Lake or a Don Q will 'sell' (to mostly-unsavvy tourists and businessmen) even if Minnie Mouse is cast as the lead.

Unfortunately, this is also what is happening on the male roster, with Mickey Mouse frequently cast in the lead.  The principal ranks are decidedly lacklustre, with aging dancers repeatedly cast, such as Ivanchenko, while the new and up and coming talent is denied its chances.   On June 6th the new 3D Swan Lake will be seen by millions, and in the role of Siegfried will be Timur Askerov, who in  my opinion is a very average dancer, characterized by stiff upper body, lack of expression and no acting ability.  He is not even a true representative of the Vaganova/Mariinsky tradition, having graduated from the Baku School of Dance in 2008.  Daria Pavlenko in her recent letter to the Minister of Culture, widely quoted, complained about the iniquitous system inside the Mariinsky, where dancers often are able to buy roles, penalized for various misdemeanours, and many gifted dancers not given roles, while the favoured few flourish.  This is common knowledge, as is the fact that for centuries, privilege and roles have both often been bought within the ballet world.  Askerov is from a wealthy oil family, and this too is commonly known both inside the Mariinsky and outside, and in my opinion is the likely  reason for his many roles.  Although it is a dramatic analogy, to deny this and pretend it does not exist is really akin to suppression of facts in much the same way, for example, as the facts of the Nazi persecution of the Jews was suppressed and many lives were lost in concentration camps lost before the facts became made known.  Under the communist regime today in places such as Cuba many atrocities do happen which also are suppressed, but this does not mean they are not happening.  In  the Mariinsky Theatre corruption, buying of roles, favouritism, all do exist as they have done from time to time during its history, and this is one of the causes of the dire casting at the moment.  To deny this and pretend it is not happening is not the best way of serving the interests of the dancers.  It is an iniquitous state of affairs that should be made public. The talented dancers are still there, but they are being passed oover by managemment in favour of those who have found other ways to gain roles.  This is the real tragedy of the Mariinsky casting situation.