21 replies to this topic

[Natalia]

While perusing the just-published 2003 Mariinsky Ballet Festival souvenir programme, I compared the latest Kirov Dancers Roster with that of the 2002 Festival (which mirrors that found on the Mariinsky internet site). Wow - lots of recent changes, such as:

Principals - Altynai Assylmuratova is gone among women, as is Sergei Vikharev (the Petipa-reconstructions stager) among the men. No promotions of female soloists to principal level; however, both Igor Kolb and Andrian Fadeyev have been made Principals. Congratulations to both!!

First Soloists - Veronika Part is back as a First Soloist!! Promoted to First Soloist, from Second Soloist, are Daria Pavlenko and Natalia Sologub. Andrei Batalov is still on the roster. Leonid Sarafanov, hired as 2nd Soloist one-half year ago, is now listed as First Soloist.

Second Soloists - Promoted to 2nd soloist, from Coryphee level, are Ekaterina Osmolkina and Xenia Ostreikovskaya among women, and Vasily Scherbakov among men.

Coryphee - promoted from Corps de Ballet are a number of dancers, including Viktoria Teryoshkina and Tatyana Tkachenko among the women, Igor Popov among men...there are others

Principal Character Dancers - I notice that Yelena Sherstnyova is gone, after many, many years are THE grand-dame of character/national dances.  I wonder if either she or Assylmuratova received farewell evenings to honor the many years of distinguished service to the theater? I will surely miss both of them.

[Marc Haegeman]

Thanks for that Jeannie. Two great ladies left the building.
As far as I know Altynai Asylmuratova never wanted a farewell gala or anything special.  She preferred to leave in silence.

[katharine kanter]

Did not Miss Assylmuratova say that as head of the Vaganova School, she did not feel the need for a big "send-off" ?   The real "send off", will, one hopes, be the reforms she is introducing to the School.

Here at Paris, Mr. Kolb has danced this past December, in La Bayadère.  Interesting dancer - good mime, very clean floor patterns compared to most of his colleagues, reserved but very intense acting.  Mr. Kolb, one request however: now that you are Principal, might we ask you to refrain from all further Ruzimatovisms, and to decline, in future, to pick up the leg ?  It does not fit at all to the otherwise dignified elegance of your work.

[Mel Johnson]

And besides, if they really need her for something, she's right down Theater Street, at the Vaganova Choreographic Institute as Director, isn't she, Marc?  More power to her, she danced AND directed the school for several years.

[Marc Haegeman]

Quite, Mel. Yet, neighboring institutions are sometimes the farthest away of all.

[Mel Johnson]

Sadly, for all sorts of reasons, and in all sorts of places, that's a very true statement.  But if that's a problem at Petersburg, I would be willing to bet good money that Asylmuratova can overcome it!

[vrsfanatic]

Perhaps by any standard but Russian or Manhatten, the Vaganova School and Mariinsky Theatre could be considered quite a distance, but not if you are Russian or a New Yorker! It is not around the corner, but it is a fifteen minute trolley ride, if you are lucky to get on or maybe a 40 minute pleasant walk , which is what is most common. Teachers/students are constantly doing the walk. There used to be quite a few stores and kiosks to get some shopping done on the way to or fro. Maybe not anymore though!

Thanks Jeannie for the update! Is I. Kuznetsov listed anywhere anymore?

[Ari]

It's interesting that the Kirov has so many different levels on their roster.  When the company performs in Washington, the dancers are listed at three levels only.

[Calliope]

Is Veronika Part still guesting with ABT, or is that over already?

[Alexandra]

Part did Lady Capulet yesterday afternoon at the Kennedy Center.

[Natalia]

vrsfanatic - You are right about that 15-minute trolley ride. Alas, the erotic nightclub, Rossi's Place, is still across the street from the entrance to the academy.

Ilya Kuznetsov is definitely on the roster, as (I believe) First Soloist.  He was scheduled to dance Hans in GISELLE last night but, instead, was allowed to be a guest at a festival in Yugoslavia, instead. He will be back for one of the mixed-bill galas here, later this week.

[NO7]

Dear Katharine,

I really like what you called "Ruzimatovisms"!
Looking at Kolb's repertoires in the past two years, I guess Kirov may want him to be Ruzimatov's successor! And perhaps Fadeyev will be Zelensky's!?!
(Actually, Kolb has danced Bayadere in October not December in Paris.)

And yes, Jeannie and vrsfanatic, Kuznetsov is still a first soloist. No promotion, unfortunately:(

[Mel Johnson]

Who the heck is Hans in Giselle?

[Marc Haegeman]

Hans is Hilarion.

[vrsfanatic]

Thanks Jeannie and NO7. Funny, Kuznetsov was always Albrecht in school. He did that role in 6th, 7th, and 8th year, a well as others of course. Shows how things can change.

I look forward to your very exciting reviews.