singing_medora

Speaking about ballet and folklore I’d say that nowadays there’s no any connection between them. Many years ago, as I’ve already mentioned there were a couple of national ballets staged according to the national literature. But still they were primary ballets with typical classical choreography and within there were some national folklore dances which were somehow changed to satisfy general rules of ballet. They were included into the ballet when for example there was a wedding or some other traditional holiday where Belarusians have their own customs and national dances.

Hi! I’m so inspired that our ballet interested you! I really couldn’t expect this! I know that for many people Belarus is like “the country somewhere”, perhaps even without all comforts of civilization… I think it’s our own guilt, for before recent years we never tried to be opened to the world and to show the world our own culture. And now when everyone tries to be as much connected with the world community as he can, we have to develop with an impossible and unbelievable speed and frankly speaking we do it eagerly! By the way does anybody know whether it is possible to write articles to some online magazines about ballet? You see I know a lot and if anyone is interested I can provide with valuable information…It will be great if I can help people know more about Belarussian ballet, perhaps someone will decide to come to us and watch it with his own eyes or I can gain the attention of some impresario in our ballet…It my greatest dream!!! Now our company suffers some hardships for the theater closes for the reconstruction and it is the most advantageous time for touring. As for the questions: 1)We’ve got several establishments which provide students with dance education. They are Choreographic College. I see that the name can puzzle but it is called so cause there the students are taught to dance both classical and national choreography. To simplify – ballet and national dances of various peoples. Here students are not taught how to invent ballets, just how to dance. It gives secondary education but recently they came to a decision to transform it into Academy and give the higher education. Perhaps, this will lead to the appearance of the Ballet Masters and Choreographers Chair. At our Academy of Music there’s already a Department of Choreography where they prepare future ballet teachers, choreographers and ballet critics. In fact, some our leading dancers have only secondary education and are happy! But if they want to become a teacher and to stay in the theatre after retirement they are forced to graduate from this Academy. Actually, we also have a University of Culture where they teach national dances, modern dances and ballroom dances, and we have quite a number of colleges of arts all over the country teaching national and modern dances. But to start working with the Ballet Theatre you have to graduate from the Choreographic College, where the students start learning at 9-10 years. The number of these educational establishments is quite confusing and especially the number of Academies, but…. The things are as they are.

Hi! Here are some details I wanted to add about our company. I’ve already written that some famous stars of the world ballet like Aleksey Turko or Igor Sed’ko from Eifman ballet are the graduates of our Choreographic College. Actually former members of our company are dancing all over the world and this shows the quality of preparation that our ballet school gives. Also mentioning X Moscow Competition I should say that Ivan Vasiliev, our student is a dancer who impresses the audience most of all and according to the reviews is an undeniable leader of the junior group. He is already a winner of various competitions, so you can see that our company is trying to gain its status on the world’s stage! Wish them luck! Alexander Buber is also a striking star who presented our ballet in Moscow. Unfortunately, he isn’t in the 3rd round, according to some reviews ‘cause of his modern performance. But we also have a one more chance – this is a couple Borchenkos who are originally from St-Petersburg, but work with our company. In fact, they present Russia in Moscow but still we feel pride for their success and wish them luck in the 3rd round. Some people say that they don’t deserve this position of being included into the list of the dancers in the 3rd round and I’m a bit disappointed because of that… but I still hope that these are just envious people who were not taught to lose beautifully saying this rubbish. I know that if the person you relay on loses it is disappointing but that doesn’t mean that you should offend other people saying they do not deserve something as well, and claiming that all the places in the 3rd round were already sold. I still believe that Kate and Peter being the twins feel each other better than anyone else. A lot of articles devoted to this couple were written for it’s really a rare thing - twins dancing together. Being graduates from The Vaganova Academy they possess an incredible style of dancing and very beautiful like “talking” hands. Newspaper journalists were also interested in them because this year Kate won a great prize – “Philip Morris Debut” which was established by the (if my memory serves me right) tobacco company Philip Morris known by its charity actions and culture supporting prizes in our country. “P.M.Debut” is given to the talented young dancers and the history of this prize started in 1995.

2 Chipuris About the prizes read http://www.russian-konkurs.ru/eng/awards.html Yahoo!!!My couple, Borchenkos, are in the third tour!!!

The first actual leader of Belarussian ballet who made it famous was and is Valentin Yelizariev who graduated from the Vaganova Academy and Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire in St-Petersburg and was invited for the post of chief choreographer in Minsk. He staged a great number of ballets developing and showing his own undeniable style. He presented more than 30 performances in and outside our country. And these are not simply small ballets or performances. He managed to stage grand ballets preserving classical features and adding his own details in such harmony with the whole ballet that tey are praised in many countries of the world. Actually during his "reigning" BB visited an unbelievable number of countries. France, Switzerland, Hungary, Spain, Greece, Great Britain, Norway, Turkey, Holland, Netherlands, China and many others...You may not believe me but it's really true. Perhaps, the only country they missed is...the US, unfortunately. In 1995 Yelizariev got "Benois de la Dance" for his staging of the ballet "Passions" upon our national legend. Co-operation with V. Okunev, a painter and designer from St.Petersburg (who actually also co-operates with Eifman, so well-known to you) made this performance really striking and impressive, making people think about their past and their ancestors. A myriad of brilliant dancers graduated from the Belarussian Choreographical College which this year celebrates its anniversary - it was founded 60 years ago.

Hi, everyone! When I posted the description of myself you showed interest inour company. Hoping that it is sincere I've decided to tell you a bit. It was founded inthe mid 20th years as a small division of the First National Theatre and for there was no ballet schools they took all talented youth who somehow particitated in folklore dance groups. Frankly speaking my relatives were among those who started professional theatre in Belarus. At first they invited choreographers from St.-Petersburg and the ballet staged were mostly upon national literature and the musoc of national composers. It was exactly the time of the policy of belarussisation of all spheres of life after becoming a sovereign republic. The technique and style were developped by a great number of world-known touring Moscow ballet dancers. Since that times classical ballet has been developped and popularised. (if there is such a word? sorry!) Well, actually, during its (guess, I may say) long history Belarussian Ballet could boast its vivid, bright and colourful performances of the classical heritage like The Swan Lake, La Bayadere, The Fountain of Bakhchisaraj, The Sleeping Beauty and many others. You know, In the soviet times ballet was an art which was carefully considered and paid attention to by the soviet leaders. The same was in Belarus that's why the quality of the company was among the best In the Soviet Union after The Bolshoi and Kirov theatres.

I can also send to anyone photos of Kate and Peter Borchenko for you to see how harmonically they dance with each other! By the way the are twins!

2 Chiapuris Hi! I'm greatly interested in your impressions about Kate and Peter Borchenko! Yuo've wrote theat theu've impressed you. Please, tell me what exactly? This couple is working in our theatre and I'm trying to get the more impressions that I can for i want to write an article about them. Hoping you will help me, In case you wnat to write a letter to me, here is my e'mail - singing_medora@yahoo.com AND perhaps there is someone who also watches this contest and can help me!please! One more thing, I'm interested in Buber and Vasiliev too.