walboi Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 Some years ago I had a girlfriend from Russia who told me that she did the pre-bolshoi education. I never really understood what that really meant. The words are no problem, like pre and school, but how does it fit into the context of the Bolshoi ballet? Anyone there that can enlighten me? Health and happiness Walboi Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 This is just a guess, walboi, but she may mean the schooling for children in folk dance rhythms and forms that goes before acceptance into the Bolshoi (and other) schools.... They don't let kids start technical training until they've had a grounding in folk dance.... Link to comment
Hans Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 vrsfanatic probably knows the most about this, but I believe she might be referring to the two years of training that occur before "official" ballet training starts at age 10. The children would learn simple things such as how to stand and battement tendu. vrs has written about what these classes are like at the Vaganova Academy over on Ballet Talk for Dancers; I'll do a search and see if I can find the post. Editing to add: Here it is! http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?...ndpost&p=106607 Link to comment
walboi Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 vrsfanatic probably knows the most about this, but I believe she might be referring to the two years of training that occur before "official" ballet training starts at age 10. The children would learn simple things such as how to stand and battement tendu. vrs has written about what these classes are like at the Vaganova Academy over on Ballet Talk for Dancers; I'll do a search and see if I can find the post.Editing to add: Here it is! http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?...ndpost&p=106607 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thank you Hans, as always you are very helpfull, thank you for the trouble finding for the link. Health and Happiness Walboi Link to comment
walboi Posted January 9, 2006 Author Share Posted January 9, 2006 Still I am not completly satisfied concerning this Pre-Bolshoi education, because my ex girlfriend learnt there for several years but never graduated further. She dance in several company's through out Russia at communistic times. Is it preparing you for the real thing? I am a bit ignorant about this though, sorry. Walboi Link to comment
Hans Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I'm not totally sure what that could be...how old was she when she ended her studies at the Bolshoi? Presumably after she left, she continued to dance...at a different school? Link to comment
walboi Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 I'm not totally sure what that could be...how old was she when she ended her studies at the Bolshoi? Presumably after she left, she continued to dance...at a different school? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> She was 18 when she left school. As was the custom she was asigned to a company as they saw fit, without her having a choice in it. But as far as I know no school after the pre bolshoi. Walboi Link to comment
Hans Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I don't think I can answer this, as I don't know very much about the Bolshoi Academy, so I'm going to post your question on Ballet Talk for Dancers (accessible via the link at the top-right corner of this page) where people might know more. Link to comment
vrsfanatic Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I have never heard of a program called pre-Bolshoi that was more than the first two preparatory years prior to entrance examinations to either the Bolshoi or the Vaganova Academy. The Russian people love ballet. It was/is a part of their culture. There are many jobs to be had in dance... folk, musical theatre, dinner theatre, etc. During Soviet times children studied dance in clubs, like after school sports in the USA (remember it can be quite cold in the winter in Russia, so indoor physical activies could be of interest to the general public). There were many, many dance programs in many cities/towns. Perhaps this is what walboi's girlfriend called pre-Bolshoi? Link to comment
walboi Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Thank you Hans for your help, allthough it is still not clear to me and since my ex girl friend died this weekend I will not be able to ask her anymore. Walboi Link to comment
carbro Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Sincere condolences, walboi. This is very sad. Link to comment
walboi Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Sincere condolences, walboi. This is very sad. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks that is very much appriciated carbro. Walboi Link to comment
Hans Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Please accept my sympathies, that is terrible news. Link to comment
Marga Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I am sorry to hear such news, walboi. It is very hard when someone dies who was an important part of our lives. Link to comment
walboi Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 Thanks Hans, Marga. Words are missing, thoughts prevail, mostly of the good days. If you accept life, you must accept dead I guess. Your sympathy does me good. Walboi Link to comment
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