This year’s ballet festival expanded its outreach beyond Donetsk to Lviv and Kyiv, which also hosted gala concerts by international ballet stars. Over a period of nine days audiences watched performances by 150 dancers from 14 countries, representing various ballet schools and trends.
As part of the Stars of World Ballet Festival, the renowned dancer and festival organizer Vadym Pysarev gave a master class at the Kyiv School of Choreography, a milestone even for the school’s students and faculty. Dance lessons from a ballet star don’t come along every day. During the anxious wait for the master whose flight was delayed in Lviv, The Day’s correspondent asked Tetiana Tayakina, director of the Kyiv School of Choreography and legendary prima ballerina, about the children’s interest in ballet.
“Now we have 200 students, 70 of whom live in the boarding school,” says Tetiana Tayakina. “It’s a state-funded school, so tuition is free. Only a small percentage of students without state scholarships pay for their education. Children aged 10 and older are enrolled in our school. Naturally, there are more girls than boys. At age 10 few children dream of ballet. It’s usually the parents’ choice. The children have to pass professional examinations. The admissions committee pays attention to their step, the shape of their feet and arches, and posture. Doctors check the health of every child. Children develop a passion for dancing during classes and performances at the National Opera. Of course, not all of our graduates will become ballet soloists. Some of them will perform in the corps de ballet. I am certain, however, that after graduating from our school they will become true professionals.”
Pysarev says that mastery comes when a dancer learns to control his or her body. “Our legs talk and our arms sing,” he said with a smile. “But no one needs technique for the sake of technique. Ballet is art, not sport. The dramatic plot of a ballet and the psychology of a role in a play are conveyed through dance. So, dancers who want to link their careers with the theater must also possess artistic skills.” With these words he began his master class.
Watching Pysarev at the barre or during rehearsals is an unforgettable sight. He never raises his voice; he merely points out flaws and demands immediate correction. When the boys have a hard time performing some complex step, he demonstrates for them. Even at age 40, he is still in perfect shape for dancing. He lifts his partner with ease, and his trademark “flight” has the audience holding its breath. How can a dancer achieve excellence? Pysarev is happy to share his professional secrets with the young generation of dancers.
On the same day as the master class Kyiv hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Philanthropy: Ukrainian Realities and Foreign Experience,” which was held as part of the festival, along with a press conference to wrap up the festival. Later that night Ukraina Palace hosted a celebration of dance, featuring classical, neoclassical, postmodern, and avant- garde performances. The “Carmen” gala concert opened with a dance performed by soloists and artists of the Donetsk-based Anatoliy Solovyanenko Theater of Opera and Ballet, which was choreographed by Yevheniya Khasianova especially for this year’s festival. Performances by Maryna Antonova (Germany), Gui Albouis (France), Asako Yanagihara and Nobuhito Terada (Japan), Lidia Raivanova (Serbia), Rebecca King (USA), Chao Chi Tan (Vietnam), Simona Nozha (Austria), Andrey Ivanov (Russia), and others got a warm reception from the audience.
This year’s festival presented ballet lovers with an opportunity to see performances by Denys Matviyenko, the best Ukrainian dancer and soloist of the National Opera. Together with his partner Anastasia Chernenko, he performed two completely different dances: a modern dance from Radio and Juliet based on the music of the rock band Radiohead, and a pas de deux from the ballet Don Quixote by Leon Minkus. The appearance of the legendary duo of Inna Dorofeeva and Vadym Pysarev sent the audience into raptures. The dancers gave a masterly performance of the choreographic miniature March (music by Mozart, choreography by Mannes).
