Regional Ballet Theater in Kuzminki. Artistic Director of the Russian Ballet Theater Vyacheslav Gordeev: — To be closer to heaven

The Bolshoi Theater of Russia congratulated the People's Artist of the USSR, artistic director of the Russian Ballet Theater Vyacheslav Gordeev, who devoted more than a quarter of a century to the main stage of the country, on his anniversary. In honor of the famous dancer, the stars of the Bolshoi performed La Bayadère, one of his favorite ballets. On the solemn ceremony at the Bolshoi Theater, the hero of the day was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the President of the Russian Federation.

Before the performance, the audience saw on the big screen historical scene excerpts from famous ballets, where an outstanding artist shone. "Orenburg week" joins the congratulations. and publishes interviews with Vyacheslav Gordeev given to the journalist "ON" on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Moscow State Theater "Russian Ballet".

Vyacheslav Gordeev - the glory of Russian ballet

Vyacheslav Mikhailovich, how did it happen that you are the prime minister Bolshoi Theater, who danced almost all the leading parts of the repertoire, brilliantly representing Russian ballet on the most prestigious stages of the world, at the peak of his career made an incredible pirouette - unexpectedly for everyone, they headed the ensemble " classical ballet» at the Moscow Regional Philharmonic?

It really happened unexpectedly. I was already a People's Artist of the USSR. He married Nadezhda Pavlova. We were in great demand. Traveled all over the world. Our duet was called "the hope and glory of Russian ballet." And then I was offered to lead the ensemble of Irina Viktorovna Tikhomirnova, who became seriously ill. I doubted for a long time. But, in the end, he agreed: the proposal to lead creative team gave great opportunity for artistic expression. He began to increase the troupe, in which there were only 16 people, to expand the repertoire. When the play " Swan Lake", we began to be called Moscow regional theater"Russian ballet". All these years, the theater has maintained its declared positions: on our stage - almost the entire Russian repertoire. If not the whole performance, then at least fragments.

- Your poster indicates that the theater has adopted the classical concept as a basis ...

Indeed, our repertoire includes Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Don Quixote and other gems of the classical heritage. However, saturating the poster of the "Russian Ballet" classical performances, we allow ourselves the audacity of experiments, the search for modern choreographic forms.

Your theater, which has a residence permit near Moscow, has received wide international recognition. Tours in Germany, USA, Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium and other countries can be called triumphant.

It’s hard to praise ourselves, but our theater is called by the magazine “Journal” a showcase of ballet talents, and the Association of Western European Impresario awarded us the title of “Best Ballet Group in Europe”. Several cities in France, the USA and Mexico have elected the dancers of the Russian Ballet as their honorary citizens. The German prize "For the most grandiose production of Sleeping Beauty" was added to the awards. On the this stage We have a really strong team. We compete with the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres. And in China we are generally considered the first troupe in Russia.

AT recent times the international political situation has changed. Have you felt a change in the attitude of Western audiences towards your theatre?

- Not at all! In Germany, for example, for three decades we have been greeted like old friends. As in previous years - a full house and a standing ovation, despite any sanctions.

– In your theater, the Japanese dancer Morihiro Iwata, who gained fame as a “flying Japanese”, rose to the wing, American Julian McKay made his debut on your stage. But the theater is called "Russian Ballet" ...

We are called "Russian Ballet" because we are committed to our great classics, traditions, we carefully preserve the masterpieces of the Russian choreographic heritage, but the doors of the theater are open to everyone talented performers. Therefore, in our troupe you can see artists from Japan, Italy, Korea, Mongolia, America, Australia.

“Brilliant, half-airy, obedient to the magic bow,” the poet wrote about the ballerina Istomina. The art of ballet is really flying, like "fluff from the mouth of Eol." But striving upward, the ballet dancer still falls to the ground.

The magic of dance comes to the stage hand in hand with hard work. Ballet is cruel inside out. It requires huge sacrifices - incredible ability to work, creative discipline, devotion to art. Right now, my artists will come to the class, and we will begin to study - a few hours, until the seventh sweat. Clothes can literally be squeezed out.

- And yet people fall in love with ballet, dedicating their lives to it, as you did. How did your love affair with ballet start?

Once I watched Romeo and Juliet with Galina Ulanova on TV. And he asked my mother to enroll me in the choreography section of the Tushino Palace of Culture. Although there was an ordinary boy and liked to run with friends in the yard. After the fourth grade, he was going to enter the Suvorov School. The documents were ready. I had a short military haircut. Mom and I walked along Cannon Street from " children's world”, where they looked for shopping, and saw an ad from a choreographic school about additional set in a group for especially gifted children. I persuaded my mother to go there. We submitted our documents and waited for our turn. Wishing was 600 people. And they took three. So I got into the choreographic school. Well, then everything depended on my nature and myself. Since childhood, I was stubborn and played almost all sports. Was ready for any load. He stayed after classes and did ballet training until 9 pm. One of the teachers said that legs get thinner from water massage. And I started to "dry" myself. I massaged each leg for an hour in the shower. Or, for example, jumping from chair to chair. The norm is 1000 jumps. I measured everything in hundreds and thousands. This has now shrunk to dozens. When I went to Evpatoria with my mother, I set myself the task of swimming two or three kilometers. And during the day he overcame this distance. In order to grow up, and I thought that they grow from carrots, I set myself the task of eating two kilograms of carrots every day. And ate - until the pain in the jaws. It seems to be stupidity, but in fact - an incredible determination. Wanted to win.

- Our ballet has always been ahead of the rest. Where is he now?

Yesterday I met with Elena Anatolyevna Chaikovskaya, who educates champions in figure skating. She also teaches at GITIS, where I head the department of choreography. We talked about how we lost our positions in sports, in figure skating in particular, where they were also ahead of the rest. All because there was no support at the state level. As a result, we were pushed back. The same situation is now in ballet. The state allocates money practically only to the Big and Mariinsky Theater. Well, maybe even Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. State support major theaters- this is good. But they are not doing ballet in our country. Yes, they are good. But they don't create big picture! Russian ballet rose to its heights from the bottom - from the people. Previously, they traveled around the cities and gathered the most talented people. And now we need to collect. Either they will be children who need to be taught ballet, or choreographers who need to be taught how to stage ballets. It is rightly said: talents should be helped. Someone has more vitality they will be able to achieve their goal. And some talented people so they will vegetate somewhere, and we will never see them. And it's terrible. Due to the lack of attention to ballet, many left for sweet life to the west. In the leading theaters in Europe, artistic directors are mostly our compatriots. Many head ballet schools in Germany, Austria, Great Britain.

- And yet in the classics we are still the best ...

The best. But we are scolded for the fact that modern ballet is not as advanced in our country as in the West. The art of ballet, I will remind those who do not know or have forgotten, is a wonderful art. This is beauty human body. In general, beauty. No wonder the ballet dancers were raised on their fingers. To get closer to heaven. Modern ballet is mostly kneeling or lying on the floor. Our classical art is light. We went from a fairy tale to make life beautiful. Contemporary Western choreographers bring everyday life to the stage, right down to the toilet bowls. I don't mind if they speak in this direction. But the greatness of our ballet is not in contemporary dance, but in the classics.

You are doing a lot to promote and popularize ballet. Created charitable foundation, introducing children to the art of ballet, began to build a ballet dance school on their plot of land in the Moscow region.

I have always dreamed of opening my own ballet school. After all, a huge stage and life experience. And right now, realizing that there was nowhere to expect special help, he began construction. I think that the school will become not just an educational institution, but a spiritual and cultural center region.

Chief teacher-tutor

Honored Artist of Russia

All creative biography Kokhanchuk O.V. associated with ballet. After completing her stage career, she devoted herself to pedagogical activity. For more than 30 years, Olga Vasilievna has been working at the Russian Ballet Theatre. A teacher-tutor, an experienced mentor, she relies on her rich personal stage experience, theoretical knowledge of pedagogy obtained at the Moscow Institute of Culture, and subtle natural intuition. With her wards, she works systematically according to a well-established methodology, while she requires the same meaningful work from artists both in the technique of dance and in figurative reincarnation. Largely due to her teaching gift and professional skills, many of the theater’s artists became laureates and winners of prestigious international competitions and made it brilliant creative career. Among them, not only Russian artists ballet, but also dancers from Japan, Australia, Mongolia, who started their creative way in the Russian Ballet and continued their careers in well-known foreign troupes.

Tutor

Honored Artist of Azerbaijan

Doctor pedagogical sciences, Academician of the International Pedagogical Academy, Professor Russian University theatrical art- GITIS, laureate of the ballet dancers' competition, laureate of the choreographers' competition.

assistant art director

She graduated from the Baku State Choreographic School. Worked in Baku academic theater opera and ballet Akhundov.
In 1989 she moved to the MOGT "Russian Ballet" to the position of a soloist.

Currently engaged in administrative and tutoring work at the Russian Ballet Theater

teacher-tutor

Laureate of the international competition.

Graduated from the Moscow Academic Choreographic School. She received her higher pedagogical education at the Moscow state academy choreography. She has been working at the Russian Ballet Theater since 1991. Soloist, laureate of the international competition Masami Chino created vivid images in ballets of the classical heritage, and also successfully mastered modern choreography.

After completing her stage career, she became a teacher-tutor. Knowledge, vast stage experience, the ability to find contact with the younger generation of artists - all this underlies her successful teaching career.

Tutor

Honored Artist of Russia

Graduated from the Moscow Academic Choreographic School. He worked at the Sverdlovsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, at the Moscow State Children's Musical Theatre.
She has been working at the Russian Ballet Theater since 1991.

Possessing a bright acting talent, he creates relief, memorable images of Rothbart ("Swan Lake"), Fairy Carabosse ("Sleeping Beauty"), Coppelius ("Coppelia"), Eunuch ("Scheherazade"), Gamache ("Don Quixote").

Gordeev!.. Material by journalist Svetlana Panova about an outstanding representative of the Russian ballet

about the author

Svetlana Panova is a journalist, member of the Union of Journalists of Russia. As a student of journalism, she came to TV in the program Good Evening, Moscow, worked on Channel One, in the late 90s she hosted programs from the Scandinavian countries on Radio Russia. She always remembers her first interview at the Likhachev plant with a young worker, only that those who returned from Afghanistan ... The heroes of her stories and publications are politicians, artists, officials, engineers, workers, ministers ... She especially loves the interview genre. "Before talking about a person, you need to understand him..)

Gordeev Vyacheslav

A few decades later, a comet will be named after him.

In the meantime a little boy sat in front of the TV screen and looked at what was happening there with wide eyes. The ballet "Romeo and Juliet" by Tchaikovsky was broadcast. Danced by Galina Ulanova.

It was not even a flash, but rather some kind of impression ... And he fell in love with this action, Forever, ... And he wanted to be there, on stage.

For you can prepare for a long time, and reach in an instant ...

And it turned out to be not just a whim How much work, calluses, sweat, overcoming all sorts of barriers was required before the Western press dubbed him the “golden boy”, in Germany the public would lift the car in which he would arrive in their arms, and President America Nixon in the Oval Office give him gold cufflinks as a keepsake...

Vyacheslav Gordeev- National artist USSR, legendary soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, ballet master, choreographer, theater director, educator...

But the "legend" of the Bolshoi might not exist. If back then, back in 1959, he and his mother had passed by the announcement on the doors of the Moscow Choreographic School “We are holding a competition for especially gifted children of 12 years old. The selected ones will study as a ballet dancer according to an accelerated six-year program.” Mom supported, and they took a chance. Of the six hundred children, three were chosen ... The dream became closer, but there was a test of endurance.

I have always been interested in the question, what does a dancer think about when he spins a fouette? Counting turns? Or is it always in character? .

Slava Gordeev got into the school on the course of Pestov, a brilliant and thoughtful teacher. And it started...

"Educated" the legs. Goal: Jump 1000 times on the concrete floor. Barefoot. And then another 200 times - from a chair to the floor ... And next to it - Baryshnikov, Godunov, Bogatyrev ... The schedule is the most severe.

“Wake up at 8:00. At 9.15. - at the ballet barre. At 10..00 the shirt was already wet, he took off, started the “general class”. Then - a rehearsal, the second, the third ... His first scene - Kremlin Palace congresses, Slava Gordeev as a page. Plisetskaya is dancing very close by.

“I was stunned by this condition for a long time. I remember walking around Moscow for a long time and asking myself:

Is it really with me?"

And here they are, the first tour with the school. .Paris and London. Slava Gordeev was entrusted to perform several numbers: a pas de deux from the Flames of Paris by Astafiev, an adagio from stone flower» Prokofiev and variations of the Phoenix from Gliere's The Red Poppy.

Already from the first appearances on the stage, both criticism and the public have noted the ability of the young artist to work out the part to the smallest detail, to fanaticism. I was also struck by the special, Gordeev plasticity. Criticism noted that he managed to reveal and show all the beauty male dance on stage. He was called for an encore eight times ... "Golden Boy", a favorite of the public ... But some kind of steel spring inside did not allow him to relax. He did not spoil the call.

On the graduation party in the Choreographic, everyone remembered the performed hopak to the music of Solovyov-Sedov from the ballet "Taras Bulba". His reading of the role in a new way, strict academicism struck both teachers and classmates. From the very first steps, this unique thoughtfulness in the role, the desire (and ability) to develop it was born.

Here comes the exciting moment of distribution. As one of the best, there were three options to choose from. Gordeev chooses the Bolshoi Theater, the conditions of the corps de ballet with a small salary. But happiness is immeasurable - here He is Big! Great stage and great masters nearby!

He would dance at the Bolshoi Theater from 1968 to 1989. He will start with the corps de ballet, then move on to major roles. The debut will be the role of Harlequin in The Nutcracker. Immediately they began to talk about his strict adherence to the classics. On stage, he was confident, stunningly handsome and internally free. Gordeev's teachers were the famous Varlamov and Messerer.

Gordeev worked hard on each part, he followed the great traditions of the Russian stage, bringing his own style, his own interpretation to each role. Indeed, in ballet, as the artists themselves say, both the legs and the head are equally important. He was soon talked about as a virtuoso dancer. Only he could make such elastic jumps and precise rotations. On tour, the sophisticated Western audience called Gordeev for an encore eight times! He always danced as he breathed and lived ... Both Russian and foreign audiences will forever remember performances with Gordeev's participation: Albert in Giselle, Claudio in Love for Love, Icarus in Icarus, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Siegfried in Swan Lake, the title role in Spartacus, Basil in Don Quixote...

Remarkable was their duet with Nadezhda Pavlova, with whom he performed for ten years, being married. Both were magnificent, graceful and exquisite on stage! They were young, just like their characters on stage. .They talked about themselves, sincerely and touchingly ... They understood each other ... When they stopped, each continued his way, although after that their creative cooperation continued: Gordeev staged several concert numbers… In general, Fate often tested him for decency and loyalty to his principles. On tour in America, he was offered to stay in the country for a very expensive contract - he did not stay; leading ballet troupe Bolshoi Theater, with honor out of many difficult situations, probably because he always had his own core Yes, even today, when he successfully manages the Russian Ballet Theater. He is still the same Gordeev, happy in every business. And true to himself But at all times in Russia it was very difficult ...

Even today in the morning you can find him at the machine in the morning ballet class. "Legend" on a par with their wards, theater artists

Russian Ballet works without discounts. .Brilliant experience did not dampen this Obsession. His theater is loved and familiar to all and Russian audience, and foreign. We are enthusiastically received both in the Russian hinterland and outside of Russia. And again, the criticism evaluates, and the audience applauds. And again new strips.

And Gordeev tomorrow at 12 00 will again take his place at the machine. And the shirt will be wet ...

Moscow regional state theater Russian Ballet has been delighting Russian and foreign audiences with its work for more than 30 years. My creative life the theater began in 1984 with a small ensemble "Young Ballet", the leader of which was an outstanding dancer, premier of the Bolshoi Theater, People's Artist of the USSR Vyacheslav Gordeeva. His talent and stage experience, an outstanding gift as an organizer transformed the ensemble into a promising highly professional ballet company, which later grew into the Russian Ballet State Theater. The name itself contains the main mission of the theater - the popularization of Russian classical ballet art, the preservation of the great heritage of the Russian classical school.

Today the Russian Ballet Theater is known and loved by connoisseurs dance art not only in Moscow and the Moscow region, but also in remote regions of our country. Russian Ballet pays great attention to touring activities abroad and sees in this his contribution to the popularization of Russian ballet and increasing the prestige Russian culture in the world. Artists of the theater "Russian Ballet" are always welcome guests at the most prestigious foreign stage venues. The audience enthusiastically accepts the troupe in the countries of Europe, Northern and South America, Asia, Middle East. Having won universal recognition for its virtuosity, unique handwriting, high performing culture, the theater opens the viewer to the splendor of the world of dance, introduces the immortal spiritual heritage national and world culture.

World recognition of the "Russian Ballet" brought not only masterpieces classical choreography, but also the original works of Vyacheslav Gordeev - original, with impeccable taste of production - from choreographic miniatures to performances of different genres and styles. A rich demanded repertoire based on the traditions of the Russian classical ballet school, interesting work in modern choreographic style, high quality performance - all this determined the success that has been accompanying the theater's performances on the world's leading stages for several decades.

Most of the theater's repertoire is occupied by the classical heritage - Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Chopiniana, Scheherazade, Cipollino ". A significant part of the repertoire is made up of productions by Vyacheslav Gordeev, awarded special prize Maurice Béjart "Best Choreographer" and many other awards.

Today, the troupe of the Russian Ballet Theater includes more than seventy dancers. Among them are honored artists, participants and winners of international ballet competitions. Anna Shcherbakova, Yulia Zvyagina, Dmitry Kotermin, Maxim Fomin, Vladimir Mineev shine on the stage. The performing staff is annually replenished with young talents - graduates of the best choreographic educational institutions Russia. Artists from Japan, Italy and the USA work and undergo training in the troupe.

Artists of the Russian Ballet Theater are invited both to large foreign tours and prestigious Gala concerts, where, along with world stars, they decorate international programs with their performances, raising the authority of Russian culture.

The English newspaper "WesternMorningNews" noted: "Rarely does anyone have the good fortune to contemplate the modern talent of Russia in such brilliance." In Germany, the Russian Ballet became the owner of the Golden Ticket, which testifies to more than a hundred thousand people who visited his performances during only one tour. The theater, named by the English edition of TheJournal - "a showcase of ballet talents", was awarded the title of "Best Ballet Group in Europe" by the Association of Western European Impresario.

In Russia, the Russian Ballet Theater was awarded the prestigious national award named after Fyodor Volkov - the founder of the Russian theater.