The outstanding dancer of modern Russian ballet Nikolai Tsiskaridze has conquered the whole world with his diverse roles, charm and fantastic technique. Any of his appearances on stage evokes a standing ovation in the hall. The biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze can be briefly described by the phrase "genius of ballet." In dance, he was able to embody all the best parts of the classical and modern repertoire, his name was forever included in the list of the greatest dancers in the world.
Tsiskaridze's Georgian childhood
The biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze began in Tbilisi on the last day of 1973. His mother - Lamara Nikolaevna Tsiskaridze - was in the past a physicist at a nuclear power plant, then worked as a teacher, taught physics and mathematics. All that is known about Father Maxim Nikolaevich is that he was a violinist, but was completely absent from the child's life. The boy was raised by his mother with her new husband and nanny, who in childhood was the main person for the child. Excessive employment of parents often causes difficulties in creating their own families for children. Nikolai Tsiskaridze is such an example. The biography of an adult dancer speaks of the correctness of this conclusion, since the famous artist is still single.
Little Kolya spent almost all his time with his nanny, who by the age of 6 introduced him to Shakespeare and Tolstoy. From an early age, the boy demonstrated extraordinary artistry: he danced, played scenes, recited poetry. He was said to look like a paternal grandmother who was a French actress.
Tsiskaridze talks about his childhood with delight. He likes to remember that Tbilisi at that time was a real paradise: people dressed well, there was a lot of different food on the table, his mother took him to theaters. All this delighted Nikolai. He speaks of his mother only in excellent forms. When it became clear that the boy had undoubted talent, she changed her whole life and helped him get on his feet in the profession.
The beginning of the way
At the age of 11, Nikolai was sent to the Tbilisi Choreographic School. Although his mother, feeling sorry for the boy, at first dissuaded him from such a difficult profession. But since childhood, Kolya was distinguished by great persistence, even stubbornness, and no one was able to take him away from the chosen path. Three years later, it became clear that the talent of the young dancer was so great that Tbilisi was not enough for him, and the guy was sent to Moscow. In 1987, Tsiskaridze entered the Moscow Choreographic School and entered the class of P.A. Pestov, who had a tough teaching style. But years later, Nikolai spoke words of endless gratitude to the teacher, who was able to temper his will and character. Although Nikolai was an obvious favorite of Pestov, he did not give the student a descent, and this became an excellent school of life.
Already at the school, Tsiskaridze was significantly different in manner and technique from his classmates, so in student performances he constantly got solo parts. Nikolai Tsiskaridze, whose biography was now forever associated with ballet, graduated from the school in 1992. He continued his studies at the Moscow Choreographic Institute, where he completed his education in 1996, but here he already studied in fragments, because he began working in the theater.
The Bolshoi Theatre
Even at the graduation performance at the school, the talented young man was noticed by Yuri Grigorovich, who insisted on his invitation to the Bolshoi Theater. So, the biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze brought him to the best world theater, where he was destined to become prime minister. First, the young graduate was put in the corps de ballet, he danced the entire repertoire of the crowd, and only after that he began to receive various roles in performances. Three years after coming to the theater, Tsiskaridze already shone in the main roles in The Nutcracker, Sylphide, Paganini. The period of Tsiskaridze's work was a time of triumph for the theater, the dancer performed on tour around the world with incredible success. In total, during his work on the stage of the Bolshoi, Nikolai danced more than 40 parts in various performances.
In 2004, he began working in the theater as a teacher, and conducted choreographic classes. In total, Nikolai worked at the Bolshoi for 21 years. In 2013, the theater, due to various reasons, did not renew the contract with the artist.
Cooperation with Yuri Grigorovich
At the final exam, the chairman of the examination committee was the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theater, Yuri Grigorovich. He immediately drew attention to the textured graduate and insisted that he be enrolled in the theater troupe, although there were no places. The first performance, in which the director involved a novice dancer, was "The Golden Age", where Tsiskaridze performed the part of the entertainer. Then there was Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the French doll in The Nutcracker. With these roles, Nikolai toured with the theater in London. The choreographer looked closely at the dancer for some time and gradually began to assign him more significant roles. The brilliant performance of the parts of the Prince in The Nutcracker, Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty, Ferkhad in The Legend of Love, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake made Tsiskaridze famous, in them his multifaceted talent was fully revealed. In total, Tsiskaridze danced in 20 performances by Grigorovich. However, the relationship between artist and director was not particularly warm. But the director allowed the dancer a lot, treated him with patience and respect. However, it was Grigorovich who initiated the termination of the contract with Tsiskaridze, when he was already working as a teacher-tutor. Despite everything, Tsiskaridze always spoke with great love and respect about Grigorovich, to whom, according to him, he owes everything in life.
Two geniuses: Roland Petit and Nikolay Tsiskaridze
Tsiskaridze and Roland Petit have developed a real friendly and creative tandem. The classic of modern ballet found in Nikolay the embodiment of many of his ideas and like-minded people. Together they created outstanding performances: "The Queen of Spades", where Tsiskaridze danced Herman splendidly, and "Notre Dame Cathedral" with Nicholas as Quasimodo. The production of "Youth and Death", where Tsiskaridze shone in the role of Youth, was a real shock to the national theater in Tokyo.
Dancer's repertoire
Nikolai Tsiskaridze, whose biography is associated with classical theater, has danced all the most famous ballet parts during his career. He has such famous productions as Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Chopiniana, Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, La Bayadère.
In addition, Tsiskaridze danced with great love and talent in modern ballets, including The Queen of Spades, Love for Love, Symphony in C, and Paganini.
A special part of the dancer's repertoire is made up of one-act ballets with which he toured all over the world: "Blue God", "Narcissus", "Vision of the Rose", "Flower Festival in Genzano", "Diamonds" and others.
The biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze, whose repertoire includes more than 50 roles, was full of creative successes, he managed to dance almost all the roles that an artist could dream of. He had only one unfulfilled plan left. Not a single woman in the world has yet uttered the phrase: "My husband is Nikolai Tsiskaridze." Biography, a wife, whose children have not yet appeared, remains an unfinished project. Therefore, the dancer has the main role ahead of him - a happy husband and father.
Best performances
Critics have always highly appreciated the talent of Nikolai Tsiskaridze, many of his works have received excellent reviews. However, the best of the best are such productions as "Swan Lake" directed by Yuri Grigorovich, in which Nikolai alternately performs the roles of Prince Siegfried and the Evil Genius, the Bolshoi's classic performances "Raymonda", "Pharaoh's Daughter", "Sleeping Beauty". The most outstanding performances of Tsiskaridze are recorded on tape and preserve his talent for posterity. Among them are "Giselle", "The Vision of the Rose", "The Queen of Spades".
End of career
The biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze as a dancer ended in 2004. After that, he worked as a tutor at the Bolshoi Theater for several more years. But in 2013, he finally left the theater and worked for several years on the Kultura channel, participated in the Dancing with the Stars show as a member of the jury. Nikolai Tsiskaridze, biography, personal life, whose photo has been troubling the hearts of ladies all over the world for more than one year, continues to be interesting outside the stage. Having danced for 21 years, he believed that he could no longer do it with the same dignity as before, and was proud that no one saw him dancing badly.
Loud stories
The biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze, the artist's personal life was often accompanied by scandalous events, and this is due to his intractable nature. He always spoke the truth, and many do not like this. A lot of noise was made by Tsiskaridze's criticism of the quality of the Bolshoi Theater finish during the reconstruction. The theater staff even petitioned for the appointment of a dancer as theater director.
The story received a lot of publicity when the Bolshoi Theater decided to terminate the contract with Tsiskaridze to work as a tutor. Nikolai restored justice through the court, but in 2013 he still left the theater.
The appointment of Tsiskaridze as acting rector of the Vaganov Academy was also accompanied by great resonance, since it violated the charter of the educational institution. Several personnel changes took place and a compromise was found. Ill-wishers say that the wife of one of the country's high-ranking people was behind the scenes of the scandal. But still the artist was able to prove his worth both as a dancer and as a leader.
Academy of Russian Ballet. AND I. Vaganova
In 2013, the biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze makes a new turn: he first becomes acting, and then the rector of the Ballet Academy. Vaganova in St. Petersburg. This was the first time that it was headed by a non-graduate of an educational institution. One of the oldest ballet schools in the world has well-established rules and traditions, Tsiskaridze still had to get to know many of them. In order to adequately cope with his duties, Tsiskaridze even enters the Moscow Academy of Choreography at the Faculty of Management. Despite many doubts about whether Tsiskaridze will be able to adequately lead the oldest ballet school, he proved his worth as a rector, in 2014 the collective by a majority vote elected him to this position. He stages and restores performances for the students of the Academy, transfers his experience to young people and makes big plans to preserve the national heritage - Russian ballet.
Awards
The outstanding dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze has received a huge number of awards and prizes in his life. He is the People's Artist of Russia and North Ossetia, as well as the Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
For his roles in the ballet La Sylphide and the role of Herman in The Queen of Spades, Tsiskaridze received two Golden Mask awards. He is a Knight Commander of the French Order of Arts and Literature and the Order of St. Nino Equal to the Apostles and the Order of Honor (Georgia).
Tsiskaridze is also the owner of numerous prizes and awards, in particular, the State Prize of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Mayor Prize, the Triumph Prize, the Benois de la dance prize as the best dancer of 1999, the International Peace Prize from the United Cultural Convention of the United States “For Outstanding Personal Achievements at the benefit of the world community ”.
Nikolai Tsiskaridze: biography, personal life, wife, dreams and plans
Nikolai Tsiskaridze has been an enviable groom and famous bachelor for many years. At one time, the dancer claimed that until the age of 40 he did not intend to think about getting married, but today he is 42, and the news of the wedding has not appeared. Although from time to time the dancer assures that he is happy in his personal life, he just knows how to masterfully hide this fact. It remains only to envy the amazing ability not to flaunt the affairs of the heart, as Nikolai Tsiskaridze does. Biography, the wife of a famous artist, who does not yet exist, still leave a wide field for conjecture. Nikolai often loves to talk about the high requirements for his future life partner. And while Tsiskaridze has not found his only one, the other girls have a certain chance to settle in the heart of an ambiguous and charismatic dancer.
The dancer himself, without false modesty, declares that 21 years in the history of the Bolshoi Theater is a triumph of his art, a fait accompli, whether someone likes him or not.
The ballet star was surrounded by loud honors and no less loud scandals. In 2019, the documentary "I am not like everyone else" was released, dedicated to Tsiskaridze and shedding light on what he really stands out for. Talent, of course, cannot be taken away from Nikolai. But he is also a shockingly straightforward person who prefers not to rest on his laurels, but to fly through life.
Childhood and youth
Nikolai Maksimovich Tsiskaridze was born in the Georgian city of Tbilisi on New Year's Eve 1973. Father Maxim Nikolaevich was a violinist and did not take part in raising his son. Nikolai was brought up by his stepfather, a teacher by profession. Mom Lamara Nikolaevna also taught, her subjects were physics and mathematics. But the nanny, Ukrainian by nationality, had the greatest influence on the formation of the child's personality. It was with her that little Kolya spent the lion's share of his free time.
In order for Nikolai to develop comprehensively, from childhood he was taken to various exhibitions and theatrical performances. Thus, the boy early joined the world of high art. Nicholas' first love was the ballet Giselle.
At first, the mother and stepfather did not approve of such a child's hobby, because they expected that Kolya would follow in their pedagogical footsteps. Tsiskaridze categorically disagreed with this and decided to rebel: in 1984 he independently wrote an application for admission to the Tbilisi Choreographic School and was enrolled in the course. After enrollment, the young man told the family about the step he had taken and again came across a wall of misunderstanding on the part of his mother. Tsiskaridze's teachers convinced the parents that the boy has an exceptional talent that cannot be ignored.
It soon became clear that the Tbilisi Choreographic School was too small a foothold for such a great talent as Tsiskaridze. This happened in 1987, and almost immediately Nikolai entered the work of Peter Pestov, one of the best teachers of the Moscow Academic Choreographic School.
After 5 years, the dancer graduates with the title of the best student in the class. On this, Tsiskaridze's choreographic education did not end, and he goes to comprehend the depths of dancing at the Moscow State Choreographic Institute, from which he receives a diploma in 1996.
Theatre
After completing his studies at the Moscow school, Nikolai passed tests at the main theater of the country. There he attracted the attention of Yuri Grigorovich, who influenced the young talent to become a member of the troupe. Nikolai Simachev and Galina Ulanova became the first mentors in Bolshoi for Tsiskaridze, who later transferred him into the hands of Nikolai Fadeechev and. The latter, as the artist said, taught that within the walls of the theater one should not allow others to talk to him unceremoniously, even if they are friends.
From his youth, the dancer remembered another piece of advice from Sofia Golovkina: interviews are part of the profession, because Nikolai easily agrees to meet with the press, participates in talk shows like "The Fate of a Man" or "Alone with Everyone", he also visited Sergei Nikolaevich's studio.
Nikolay Tsiskaridze in the studio of Daria ZlatopolskayaAccording to the established ballet tradition, Nikolai Tsiskaridze launched his dance career with performances in the corps de ballet. The premiere role in 1992 was played by the Entertainer in the production of The Golden Age. In 1993 he landed the role of Don Juan in the ballet Love for Love. Then there were parties in the productions of The Nutcracker (French Doll), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Fortunet), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio).
1995 was marked in the biography of the dancer with the first major role, which was the part in The Nutcracker. The next central works for Nicholas were the role of James in the ballet "Silifida" and Paganini in the production of the same name.
In 2001, Nikolai was noted for two main roles at once in one production. Around the same time, Nikolai Tsiskaridze's creative collaboration with Roland Petit, a French ballet master, began. Petit gave Tsiskaridze the central role in The Queen of Spades on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater.
After the enormous success of Nicholas, Roland invited him to choose the next production on his own, and the dancer opted for the part in Notre Dame Cathedral.
Later Tsiskaridze had a chance to dance on the stage of the La Scala opera house. It happened at a gala concert in memory. Nikolay shared his participation in this project with the prima. The dancer continued to perform on solid stages: at the Moscow Operetta Theater, at the State Kremlin Palace and others.
Together with such famous colleagues as Angel Koreya, Ethan Stifel and Johan Kobborg, Nikolai Tsiskaridze joined the first troupe, which in 2006 presented the Kings of Dance project in America. In 2008, he again visited America on tour, but this time in the project "Stars of the XXI Century". In addition to theatrical and concert activities, Nikolai Tsiskaridze was also the hero of the documentary film “Nikolai Tsiskaridze. To be a star ... "and became a participant in one issue of the TV magazine" ".
Nikolay Tsiskaridze in the program "Alone with everyone"The dancer's contribution to art has been marked by state awards, international prizes, etc. Nikolai was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia and People's Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia.
Scandals
In the fall of 2011, Tsiskaridze expressed an ambiguous opinion about the six-year restoration of the Bolshoi Theater. The dancer was extremely dissatisfied with the interior decoration of both the stage and the rest of the design.
In November 2012, a collective letter from cultural figures was sent to the president, in which they asked for the resignation of the current head of the Bolshoi Theater A. Iksanov and the appointment of Tsiskaridze to this position. And already in January 2013, he became involved in a scandal around the artistic director of the Bolshoi.
The essence of the scandal was the attempt on the Owl, who was splashed with acid in his face. These and other nuances led to the fact that the Bolshoi Theater refused to renew the contract with Tsiskaridze, and on July 1, 2013, the dancer left him.
Scandal at the Bolshoi TheaterIn the same year, in October, Nikolai found himself involved in another conflict, but now at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. Violating the rules of the charter, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation introduced Nikolai Tsiskaridze to the staff of the Academy as the new acting rector.
A number of personnel changes took place, and in November 2013, the teaching staff of the educational institution, together with the ballet troupe of the Mariinsky Theater, turned to the Ministry of Culture with a request to reconsider Tsiskaridze's appointment and the subsequent personnel reshuffles. And yet, a year later, Nikolai Tsiskaridze was approved as the rector of the Academy of Russian Ballet and became the first director who did not graduate from this educational institution.
The dancer began his teaching career at the Bolshoi Theater in the mid-2000s. One of the first students is the current prime minister Artem Ovcharenko. In 2 years Tsiskaridze brought the young man to become a soloist, and in 2009 Artem went to another teacher.
Nikolay later, in the program "Looking at Night", accused the former ward of inciting an information war, of unwillingness to engage in self-education. Ovcharenko, for his part, emphasized that he preferred a mentor who was close in spirit, who saw the difference between a dancer and an artist.
Personal life
The dancer himself notes that due to the complexity and severity of his character, he does not envy his loved ones, but in a harsh theatrical environment with a different character there is nothing to do.
The personal life of a ballet star is little covered, but Nikolai does not deny that he, like any normal person, had love and affection. The absence of a wife and children provoked rumors about the artist's unconventional orientation. Tsiskaridze responds to such attacks with the words:
“I'm not interested in what you think of me. I do not think about you at all".
The famous person's friends are no less famous and, and Natalya Kurdyubova. The premier came into the house, which was well versed in ballet. And with Natalia Gromushkina, they even attributed novels to him.
“If I want to talk to someone, I will call or write. I do not want this to be made public. Moreover, if I would like to express my opinion, I am able to express it. But I would not want to waste time. "Nikolay Tsiskaridze in the program "The Fate of a Man"
Leaving the stage, Tsiskaridze was glad that at last he could eat whatever he wanted. Later, with a smile, he admitted that he "eats like a locomotive" and had to refuse food after 4 pm. Now, as a teacher, he gives the same advice to the students of the Vaganov Academy.
The dancer's height is 183 cm, although Nikolai considered himself short in comparison with his colleagues. Harmonious proportions are more important, and in this case the artist felt a certain peculiarity while still in his student days. In a lesson in fine arts, the young man met 99% of the standards adopted centuries ago, when sizes and distances were measured with palms and fingers.
Nikolay Tsiskaridze now
The main gift for the anniversary - in December 2018, Nikolai celebrated his 45th birthday - the artist called a photo shoot for the glossy edition of GQ. On the cover of the magazine, Tsiskaridze is depicted with a swan in his arms, in a similar way he starred 20 years ago, which the fans of the dancer did not fail to note.
However, according to Nikolai, the Hollywood celebrity is not the first one who has a noble bird resting its head on its shoulder. Being a person well aware of the history of ballet, Tsiskaridze said that a photo was published in the same style at the beginning of the 20th century. The ballerina starred with the swan Jack, who lived on her estate. Nikolai had to climb into the fountain in front of the Bolshoi Theater.
In January 2019, the Vaganova Academy, headed by Nikolai Tsiskaridze, went on tour to Japan. It is known that the inhabitants of this country love ballet like no other. Tickets for performances in which children dance, but with the skill of adults, sold out a month before the arrival of the troupe. Every 3 years, the Academy brings new performances to the Land of the Rising Sun, this time they gave The Fairy of Dolls, The Nutcracker and the 3rd act of Paquita.
Projects
- "The Legend of Love"
- "La Bayadere"
- Chopiniana
- "Kings of the Dance"
- "Fallen Angel"
- "Giselle"
- "The death of a rose"
- "Nutcracker"
- "Corsair"
- "Swan Lake"
- "A dream in a summer night"
Nikolai Tsiskaridze is a very famous ballet dancer, who is known not only in the Russian Federation and neighboring countries, but also far beyond its borders. When he went on tour to other countries, ballet lovers went to the ballet solely to admire his talent.
He made it to the scandalous news bulletin more than once due to his adherence to principles and confidence in the rightness. His personal life is not known, since Nikolai Tsiskaridze declares that one cannot talk about plans, his lovers and his family. These topics are forbidden for everyone, therefore, a mass of gossip about him is born in the press, which they do not confirm or refute.
Height, weight, age. How old is Nikolai Tsiskaridze
Recently, a lot of gossip and idle, in his opinion, conjectures have arisen about Nikolai Tsiskaridze, therefore the inhabitants of the immense Russian Federation are interested in everything connected with this popular person, including such data as: height, weight, age, how old is Nikolai Tsiskaridze. The ballet dancer looks incredibly impressive on stage. He is fit and slender. His weight is only 58 kg with a height of 183 cm. Nikolai Tsiskaridze noted that his slenderness is not a merit of nature, but thanks to his constant restrictions on food and ballet classes.
Nikolai Tsiskaridze celebrated his 43rd birthday on New Year's Eve. He believes that now everything is just beginning in his destiny. All ballet lovers who wish the ballet dancer and excellent teacher health and long years of life and creativity fully agree with him.
Biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze. Is he blue? Gay orientation is life
The biography of Nikolai Tsiskaridze began in Tbilisi in 1973. The boy became very interested in dolls as a child, showing with their help performances for relatives and neighbors. This was facilitated by a visit to the performance of the puppet theater. Obraztsov, who arrived on tour in the capital of the Georgian SSR, where Nikolai lived. By the way, this hobby continues to this day. Nikolay collects dolls from different countries, of which there are currently more than three hundred in his collection.
But his favorite dances have always occupied a special place in the life of Nikolai Tsiskaridze. He decides to become a ballet dancer, entering the choreographic school of the city of Tbilisi at the age of 11. Many said that his height was a hindrance to dancing, but Nikolai managed to convince everyone of his outstanding talent. After his studies, he continued at the Moscow Academic School, studying with P.A. Pestov himself. Nikolai showed his extraordinary talent in his student years by dancing the most difficult parts. For example, the pas de deux from the ballet "Flower Festival in Genzano".
The young ballet dancer became a scholar of the New Names International Charitable Program. Since 1992 he began to work at the Bolshoi Theater, where he was invited by Yu.N. Grigorovich. The creative path at that time was not easy, but Nikolai remembers with gratitude his mentors, especially noting Galina Sergeevna Ulanova and Nikolai Romanovich Simachev. In parallel with his work, Nikolai Tsiskaridze received higher education, studying at the department for ballet dancers of the Moscow State Choreographic Institute. After that, she participated in a number of prestigious international competitions. The artist becomes famous not only for admirers of ballet art in the Russian Federation, but all over the world.
In 2001 and 2003 he was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation, and he became the owner of the prestigious Golden Mask award three times. In 2011, our hero became an adviser to the President of the Russian Federation on culture and art.
Due to a conflict with the leadership of the Bolshoi Theater, Nikolai Tsiskaridze leaves his troupe in March 2013, as they refused to renew the contract with him.
Later he was appointed rector of the St. Petersburg Academy of Russian Ballet, although initially the staff of this educational institution was against. But Nikolai proved that he is talented even in managerial activities.
The famous baller participates in a number of projects on television, showing that he is strict, but fair.
Personal life of Nikolai Tsiskaridze
Nikolai Tsiskaridze, according to rumors, has a negative attitude to the feeling of love, believing that it interferes with real art. Therefore, it gave rise to a number of gossip. In the media, you can sometimes read Nikolai Tsiskaridze: personal life, gay or not. This is how the newspaper and magazine press tries to attract attention to itself. He is homosexual, the tabloids claimed, pointing out that his orientation was different from that of most men. It was attributed that he was in connection with Nikolai Baskov, but these data were not confirmed.
The personal life of Nikolai Tsiskaridze is a subject of controversy.
Nikolai Tseskaridze's wife
The artist himself declares that everything is good and harmonious in her. Some journalists saw him happy in a relationship with Anastasia Volochkova, but this also turned out to be gossip.
Because if someone thinks that the wife of Nikolai Tseskaridze - Anastasia Volochkova - is not true.
Nikolai Tsiskaridze says that a real man should get married after 40 years, which he is going to do. True, he is very demanding about the choice of the future chosen one.
The family of Nikolai Tsiskaridze
Now all the artist's free time is devoted to creativity and training of young ballet dancers. He declares that someday the family of Nikolai Tsiskaridze will exist, but for now he is alone. Although he does not consider himself a popular artist and teacher, he considers his many students his family, whom he helps in their hard work with advice. True, many say that Tsiskaridze is a very demanding teacher for his students. But he makes the same demands on himself, even more so.
Nikolai Tsiskaridze does not like to remember his parents. His mother passed away very early, having lost the fight with a serious illness. The development of the disease was facilitated by work at the Obninsk nuclear plant. Nikolai worries that she was not happy for her son. He is sure that in heaven she is worried about him and protects him from various troubles.
Little is known about Nikolai Tsiskaridze's father. He is a violinist, removed from the life of his son, even when he was little. Nikolai believes that he does not need to communicate with a loved one and his family, and they do not make any attempts in this direction.
Children of Nikolai Tsiskaridze
The popular dancer has absolutely no worries about children. He believes that his children may appear in the very near future, but so far he is busy looking for a wife. For each applicant, the artist makes demands that none of the young ladies meets. He believes that if he has children, he will just be a crazy father. His child will be able to fully appreciate the love and care.
The children of Nikolai Tsiskaridze are participants in the Blue Bird competition for creative children. The famous dancer has been a member of the jury of the competition for three seasons, evaluating the participants honestly and fairly. He helps many of the participants after the project to fulfill their dream of becoming real artists.
Instagram and Wikipedia Nikolai Tsiskaridze
A popular artist in the field of ballet art recently began to conduct a vigorous activity on social networks, so Nikolai Tsiskaridze has pages on Instagram and Wikipedia. A small number of users are subscribed to them, but their number is growing relentlessly.
There are mainly presented various episodes from the ballet creative activity of Tsiskaridze. There are very few pictures. Almost all the content of the site is video materials telling about the ballet life of the artist.
Many photos and videos generate heated discussions among users. In addition, you can also read the comments left by account subscribers. The Instagram page is of interest to everyone who is a fan of ballet and the dancer himself. Beginner dancers will be able to see fragments of the rehearsal process showing a variety of steps and movements, which will help them to improve their talent.
“With the transition from the small stage to the big one, many careers will fly. These artists won't be able to dance there. They will not take a huge space with energy, the scale of the individual will not be enough, ”says people's Artist of Russia Nikolai Tsiskaridze.
AiF met with the Bolshoi Ballet King and discussed the most pressing problems of art and our life.
Cut through the cubature
"AiF": - Everyone is now living in anticipation of the opening of the Bolshoi Theater after a grand renovation. What do you think this will change in the life of the Bolshoi Theater? You once mentioned that the big stage will reveal who is worth what.
Nikolay Tsiskaridze:- Yes. With the transition from the small stage to the big one, many careers will fly. These artists won't be able to dance there. They will not take a huge space with energy, the scale of the individual will not be enough. There is such a "thickness" and "cubic capacity" of air that you should be able to "cut through" them. Even many eminent artists have failed. When Sarah Brightman and Jose Karerras gave a concert on the old stage of the Bolshoi, the difference was immediately felt. Brighton screamed, screamed ... At the half-concert, something happened to her voice and Carreras finished singing alone.
The stage of the Bolshoi Theater worked wonders only with those who were individuals. When I saw Ekaterina Maksimova for the first time in my life, I was shocked. Next to me, a 13-year-old boy, she seemed just a crumb. When I was little, I saw her only on the other side of the ramp and was sure that she was a very large woman. The scale of the personality was so gigantic that, being a graceful, fragile woman, she seemed big on stage. And there were people much taller than Ekaterina Sergeevna, but just pygmies on the stage.
"AiF": - Well, and personally, with what feelings do you expect to return to the big stage?
N. Ts .: - (Sad) Honestly, I don't believe in it at all. It is unlikely that I will have to return to my career ... I want to see not only the walls, I want to make sure that something is functioning there. Remember what happened recently? Around the construction site, and in one hall they sang. But it is located in that part of the building that was not demolished, this hall was not demolished, it was as it was, it is, it was only plastered again, redecorated ... And the stage does not exist. It needs to be rebuilt. Therefore, I want to see with my own eyes the veracity of the words of those who claim that it will open soon. The question is not that I love someone, and someone does not. It's just that I, like a monkey in a cartoon, do not like “hello”. I don't feel it. And I feel "bananas". I don't like promises. I love specific actions.
"AiF": - Has it often happened in your life that you were promised something, and then did not keep your word?
N. Ts .:- In this regard, I am not a very gullible person. Sometimes I am advised: “Trying is not torture. Go see. Chat. " I walk and ... in the first three bars of the conversation I understand that I am wasting my time here. The man is cute, wonderful trying to hang noodles on my ears. And I just feel if they tell me the truth or not.
"AiF":- You said in one interview that, entering the Bolshoi, you spend a lot of energy on resistance, because here many would gladly cut you off. It was a few years ago. Is it the same now?
N. Ts .:“Everyone here feels this way. It's just that my arrival in the Bolshoi fell on the period of clannishness. Then there were a lot of children of the mighty of this world - our ballet world. I was told that I have no chance: I do not belong to any of the dynasties, not a matchmaker, not a relative, not a son, all the more. But I broke through. When this happened, at first the "dynasties" wanted to push me. Slowly, time itself put everything in its place. They themselves disappeared.
But recently there has been such a trend: you can call and ask for someone. Even a monkey can be promoted with the help of the media for a short time. This has not been practiced before. Today we have a number of artists who are purposefully buying press and TV shows. Eminent choreographers are paid big money to stage performances with these dancers. But in ballet, opera, in great classical music, it is impossible to be a thug. You have to go on stage and show the level. It is necessary to hold the hall for 2.5-3 hours. Recently, our audience gets up and leaves in the middle of the performance. They are simply not interested.
"AiF": - Did you leave your performances too?
N. Ts .: - No. But, unfortunately, I am not the only one participating in performances. I'm part of a big action. Now the attitude towards ballet has changed a lot. Previously, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet was the head of the entire Soviet ballet. A sort of national post. When the Soviet Union existed, there was one choreographic school in Moscow. Now it's 5 or 6. They issue the same diploma as mine. And, whoever you ask, everyone's red! Only I received these "crusts" for knowledge. And you ask them: "Name three ballets by Tchaikovsky," they cannot answer. And I even suggest that there are three of them! What is the red diploma here? And there is no person who can come to this educational institution and say: "You have no right to teach." There is no discipline. Nobody bears any responsibility. Ivan Ivanovich says that Vasily Petrovich is to blame, Vasily Petrovich says that Mikhail Nikolaevich is to blame. And so all the time.
"AiF": - As I understand it, you are for the monarchy in art?
N. Ts .:- Democracy is wonderful as a state system. But in art it cannot be. Only absolute monarchy is needed here. But it must be reasonable. The person who is at the head must be a professional A great professional. And great authority. And a strategist, of course. But, unfortunately, we do not have a smell of strategy. At the moment, at the Bolshoi Theater, at best, there is one good composer, we are using and replicating it. I am bitter that the Bolshoi Theater now goes on tour to major theaters around the world mainly during the holiday season. But there are no Londoners in London at this time, only tourists ... This reduces the importance of the tour.
A huge problem is ripe. All those who can dance princes first-class, either in their thirties or over 30. There are no young dancers not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg. they are not found anywhere. 8 years ago I came to our leadership: “People, wake up! There is a demographic crisis at the Bolshoi Theater, we will soon have no one to put on roles! " In response, they told me that I was a bastard, a brawler and I wanted to attract attention to myself. Lately, I have not said anything. I just spread my hands. "Nikolai, advise." - “I advised 8 years ago. And you pretended not to hear. " Professionals see everything in advance, but those who sit in their offices do not see anything and do not want to see. They just want everything to be quiet and calm.
About poverty and patriotism
"AiF": - Recently I was in the Russian provinces and was amazed: most people there think only about making ends meet. And, to forget, "fill their eyes" with vodka.
N. Ts .: - We need to re-read classical works to understand what is happening. In Bulgakov's "Heart of a Dog" Professor Preobrazhensky says: "If I, Darya Petrovna and Zina urinate past the toilet, then our toilet will be ruined." Gentlemen, those who DRINK and do not want to work live in poverty.
"AiF": - I do not agree, not only drunks live in poverty. For example, my dad worked as a military journalist all his life and held a high position in Soviet times. He is now a pensioner. His pension is exactly enough to pay for utilities.
N. Ts .:- Will you tell me ?! Do you want me to enter into dialogue? I get the highest pension ceiling. I have a substantial accumulation fund, except for the Bolshoi Theater, the Mariinsky Theater, I served on television, and so on. And they gave me 9.5 thousand rubles. Tell me, what can you buy with this money in the center of Moscow?
"AiF": - Well ... The shoes are not bad.
N. Ts .:- Shoes! And what's next? Licking them for a whole month ?! At the Olympics, during the hockey games of our team, all Western commentators said: “Why should Russian guys try to strain if they have been serving in the NHL for a long time? They are afraid of losing a life-long contract, which in the West promises them huge amounts of money. It is better for them to play well there, and then live in peace. " It's true! I, being the most titled artist in my generation, which is in ballet, struggling all my life, representing our country in the world's best theaters, I just get a mocking pension! In this situation, it is very strange to talk about patriotism ...
"AiF": - By the way, about patriotism. You are Georgian, but you live in Russia. Recently, Georgian television staged a provocation and showed a story: Russian troops invaded Georgia, Saakashvili was killed. At the beginning of the program, it was written in small print that this was just an assumption of what could be. But people did not notice this, panic and heart attacks began. How do you perceive such things?
N. Ts .:- It's too painful for me. When I hear that something is wrong in Georgia, I get very upset. I can’t do anything, except to be indignant, to say that this is outrageous and the TV channel that did this should be closed. When the Soviet Union collapsed and Georgia became a different state, my mother and I became citizens of different countries on the same day. It was very hard to realize it. When I visited my mother in Georgia, it was clear from my conversation that Russian was the main language for me. In transport, they rushed at me, started giving lectures, yelling, they say, how I have the right to speak this canine language. All this was completely incomprehensible to me, because I grew up in a city in which there have never been national problems.
I don't know any of the current rulers. Familiar with only one person. This is Grigory Vashadze, the husband of our former ballerina Nina Ananiashvili. When I was told that he had become foreign minister, I replied: “Well, everything is clear. Nothing good will happen. " I just know how dishonest this person is. Everyone at our Bolshoi Theater knows him.
"AiF": - You said that you serve on television. But earlier you said that you serve the Bolshoi Theater.
N. Ts .:- I serve the Bolshoi Theater. But for the sixth season I am the official host of Kultura. Last year they told me there: "Nikolai, you are the face of the channel." - "Yes? What didn't you tell me before? It is so sweet!". I am a person who appears on the TV screen once a week. Therefore ... of course I serve!
“AiF”: - Do you think television activities, participation in musicals help popularize ballet? Many accuse you: "Tsiskaridze is promoting himself in this way."
N. Ts .: - What kind of PR are we talking about? Remember, earlier in every kiosk of the Soyuzpechat postcards, posters, calendars with photographs of all the stars of the Bolshoi Theater were sold. They were popularized as astronauts. Ballet and opera dancers took part in such programs as "Morning Mail", "Kinopanorama", "Musical Kiosk". It's strange why everyone thinks that it was possible for them, but we shouldn't ?!
Now some of our artists have press agents who call TV and radio and ask: "Invite them to the program." In my 18 years of service at the Bolshoi, I NEVER called any channel and said: "Invite me." Or "Why did you not start the plot with me, but let it go with Ivan Ivanovich." Unlike so many people who surround me. My appearance on TV is always a program initiative. Let's say the same "Dancing with the Stars." When the show was done for the first time, I was persuaded to take part. I refused: I had contracts so signed that I did not fall under their schedule. When the first "Ice" was being made, I was told: "Set the days when you can, and then we will negotiate with all the other members of the jury." Once the Bolshoi Theater needed my participation where I was not appointed. So the TV company bought tickets for me so that I managed to fly in, dance, get on the plane and return to shooting. Because they were interested in me. It is impossible not to respect it ... When you are treated like that, you do many things out of respect for these people.
As for the musical ... At least, I can say for sure: after it, a huge number of young people first came to the Bolshoi. I was pleased when one day I left the theater and three girls came up to me: “We heard that the premiere of the ballet Bolt is coming soon, can you help us buy cheaper tickets?” I was very glad of their interest, although I did not participate in this performance. I was pleased that they went to musicals and suddenly decided to go to the ballet.
"Responsibility keeps in shape"
“AiF”: - Nikolay, what are your everyday life at the Bolshoi busy with?
N. Ts.: - I dance my own repertoire, I also have to prepare performances with students. Now with Angelina Vorontsova we are rehearsing "Sleeping Beauty", a very difficult ballet for a woman. She is only 18 years old.
"AiF": - And why "forced"?
N. Ts .:- Took responsibility. And if I do not finish something to the end, it excruciates me. Coming to class in the morning is my victory every time. But I force myself to get up early: I am responsible to people and have to teach the lesson. If only my life depended on it, I would reason like this: "I won't go today, I'll lie down better." Responsibility has always kept me in shape.
Dossier
Nikolay Tsiskaridzewas born in 1973 in Tbilisi. He graduated from the Moscow Academic Choreographic School and was immediately accepted into the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. Premier of the Bolshoi Ballet, People's Artist of Russia, Chevalier of the Order of the French Republic "For Merit in Art and Literature", Chevalier of the Order of Honor of Georgia, multiple winner of the State Prize of Russia.
September 10, 2012, 21:07Not new, but very interesting interview of Nikolai Tsiskaridze to Vladimir Pozner. In my opinion, one of the best episodes of this program. Since the entire interview did not fit, I cut it a little. ______________________________________________________________________________ I read somewhere that you don't have a car. No, I have a car, but I don't know how to drive - a driver drives me. And I wanted to ask, did you come by metro? I use public transport regularly, as the Bolshoi Theater is located in the center. And when public holidays begin (and the Bolshoi Theater never rests on public holidays), then I can’t get into my service if I don’t use the metro. Are you recognized on the subway? They will, of course. In general, TV does wonders. You also own the famous phrase that thanks to television, even a horse's butt can be promoted. Unfortunately it's true. And to be honest, I do not envy people who ... Let's say I do not envy Hollywood artists at all. This, it seems to me, is some kind of heavy burden. It is the first 10 days that I am glad that you were recognized, that they took your autograph. And then sometimes, when you come across some elementary things, when you don't want to be looked at, right now, but they still look at you ... But this is part of the profession, you must agree. Sure. I want to tell you that ballet dancers know better than anyone what part of the profession, bowing and recognizability in the sense that they teach us to bow from childhood. And they always explain (good teachers) that this is a mandatory program, that a nice bow, leaving the stage and going on stage is a very important thing. Georgian wisdom says: "A man should do three things in his life - build a house, grow a tree and raise a son." Is it worth striving for or does everyone have their own goals? What, in your opinion, should be the basis, without which it is impossible to build, grow and educate? It seems to me that there is still such a thing as fate, and not every person is probably destined to accomplish what he wants. There are many things that we do not decide. This is the first thing. The second point: in my opinion, of course, these beautiful phrases are very important. But the most difficult dilemma and, as practice and history show, is to remain human. For me, this is a very important moment, especially recently, when the beautiful words "freedom" and "democracy" ... Or rather, it immediately became clear to everyone in different ways. And lately I have been in the theater, since I am, after all, a socially theatrical person, I am faced with such terrible manifestations that every time I face a dilemma, make a choice, do this or that. And in all this, being human is much more important for me. And then - how it goes. You see, I grew up in a family in which no one could ever imagine that I would dance, especially in ballet. And suddenly it happened. It was a chain of events that lined up in this beautiful word "fate". Now I think - indeed, fate. You perfectly understand that ballet life cannot last forever. And the young, more talented, perhaps, always come to replace them. Please tell me what are you going to do after? Firstly, I have been working as a teacher-tutor at the Bolshoi Theater for 7 years. I got to the theater and immediately very great people who were much older than me drew attention to me, my teacher Marina Timofeevna Semenova (I was 18 years old) told me: "Kolka, we need to prepare for retirement." Then it seemed silly and humor. And now I understand: God, thank you, and how smart she is. She made me study, go to college, graduate. Another thing is that teaching work is very cheap. Your expenditure of effort and the equivalent of payment cannot be compared. Therefore, living on this, of course, is very difficult. I don't know what will happen to me when I stop dancing. I mean dance how? Classical ballet. I have the role of princes and young men in love. There is an age when you are already funny in a white leotard with a romantic expression on your face. There are other roles to be done, but not classic princes. How do you feel about such a phenomenon as public participation in politics of people representing the world of culture? Have you ever participated in the signing of letters? Were you offered to become a member of the party and so on? "I am about this ... I can not say that it is bad, but not positive. If you are involved in something, you have to be consistent and do it honestly to the end. I do not understand the dancers deputies, singing deputies. Because whenever they show the hall of the State Duma, they are not there. And I think, since they really influence our life for our money, we pay taxes so that they live well, and they don’t do not do the moment, sorry. That I do not really understand. I have never been offered to become a member of the party, I think that everyone understands very well, probably know my opinion on this score. And to sign any letters, appeals? If I ever signed something, any letter, it was someone's support for a title or to give an apartment (smiles) ... When I was really agitated to join - it was a conflict between Georgia and Russia - this is a very slippery topic, especially for me. Being an ethnic Georgian, I immediately said that artists have no right to say anything at all, especially those who live in this country. You once said about your choice like this: “I just liked it and wanted a fairy tale in life. I never saw what is being done behind the scenes, how all this is being prepared. If I were an artistic child, I would never go to ballet 100% knowing what's behind the scenes. " Question: but, after all, you should have learned early enough about the seamy side of this tough profession? Why didn't you change your mind? Mom was categorically against ballet. When I got into ballet, my mother and I had such an agreement that I chose it myself. We had very funny when she said for a long time that "no, no, no", and I once heard that her grandfather (when it was necessary so that no one understood, especially I did not understand, they switched to Georgian , because I didn't speak very well in my childhood) said: "Lamara, don't forget that you are a woman and nobody cares about your opinion here." And I really liked this phrase. And when I said it at the age of ten, when my mother was telling me something, I said: "In the end, mother, do not forget that you are a woman, and this is my life and no one here cares about your opinion." I need to tell you such a thing, you know, she did not scold me for it, although I thought that everything would be done now. She told me: "Good. But bear in mind, you will bear the responsibility." And when I understood all this, I was probably already 13 years old. And I really wanted to leave. It was very difficult. And I remember that I stood somehow, thought and thought: "No, if I confess now, my mother will say to me:" Well? Couldn't? I was right. ”I thought:“ No, I can. ”This vanity pulled me out then, although I can tell you that I never regretted that I went down this road. True, the Lord God gave me the ability But the attitude, so we agreed with my mother from the first minute that I would try to be the first. Once you said about the performance “It's just that the burden is not sweet. I dream that it will end faster. "Do you flirt when you say this? No. Do you know what I felt once? I was very surprised. The ballet" La Bayadere ", the most difficult thing in my profession is classical ballet, because it is the highest hypostasis of how for a musician to play Tchaikovsky's concerto and play it for 40 years at this level, at which it manifested itself for both the violinist and the pianist. The same is for us, for classical dancers: in the third act the most difficult movements, you are already the fourth hour in concentration, you two acts before that both danced and ran, and God knows what you did, you are already tired, but you every time we must win this Olympics. He won the Olympics with athletes once, and you are an Olympic champion forever. And ballet dancers confirm their Olympics every performance. They again have to jump over the bar 5 meters 50 centimeters or raise it. And if you go down, everyone shouts: "Akella missed!" The ballet "La Bayadere" was on, there was an exit of shadows - remember this famous one? And for a dancer, one of the most difficult places begins after this exit. And usually when this comes out ... And each performance is subconsciously like that of Pavlov's dog: this beat begins the music - I know that I have to get up, crumple, this beat of music - I have to jump, because I now go out and really plow on the stage. I sit, watch them go down from the wings, it's insanely beautiful, I sit and think: "I wonder if someone invented such a machine that is connected to the brain, and would conduct an experiment that when a person looked at his guillotine and, now, now they would connect to me, it would probably be the same. " Feels like. And, you know, it happens that spring is the most difficult for us or autumn, when the weather often changes, when there is pressure. And all this ... And you have to spin in the air, you have to land exactly in position every time - this is classical ballet. And you have no right to make a mistake, there is no second take. And I sit and think, "Lord, what a nightmare." Here I am from this responsibility. Because everyone came, yes, the man from the TV, the famous Tsiskaridze. The program says: national, international, such prizes, such prizes. Yes, I have something to be proud of. I have to justify it. And every time you have to justify that you are exactly the person who deserves it all. Once we were sitting with Volodya Spivakov and Sati, his wife began to say: “Volodya, you don’t want to play this, you don’t want to play it”. I say: "Lord, as I understand him." Because he said: "I can't ... Not play - I can't play. From this responsibility, that, God forbid, there won't be one note, even the wrong one." Because he is Spivakov. I'm not tired of going on stage, I love it all very much. I'm tired of the responsibility that I have to endorse this brand. I think every great artist or professional will tell you. When you hit the Big, you immediately stood out. You talked about what they think, how to devour each other. What is it like? How to live with it? And in general, what is it? Especially characteristic of ballet? This is very characteristic of ballet for one reason. The deadline is compressed. You have very little time. If it’s a happy time in a drama theater… You didn’t play Chatsky, you couldn’t become Molchalin, but then you play Famusov and you will sound. There are many artists, here is the famous actress (I don't remember her last name) who plays Miss Marple in the English TV series. How old did she become a superstar? And so on and so forth. In ballet - no, only up to 23 years old. At 23, you should already be a world star for a great career. And that's all. Nothing will work for you. Therefore, it is concentrated here. As for any complexities, you know, I know one thing. That any theatrical collective, or collective at a factory, or anywhere else, is a model of our world. Basically, this is Darwin, this is natural selection. If you don't eat, you will be eaten. You remember, there was a rather ironic song "But we make rockets and blocked the Yenisei, and also in the field of ballet we are ahead of the rest." It's true? Were you ahead of the rest? We must always make a footnote when we recall these lines. We are ahead of the rest in classical ballet. We have no equal, and there can be no equal. To this day? To this day. Even the French who created the ballet? Yes. They lost it. We returned it to them, thanks to Diaghilev's enterprise, thanks to the revolution, when, indeed, a huge number of talents fled from here, not only in the field of ballet, in general. We returned everything there. But why do we not and cannot be equal? Because dance is taught here, purposefully this system has existed since 1738. Anna Ioannovna signed this decree and created this school, do you understand? From this moment. We admire the lawn in England with you. Yes, it has been cut for 300 years. And we have been raised for 300 years. This system has paid off - how many brilliant artists have grown? In classical ballet. No matter what? But we want to kill it. Our society. Because the Ministry of Education is now issuing very terrible laws that all musical, theatrical, and choreographic institutions should be accepted without competition - whoever came, we should take everyone, teach from the age of 15, because this is child abuse. It is impossible to explain that the pianist's hand should be placed from the age of five, that the legs should be placed in ballet, preferably from the age of 9-10. And now there is a big scandal. All art workers have already written a letter to the President, the Prime Minister, and I personally wrote a letter to the President, writing in general when all these theater schools were established. Choral education is unique only in our country and in Austria. We have it for 500 years. Choreographic education is almost 300 years old. Drama theater, education ... The fact is that drama education came out of our school, at first we were all taught together. It has existed somewhere for 150 years. But to be honest, more ... And all the music conservatories are 200 years old. Why should we destroy this? Not the Ministry of Education, people who have never played the violin, danced, or sang should dictate to us how to teach children, how many hours. This should be done by professionals, stars who really play, dance, sing at the most important venues in the world. And our country can boast of it like no other, right? If we are already in the Olympics - sometimes we are simply ashamed to talk about our results, then in art we really win everyone in general. True, we run the risk of losing everything to China soon. But, unfortunately, we have not been heard yet. This is a very big problem. I spoke, I already went to the Ministry of Education, I went to the collegium when there was a collegium of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education and even went to the Duma. But we haven’t been heard yet. I was as a private person, as an artist. They ignore it for now. They don't say anything at all, don't even answer, right? How do you understand this? It cannot be that these are people who want to destroy our ballet. Do you know what I think is going on? That people who write laws when their children study abroad, hypothetically, do not associate their future with this country. They don't care how the rest of the kids learn. I am sure that if we had some kind of law that all those who adopt legislative drafts and so on, develop them, are obliged that their relatives must serve in the army, must study in our country, only in ours, then this system is slowly being improved. Do you know why in very difficult years our school, the choreographic school was in a perfect state until the last day? First, Tanya Andropova (Andropov's granddaughter) studied. And then Ksyusha Gorbacheva studied. And our school even in the most difficult times, when there was nowhere, we could eat normal food in the buffet. We had cleanliness, you have no idea what. And so on. It was very important. These little details ... All my life I will be kneeling before the grave of Raisa Maksimovna, who regularly came to our school and checked how the children live here. Yes, we were on the list. There is no President and Queen, before whom I did not dance as a child, and my fellow students and so on. Because they brought everyone to us, they boasted about this school. By the way, about the French school. The French school - yes, it has been around longer. But it now exists following the example of the Russian one. And if the Russian state can afford to teach children the piano (after all, we are finishing the eight-year musical period in parallel), the French do not teach this at all. If we study acting very seriously, I was personally taught by the Moscow Art Theater teacher, Sasha Vasilyev's mother Gulevich-Vasilyeva. Alexander Vasiliev, who deals with fashion? Yes. His mother was a professor at the Moscow Art Theater School and the Moscow Art Theater. They cannot afford to learn characteristic dance to the extent that we teach. And we have an amazing system. And instead of 8 years they teach 5. Do you understand? This is the most important school in the world after the Russian one. The whole world wants to study here, and pays money, travels and studies in order to grow in this system. And for some reason we want to break it. If we break this, we will no longer be ahead in the field of classical ballet. Of course, we are lagging behind in many things, what is called modern. Not that they fell behind. We just lived behind the fence for 70 years, we did not know what was there. Like Andersen in The Ugly Duckling: the world extends to the fence, and from the fence through the pastor's meadow. And no one knew what was behind the pastor's meadow. So we found out now. But we cannot take everything at once. You have just spoken many times about abroad. Baryshnikov, Godunov, Nuriev, Timofeeva are the loudest, one might say, defectors who got the opportunity there to reveal their talent the way they wanted, but besides, earn much more than they earned here. Weren't you attracted to? That they pay us as much in practice, the collective, as they do. And the difference today is in one thing, that they have a social package, insurance, unlike us, is very serious. We are not protected from anything, it's true. Another point. I'm talking about myself now. You spoke about Baryshnikov, about Godunov. Timofeeva, firstly, did not leave - she left after she finished her dancing career. Unfortunately, Godunov did not succeed in the West. It didn't work out. He acted in films. It didn't work out. Baryshnikov and Nuriev ... Yes. But they did it very cleverly. And then Nureyev, you know, besides the fact that, of course, he is a great talent and was an amazing artist, he was also an amazing manager. Every time, when interest in him dropped (this is evidenced by everything), he locked himself in the toilet of the plane and started shouting that the KGB officers were on the plane and wanted to steal him. Read the press. Right there on the front pages of the whole world - again interest in him. He was a genius in this regard. And he very correctly disposed of the glory that he got. Have you ever wanted to? .. As for me. Since I studied at a Moscow school, we always went out. I came to America, France, Japan, I always saw three layers of the population - how the aristocracy and politicians live, and we always saw emigration, because it invited us in one way or another. And there were already free times, perestroika, we were allowed to communicate with them. And I saw how ordinary people live, especially in America. Ordinary. And I realized one thing: that I don't want to be an immigrant. How do you feel about humility? I will answer you with a phrase from a French play that modesty adorns a person who has no other adornment. Marcel Proust has several questions for you - try to answer them briefly. What is the trait you most dislike about yourself? Incontinence. And in others? Untidiness and dishonesty. What quality do you value most in a man? Decency in relation to the word "man" is decency. One must remain a man in all actions. And in a woman? Wit. When and where were you most happy, can you remember? Yes. I was very happy when I got to the Grand Opera. Because then it was a breakthrough. For 10 years they did not invite anyone from Russia at all, and I was the first to come. What do you regret the most? I'm sorry? You know, sometimes I regret that I didn’t have time to say or do, probably, those actions in front of those people who left. That I learned a lot later. I lost everyone very early. You know, when a person who is, say, 60 years old says this is one thing. But I lost everyone very early. I couldn't understand a lot then - that's what I'm sorry about. What do you consider your main weakness? I am very vulnerable. What shortcoming do you most easily forgive? I am able to forgive lies. Which one you never forgive? Meanness. When you stand before God, what will you tell him? I will say that I tried to live honestly. Precisely before God. Because I grew up in a very religious family, and my teacher once said very interestingly. He could not force me to study as a child, sometimes he didn’t want to, because I was very talented, everything worked out for me. And he once said to me: "Tsiskaridzochka, the Lord God gave you so much that if you do not use it, he will punish you." He did not know that they scared me with this as a child. And I was so scared, I tried so hard. And I often, before myself such things ... I just think that there is some kind of higher court, after all. INTERVIEW FULLY Source -