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Theater of modern choreography. Theater-studio of modern choreography. Your element is jazz-modern

BALLET OR MODERN DANCE?

We talk about modern dance with the director of the Ballet Moscow theater Elena Tupyseva

Maria Shramova

Contemporary dance festival is already in August OPEN LOOK brings together the best international dancers in St. Petersburg to show the most interesting things happening in the world modern choreography. The festival brings both productions by foreign choreographers, local Russian troupes from Kazan and Chelyabinsk, and troupes of the most successful Russian institutions specializing in modern dance, one of which will be the Ballet Moscow theater. In our interview, Elena Tupyseva, director of the Ballet Moscow theater, talks about the peculiarities of the existence of modern dance in Russia and the organization of the work of dance companies.

Excoda: Over the 6 years of your leadership of the theater, the performing level has increased significantly. How were you able to bring the theater to the level it is today?

E.T.: A new team has arrived at the theater "Ballet Moscow" in June 2012. There is nothing complicated here. In order to overcome the crisis, any organization needs a clear program and priorities. If a mission is formulated and there are priorities that it follows, then results and successes appear. To do this, it was necessary, on the one hand, to gradually develop creativity troupes, on the other hand, to gradually invite interesting choreographers, both Russian and foreign. But, the main thing is a formulated plan and strict adherence to this plan.

We had the task of becoming a theater professional in the field of modern choreography. To achieve this, we took certain steps: we invited various teachers, specialists and choreographers to the troupe to conduct master classes. For example, in April of this year, for three weeks in a row, our artists took part in master classes on eider (and improvisational technique created by Ohad Naharin, choreographer and artistic director Israeli company Batsheva Dance Company, editor's note). We received such a unique opportunity thanks to the Festival" Golden Mask" And educational program "Theater Institute".

Excoda: How feasible is cooperation with foreign directors now? Taking into account the political situation, and even if not taking into account, what difficulties arise?

E.T.: Cooperation is possible, there is absolutely no doubt about it. In my opinion, the main difficulty is economic, because the exchange rate has grown very strongly over the past six years, almost doubling, so this requires more careful financial planning. But from a political point of view, this is a mixed story. Yes, maybe not everyone agrees to come to Russia to work, but so far we have not encountered a refusal for political reasons. In general, no one interferes in our artistic policy, and over these six years the choreographers have never refused our proposal due to the fact that “we are from Russia.”
It has become more difficult because it has become more expensive. But to remain a successful Moscow theater, we must create an interesting product. In general, the laws of ballet and dance genre are: if we want to be successful and visible, we need to be integrated into the international dance scene. This is one of the success factors of any dance or ballet theater. I think it is wrong to release only a national product. If you look at European infrastructure, I don't know of any European theater, which would work only at the expense of its internal national resources, both performing and production.

Excoda: Your theater is famous for having a modern dance troupe and a ballet troupe. How is ballet transformed today into " modern dance"?

E.T.: Modern dance is one that was formed in the 20th century, starting with Isadora Duncan, and so on. Modern dance came to Russia in the early 90s. As for ballet, it is a separate genre, with its own school, with its own canons, with its own aesthetics, with its own market of choreographers, performers, and so on. These are two different genres that sometimes overlap. In the second half of the twentieth century, ballet is also actively engaged in modern choreography, the search for a new language, but taking into account the other performing capabilities of the artists. After all, a contemporary ballet dancer dances ballet. These are pointe shoes, a different body, and a different choreography. Modern dance also has an established infrastructure with its own education and so on.

Photographer Vasil Yaroshevich

Excoda: Contemporary ballet– what is he like?

E.T.: When we think of ballet, we think of classical performances like " Swan Lake".
We all need to be more educated, start to understand these two directions and not confuse them. In Europe they are not confused: there are state theaters who practice ballet, for example in Dresden there is a ballet troupe - Semper Ballet. The repertoire of this theater consists of works by modern choreographers: William Forsythe,David Dawson, Jiri Kylian and so on, and this is ballet. And if you take the work of, for example, the German choreographer Constance Makras, then this is no longer ballet, this is modern dance. Modern ballet is looking for its own language; it is based on a different aesthetics of movement. Yes, he uses floor work, yes, he has become more horizontal, unlike the classical one, there are no such canons. There are also story ballets, such as those staged by the choreographer of the Zurich Ballet Christian Spuck. But in general, when you ask a choreographer: “What are you choreographing: ballet, modern dance, neoclassical?”, they often answer: “I do ballet or dance today"They don't really like to determine what type of dance they should be classified as.

In our theater "Ballet Moscow" There are two troupes: a ballet troupe and a modern dance troupe. The two troupes exist completely separately from each other, their working day even begins in different halls, but the public that comes to Ballet Moscow watches the performances of both troupes. If you ask (and we conducted such surveys): “What did you watch: a ballet troupe or a modern troupe?”, every second person will answer incorrectly. Therefore, I believe that we need to make interesting performances, and then we can call them performances “contemporary choreography”; anyone who needs to understand in more detail whether it is modern dance or ballet will understand it.

Excoda: Is your theater still a “theater” or a “troupe”? Are you more about “dance” or “theater”?

E.T.: For me these are all synonymous words. We are a theater and the result of our work is performances. They can be like with a plot and be based on some literary work, For example, "Cafe Idiot" by Sasha Pepelyaev, "Kreutzer Sonata" Canadian choreographer Robert Bineta, "Waiting for Godot" by Anastasia Kadruleva and Artem Ignatiev, and plotless.

Photographer Vasil Yaroshevich

Excoda: Your theater is famous for the fact that two troupes coexist there: ballet and modern dance. How do you manage to maintain a balance of classics and innovation?

E.T.: It depends on what you mean by “classic”. We are not a museum theater and do not engage in 19th-century ballet; we do not have such a mission or task. The Ballet Moscow theater was founded in 1989 and has no mission to deal with the past. He has the task of dealing with the present and the future. Accordingly, there are historical scenes in Russia: the Bolshoi Theater, the Mariinsky, which are engaged in museum art, but at the same time, they clearly must create a new product. But we are a young theater and must deal exclusively with the present and the future. And as for music, yes, we use classical music, for example, children's ballet "Thumbelina" set to music Tchaikovsky "Seasons", but at the same time, modern samples are integrated into this music. We have a ballet to music John Adams, is a composer of the second half of the 20th century, but nevertheless, this music has already become a classic of the 20th century. Our artists ballet troupe– all graduates ballet academies, but in addition to the classical baggage, what they have gained in academies, they are also familiar with modern ballet techniques. We had a performance in our repertoire "The Rite of Spring" in a modern troupe. Stravinsky– this is already a classic. Sometimes modern choreographers take classical music, if it inspires them, then why not?

Excoda: How difficult is it to regularly perform performances without your own venue? Does the fact that you don’t have your own space affect the productions themselves?

E.T.: Our performances can be seen at three venues in Moscow - the Center named after. Sun. Meyerhold, Cultural center"ZIL" and the small stage of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theater. As a rule, the performance is performed at the venue where it was released. The absence of your own stage has virtually no effect on the artistic process and the final result.

Excoda: Are you planning to expand the venues or experiment with locations? As many people do now: use some kind of urban or industrial space.

E.T.: More like one-off projects. Repertory performances with certain adaptations can be shown in non-theatrical spaces. We work a lot with this, we perform annually as part of the project "Mask in the City". We danced at the Kursk station, in the atrium of the Bolshevik business center, in Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val. We took part in such projects as “Night in the Metro”, “Night of Museums” and so on. Such projects become a noticeable part of our work.

Photographer Vasil Yaroshevich

Excoda: Are these performances attracting new audiences?

E.T.:- I don’t know how much of a “new” viewer this will be, but if we talk about a viewer who is already similar to our target audience, and who learns about the theater through these projects, then yes, of course. And we, naturally, work a lot in open areas, annually showing our best performances at the “Stage on the Water” at VDNKh, and recently took part in the “Tolstoy Weekend” festival in “Yasnaya Polyana”. The festival takes place under open air in the forest on the territory of the museum" Yasnaya Polyana". We perform annually in the Hermitage Garden at the Day of the City in special program on an open stage, we recently danced on an open stage in Izmailovsky Park.

Excoda: Why is the OPEN LOOK festival interesting to you?

E.T.: In my opinion, OPEN LOOK currently the largest contemporary dance festival in Russia. Therefore, it is important for us to be on the festival bill, to bring our new works that we made in Moscow. Our theater comes to this festival for the third year in a row and this is very important to us.

Excoda: That is, your performances are more of a festival format than a repertoire format?

E.T.: Not really. The point is that touring activities in Russia are organized in such a way that the opportunity to go to another city is to perform at a festival, such is the infrastructure of the Russian dance market, unlike Europe. Because there, in addition to festivals, it is possible to organize tours, when the same performance travels to several cities in a chain. In Russia this is less developed, this is due to finances and other factors, which is why we are a repertory theater, unlike European dance companies, We are just the exception to the rule, we are a repertory dance theater. Our artists do not dance one or two performances, but dance from four to six, and performances by different choreographers. We exist according to the laws of the Russian repertory theater, we show the same performance every month for several seasons. We have performances that we released 5 years ago, which are still in the repertoire. And festivals are an excellent opportunity to introduce our performances to residents of other cities.

Veronica Guru, 30 years old

What did studying at the National Academy of Arts as a teacher-choreographer give me: new knowledge - YES, without a doubt. Different styles dance - that's for sure. Folk dance was like shock therapy for me. Let me explain a little, I am a contemporary, I dance contemporary, jazz, modern, and formerly hip-hop. That's why folk dance it was a discovery for me)) but it turns out there is also improvisation in folk dance!!))
Also, wonderful teachers, masters of their craft, creative and talented people. Alina Venediktova is a treasure trove of knowledge and an endless stream of creativity. After graduation, I continue to go to her classes. And I often see my classmates there. Which is also a big plus. Because we had a wonderful group, and we continue to communicate, and often create together, do common productions. Thank you to the Academy, for extraordinary, talented, like-minded friends with whom I want to create and feed each other with different crazy ideas, make dreams come true. I remember this year with warmth, when I found myself there I had a feeling that I was exactly where I needed to be, here and now.
What’s more, the very responsive administration can always understand the student’s situation and take into account various nuances and force majeure. Very kind, sincere people.
And of course, a state diploma. sample. This is the first thing they asked me when applying for a job. I work in secondary school, teacher of additional education. Speaking Russian, I lead dance clubs for children of different ages.
If you urgently need to get a diploma, then this is the shortest time available in Moscow.
From experience I can say that for dance to become my profession of the year, it is very little, if there was a second year, I would be happy to continue my studies. But I’m already learning all the time, using other programs, at master classes, and in the process of work. You must be able to let go of the teacher, and go on a free swim, fill your own bumps))) To sum it up!!! I felt good and relaxed there.

Maria Egorova, 29 years old

Thank you so much for the knowledge and experience shared! Every hour spent in Duncan is valuable and dear to me. This is a time of discovery, development, and professional growth.

An amazing team of professional teachers and choreographers has gathered here. Such different and bright, unique individuals, masters of their craft, devoted to the art of dance!

Andrey is a ballroom dancing teacher - clear, consistent, erudite. A professional who gives very specific and detailed explanations. A very consistently built, broad program.

Evgenia is a modern jazz teacher - bright, energetic, fast moving flow, strong lively movement. A professional who engages, infects, and makes you fall in love with dance.

Anika is a hip-hop teacher - charisma, fire and professionalism. As soon as Anika enters the hall, everything changes - it begins to live, move, glow. Even if she no longer had the strength, she knows how to turn on a super-powerful motor. And you are delighted, amazed and infected by the dance!

Alexey is a modern jazz teacher. Professional, subtle, bright, creative. This is a choreographer-artist! A special feeling, even a vision of music and dance patterns! Beauty, humor, lightness, and a live dance that is born before your eyes. This is a miracle!

Alina is a teacher of contemporary, classical, folk dance, composition, and course leader. Incomparable Alina! A man of amazing depth. A professional who fills movement with thought and gives birth to dance from inner meaning. Teaches you to feel yourself and each other, space and time, Word and Sound.
Opens the universe of dance with all its stars and treasures. Well, he gives it specifically huge amount dancer and choreographer's tools. Very attentive to everyone. Develops everyone. It forces you to overcome your boundaries and capabilities, to expand your limits. Professional growth is ensured regardless of level. Even if you have already become a pro, you still have to work and work, grow and develop!

Thanks to our dear organizers and administrators - Anna and Chin Gizu! They are our support and connection with reality))) Humane, sensitive and attentive. They create a warm homely atmosphere, you immediately feel like you are part of a big wonderful family!

And of course.... students! This is humor, laughter, sparkling fun, support and support, advice, help, sympathy, vibrant life and emotions. Each of those who were nearby was a real star and a man! Thank you guys. You were and are great!

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Yulia Fionova, 28 years old

I would like to say a huge thank you to the Duncan school for the opportunity to become a choreographer in 9 months!!! Unfortunately, my studies have come to an end...But I hope that I will continue to be friends with this school and attend the areas I love. This school has wonderful teachers, true professionals who are passionate about their work! The classes are very well structured - 90 min. - This real time, in which they work with you (and even more!). Warm-up, learning ligaments, repetition, learning new movements, stretching, plus all this to the perfect music. Very consistent approach to classes, a lot of attention to safety in performing movements. You really get pleasure from classes, a boost of energy and good mood for the whole day, and the result is visible after just a few classes. The highest level of teaching, individual approach to each student, exactingness, so you need to give 100%. For me now DUNCAN is a family, an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Here I was surrounded by wonderful people, very positive and kind. It is very pleasant to be within the walls of this place! Here I was finally able to really open up, try myself in those dance styles in which I never imagined myself. Here I found really real friends who are passionate about a common cause - dance. Now I dance, which means I live...!!

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Ekaterina Nikulnikova, 25 years old

I have been studying at Duncan Academy since February 2015. I've been looking for a long time for a place where I could get additional education, but where you didn’t have to study for 3 years by correspondence, as many universities offer. It seems to me that this is a great opportunity not only to get a diploma after studying for 9 months, but also to practically try different styles of dance. And not only try, but actually learn how to apply them in choreography. We are talking about such directions as classical dance, folk dance, modern jazz, contemporary dance, street dance (hip-hop, jazz-funk, house, etc.), ballroom dancing, and also the art of choreography, where they provide a very good theoretical basis. Speaking about the teachers, I would like to emphasize their professionalism and ability to present the material. Even if you have never danced ballroom (like me), you can easily not only learn, but also choreograph dance routines. During the lessons, all techniques, tricks and techniques are thoroughly discussed. They will tell you how to teach a particular subject not only to adults, but also to children. Moreover, to study in such a group among such interesting and creative people- this is still great fun!

Modern choreography groups work in the Moscow Ballet Club dance studio. The training program for children includes:

  • Work on general physical fitness. For dancing it is important to have good preparation. Modern choreography is characterized by various jumping movements, somersaults, handstands, lifts, etc.
  • Classic exercises at the barre. Work at the machine is aimed at strengthening the muscles and joints of the arms, legs, back, and cervical spine. The machine helps to develop posture, improve coordination and balance. These basic exercises should be mastered by any dancer and used regularly.
  • Stretching (stretching exercises). Stretching is, to one degree or another, important for dancers. This is the work and development of the muscular system, joints, tendons, alternating tension and relaxation in the muscles. All layers of muscles work here, including the deepest ones, and therefore muscle mass becomes stronger, but does not build up, as in sports. Plasticity and grace are developed.
  • Learning the Basics dance moves, combinations and connections, improvisational elements, work on musicality and rhythm.

The classes are aimed at introducing the basics of dance and its culture. We teach you to express yourself through movement, feel music and control your body. Having acquired basic skills, children and adolescents will try themselves in modern directions, participate in productions and perform on stage, dance at competitions and festivals, win victories, grow and develop.

The Moscow Ballet Club employs excellent teachers with specialized education and work experience. It is important for us to find an approach to every little dancer, to instill love and desire to train and learn, and to unlock their potential. Coaches have pedagogical techniques; they will become not only good mentors, but also true friends for your children.

At the core of its activities, the Studio Theater today is both a School of Contemporary Choreography and a Project Dance Theatre.

The studio theater accepts children from 4 years old on a competitive basis. Classes are held in groups.

In the lesson program:

rhythm (for kids)

modern dance (contemporary dance).

Rhythmic gymnastics (rhythmics)- a system of musical and rhythmic education created by Emile Jacques-Dalcroze. The method is to develop a sense of rhythm - a sense of time, in other words...

Gymnastics- one of the most popular sports and physical culture. Sports types of gymnastics include: sports, rhythmic, acrobatic, aesthetic, team, aerobic gymnastics.

The Studio Theater employs teachers/choreographers who have extensive stage and production experience and experience working with children.

The Studio Theater has staged about a hundred choreographic miniatures and three children's performances:

  • "Mishka's Stories" (E. Kislova, 2005),
  • "Do you like to dream?" (I. Afonina, 2007),
  • “Last year’s snow was falling” (E. Kislova, 2009).
The studio theater is the first and so far the only children's dance school in Russia, whose students, graduates, and teachers became nominees and then laureates of the National Theater Award "Golden Mask".

The studio theater was awarded Certificates of Honor from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Department of Culture "For his great contribution to the development of culture."

The studio theater took part in television programs on ORT, Kultura, NTV, TNT, NTV-PLUS channels. He performed in Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, France. Became a laureate of many prestigious choreographic festivals and competitions.

The studio theater has performed at various theater and concert venues in Moscow:

Pupils of the Studio Theater enter (from the age of 10) on a competitive basis into the Moscow state academy choreography.

Graduates of the Studio Theater continue their studies in leading choreographic companies educational institutions Europe (Holland, Belgium), as well as in such educational institutions as:

  • Theater Institute named after. Boris Shchukin,
  • Higher Theater School (Institute) named after M.S. Shchepkina,
  • High School of Performing Arts,
  • Russian Institute of Theater Arts - GITIS.

According to dance critics and specialists, “The theater studio today is the best private institution in Moscow where modern dance is taught to children from four years old.”

The Dance.Firmika.ru portal contains information on where you can sign up for modern choreography classes in Moscow: addresses and telephone numbers dance schools and dance studios, prices for the most popular areas, student reviews. For greater convenience in using the portal and searching for a dance school, we suggest using a convenient filter by area and metro station. Visual tables will help you compare the cost of classes and training in different dance studios in the city, choosing the best option for the price.

All modern choreography is one huge challenge to established norms and dance techniques formed in the distant past. Strict requirements for performance are swept aside, and dancers are armed only with the ability to feel and hear music, and the desire to show the audience their experiences. What styles are included in modern choreography, where can you take classes for adults, and how much can training for beginners cost in centers and studios in Moscow?

Style Features

The founders and inspired individuals who gave birth to modern choreography were Mary Wigman (student of Emile Jacques-Dalcroze) and Isadora Duncan. They considered freedom from conventions and established requirements for technique and ballet movements to be the main thread in dance. Year after year they combined ballet, yoga, characteristic ethnic elements, and work with light and fabric in dance.

Some of the most popular representatives of modern choreography are:

  • Contemporary dance (“contempo” in dance slang) is not really a dance, but rather a small theatrical performance in which the dancer’s main instrument is free movements. Contempo is characterized by the use of scenery, sweeping acrobatic tricks or supports in the dance; it is not strictly a pair dance.

  • Modern jazz combines completely different, at first glance, styles: ballet, hip-hop and jazz itself. It is not enough to perform a combination of movements with smooth and flexible transitions technically well; you need to pass the idea of ​​your performance through the prism of your feelings, show your emotions and experiences to the viewer.

Modern choreography may seem strange and very difficult, requiring enormous physical preparation to perform, but it does not leave anyone indifferent.

How are the lessons going?

Classes are held three to four times a week. For those whose everyday life is occupied by work, it will be useful to study the schedule and choose the most suitable option for training. Before making a final choice in favor of a particular school, it is also necessary to study the reviews of other students.

Clothes for classes

Tight-fitting tracksuits, ballet flats or sneakers are good for classes. The fabric should absorb moisture well and not restrict your movements during warm-ups and acrobatic stunts.

Prices for classes in studios and schools in Moscow

The cost of one lesson ranges from 275 to 600 rubles. Dance studios They offer the service of purchasing a subscription for four (usually eight) classes, costing from 2,400 to 3,000 rubles.


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