Below is a selection of a frequently asked questions. If you cannot find a topic of interest there please use the form on your right to send us your query.
Boris Eifman's answers (February 2011):
- Why, in your opinion, your ballets are so popular all over the world?
- The spectator wants to receieve from ballet performance, first of all, a catharsis, a deep emotional shock. And visiting our performances, he receives this live emotional charge. We aspire to that the psychological theater would be the privilege not only of a drama, but also of a ballet. And from this point of view we are unique. Such type of theater to which our troupe belongs – with the strong dramaturgic base, the deep philosophical maintenance and high heat of passions - is necessary for many spectators.
- What themes interest you now as choreographer?
- Secrets of life of human soul, elements of human passions always interested me. My characters – swept, searching, plunging into sufferings and madness. But often happens so that any concrete theme, life area, and the certain historical character – Tchaikovsky, ballerina Spessivtseva, tsarevitch Pavel acts as an impulse to creation of ballet. At present I work over new ballet "Rodin". I want to show, what terrestrial price geniuses pay for creation of eternal masterpieces.
- Do people in today's Russia love ballet and arts as deeply as earlier?
- Certainly, our time is cynical enough and mercantile. And today that fragile, elite in many respects art which ballet is, has not the most iridescent times. There is an active approach of pop culture, show business, shows. The modern person is accustomed not to think and empathize, but to consume thoughtlessly. However, while performing in Petersburg and cities of Russia, we see that our spectators – and this is the intelligent, well-educated and spiritually developed people – still sincerely love our creativity and appreciates art of dance.
- In your opinion, what is a condition of Russian ballet today?
- Today the ballet art is in notable crisis: both major and provincial theaters of Russia are experiencing the strongest personnel hunger, there are no young choreographers, new leaders of the ballet world, the prestige of the profession drops. However if we all realize that ballet is our national property and we have no right to lose it we will overcome the crisis. Therefore I look ahead with optimism and from my part I do everything in order that my theatre may become the original Russian psychological ballet theater of the beginning of the XXIst century.
- What do you think about the future of Russian ballet?
- The XXth century became the period of the big openings and reforms in ballet art, but at this particular time, in second half of century, choreographers deduce dance from ballet theater and prefer abstractions. Today it is obvious that such way is a deadlock. The new century, a new era demands the new forms of choreographic art close to the modern person and its attitude. And our aim is to create new ballet repertoire of modern Russia on the basis of traditions of Russian ballet theater. I am convinced, what it is exactly Russian psychological ballet theater that will become the really original art of the XXIst century.
PR Department answers (March 2011):
- My daughter (aged 12) studies in the second class of a ballet school. Will she have an opportunity to enter Dance Academy?
- What is the age of students for Dance Academy and when it will be opened?
- Will there be an admission in Dance Academy in 2011? What are the requirements?
- Dance Academy is planned to be opened on September, 1, 2012. Students starting from the age of 7 will be admitted.
- Will Efman Ballet issue any official DVDs ?
- In January and February 2011 «Anna Karenina» and «Onegin» ballet films were shot in St. Petersburg. These films will be probably issued on DVD.
- Why do you perform so rarely in St. Petersburg?
- Our theatre doesn’t have its own stage and performs on various rented St. Petersburg stages – at Alexandrinsky Theatre etc. Our performances in St. Petersburg are very expensive because of advertising, rental and other charges. Moreover, stages rented by our company have its own repertoire and thus we can perform there only at the dates that are suggested by our partners.