Once principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, Nikolai Tsiskaridze is one of the most decorated Russian dancers. He was born in Tbilisi, the capital of the then Soviet Republic of Georgia, on 31 December 1973. Although his father was a violin player and classical music was a regular part of his childhood, ballet was not a profession his parents would have …
Stretch or Strengthen? Ballet`s Perogative
“Stretch only as much as you strengthen.” These words from Yana, my Ballet teacher, are what echo in my head after an Advanced Ballet class with the Artistic Director. At the time of the class, we were done with plies and cambrés to the back and instructed to proceed to the centre of the floor right after. The instruction to …
The Flooring Propaganda: What`s all the fuss about?
Meniscus tears, slipped discs and ligaments sprains are all too common in dance, a direct result of the body absorbing the shock of landing. A floor could mean anything or nothing to a lot of people. Not to a dancer though. A far cry from the simple surface that one would use to tread on, a dancer is very much …