RUSSIA: BALLERINA ANASTASIA VOLOCHKOVA IN DISPUTE WITH THE BOLSHOI THEATRE OVER MISTREATMENT AND SACKING BY BALLET MANAGEMENT

Record ID: 646531

  • Title: RUSSIA: BALLERINA ANASTASIA VOLOCHKOVA IN DISPUTE WITH THE BOLSHOI THEATRE OVER MISTREATMENT AND SACKING BY BALLET MANAGEMENT
  • Date: 11th September 2003
  • Summary: (W6) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV CAR WITH ANASTASIA VOLOCHKOVA ARRIVING / VOLOCHKOVA GETTING OUT OF CAR, RECEIVING FLOWERS , POSING FOR MEDIA AND WALKING INTO BUILDING SLV VOLOCHKOVA ARRIVING IN ROOM FOR NEWS CONFERENCE SMV MEDIA SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANASTASIA VOLOCHKOVA, BALLERINA SAYING: "First of all if the management of the theatre and Mr.Iksanov decided to change their attitude towards me and not to sign a contract with me. The Bolshoi Theatre doesn't want me anymore and this happens after a short period of three months. At the end of last season the jury that comprised the world's famous choreographers and heads of major theatres awarded me with the "Benua de la Dance" award which is similar to an Oscar in the movies. And after all that Mr.Iksanov offers me a contract that basically forces me to leave the theatre." VARIOUS, EXTERIORS OF THE BOLSHOI THEATRE AND FOUNTAIN (2 SHOTS) SLV DIRECTOR OF THE BOLSHOI THEATRE ANATOLY IKSANOV WALKING IN FRONT OF THEATRE SMV WOMAN SITTING BY FOUNTAIN AT FRONT OF THEATRE SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANATOLY IKSANOV, BOLSHOI THEATRE DIRECTOR SAYING: "A classical ballet is always a duet. Volochkova has no partner for that. Her one and only partner in the last two years, Yevgeny Ivanchenko, had a trauma and refused to prolong his contract with the Bolshoi. None of the soloists in the Bolshoi want to dance with her because of her physical complexion." SMV STATUE OF HORSES ON PART OF BOLSHOI THEATRE SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IKSANOV SAYING: "There are 220 ballet dancers in the theatre company and when one ballerina creates a row over this then people would think that Bolshoi is in a critical state. And that is not true. She [Volochkova] is a great master of PR. One has to give her credit for that."
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Arts,General,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA3GXSE87Z11FG4BZGJDI34T7OI
  • Story Text: One of Russia's best-known ballerinas has taken on the world famous Bolshoi Theatre in a row involving size and celebrity status.
    Anastasia Volochkova, is a prima ballerina at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and a Russian celebrity.
    But the 26-year-old ballerina has embroiled herself in a row with the Bolshoi, accusing the theatre's renowned ballet company of effectively sacking her.
    Volochkova, whose height and striking looks match her exuberant personality, held a news conference in Moscow on Thursday (September 11), to tell of her apparent mistreatment by the Bolshoi theatre.
    But what came across in the news conference appeared to be a case of hurt pride for a ballerina whose face and lithe figure has adorned many style magazines and billboards as well as theatre stages.
    "First of all if the management of the theatre and Mr.Iksanov decided to change their attitude towards me and not to sign a contract with me. The Bolshoi Theatre doesn't want me anymore and this happens after a short period of three months. At the end of last season the jury that comprised the world's famous choreographers and heads of major theatres awarded me with the "Benua de la Dance"
    award which is similar to an Oscar in the movies. And after all that Mr. Iksanov offers me a contract that basically forces me to leave the theatre," said Volochkova.
    The Bolshoi claims that Volochkova has not been sacked adding that at present the ballet dancer has no male dancing partner which makes it difficult to cast her in many of its classical ballet productions.
    Bolshoi Theatre Director Anatoly Iksanov said, "A classical ballet is always a duet. Volochkova has no partner for that. Her one and only partner in the last two years, Yevgeny Ivanchenko, had a trauma and refused to prolong his contract with the Bolshoi. None of the soloists in the Bolshoi want to dance with her because of her physical complexion."
    Ballet insiders says the row has been brewing for months, and that almost all of Russia's leading male dancers have refused to partner her, complaining that she is too big and heavy.
    Her last male dancing partner, Yevgeny Ivanchenko, was said to have been hospitalised after being injured trying to lift Volochkova.
    On Thursday, Volochkova suggested that the Bolshoi were deliberately trying to keep her off stage and out of performances.
    "If I need to prove that I'm professional than I need to go on stage tomorrow and prove it. So, don't you think that they are deliberately taking me off the stage so the audience does not see my professionalism?," said Volochkova.
    For its part the Bolshoi says the dancer has not been sacked but has been offered a new shorter contract which she has apparently refused to accept.
    Iksanov said on Thursday that the Bolshoi ballet company was not facing a crisis because of the row with Volochkova, who he implied of being a master at generating publicity and self-promotion.
    "There are 220 ballet dancers in the theatre company and when one ballerina creates a row over this then people would think that Bolshoi is in a critical state. And that is not true. She [Volochkova] is a great master of PR. One has to give her credit for that," said Iksanov, the Bolshoi Theatre Director.
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