Tutu and Tea

1. Don’t inhale and choke on fake snow

2. Be prepared to not get to bed before midnight

3. Bring many layers to the theatre so you don’t become frozen (even if you are a snowflake)

4. Always be kind to helpers backstage and remember to say thank you. (no one likes a diva)

5. Remember you’re in the land of the sweets and that means sometimes treating yourself to some after a long day.

6. You are beautiful even when your face breaks out from the hoards of make up

7. Make all the nutcracker puns you can

8. You will probably have stress dreams

9. Every role is important

I don’t believe in reincarnation

but I see you as sunflowers these days.

the summer is starting to fade as the breeze begins to blow, but you will not fade away. I sit here watching them flow and dance with bee’s that give you life. The honey combs you had on the dining room table makes me think you knew what you’d be when you left us. Your own garden of Eden lay just outside of the window. You’ve gone so you can be the compost that repairs the earth of your children.

Fall will come and winter will go. Still just as the bees don’t forget where the flowers are, family doesn’t ever go too far. I shall remember you.

Mr. Steal Yo Girl

In a recent interview, Igor Tsvirko addressed why he and his wife, Evgenia Savarskaya, have left the Bolshoi.

Here are some key points:

They left the Bolshoi because they were ready for a change.

The rumour that the two have left because Savarskaya had trouble securing solos is false: “Of course soloist parts aren’t given out straight away [at the Bolshoi], but she had managed to dance quite a few of those in the last seven years.”

The rumour that the two have left because there’s bad blood between Igor and Vaziev is also false: “He was very supportive. Thanks to him I got to dance my dream role: Spartacus.”

Igor and his wife would like to eventually work in America, but wanted to try their luck in Europe first. 

They think that life in Europe will be calmer than it is in Russia: “No rat race. You don’t feel like you’re constantly trying to survive”. Though he admits that his perception of Europe may prove to be incorrect.

They chose Hungarian State Opera because they both managed to secure contracts with that company. They don’t care much about salaries and are more interested in art and interesting repertoires. Igor is excited about the opportunity to dance in “Mayerling”.

The persistent rumours that male leads in “Nureyev” were initially required to dance naked are completely false.

No, Igor doesn’t know what the hell happened with that production or why it was delayed.

The rumours that Tsiskaridze will soon take over the Bolshoi’s management and that Ovcharenko will subsequently leave the company are just that - rumours. 

Igor may return to the Bolshoi for some performances this autumn.

Some words of wisdom from Igor:

“Don’t read ballet forums. They are full of bile and misinformation.”

Igor on why the Bolshoi is constantly plagued by scandal: