AS the prima ballerina for the prestigious Moscow State Theatre Ballet, Lilia Sabitova doesn't have to worry about "making it" anymore. She has arrived at the top.
In 1989, the long-haired ballerina was honored as an "Artist of the People, " the highest distinction for an artist in the former Soviet Union, for her outstanding performance and contribution to ballet. It was something she had worked a lifetime to achieve.
"When I was a child, my mom took me to a Russian festival and that's the first time I saw ballet," recalls Sabitova, almost 40 now. "I told my mom right away that I wanted to be the same as them." And she remembers what her mom told her before taking her down to the ballet academy: "No matter what you do, you must be the best."
Family has played a significant role in helping Sabitova develop her skill and elegance as a ballerina. Her mom turned out to be the biggest supporter of her career in ballet, followed by her husband, Stanislave Vlasov. "He gives me plenty of ideas and has lots of influence on me. I love him so much."
Vlasov is none other than the artistic director of the ballet company, a troupe that is known for creating new ballet pieces by employing traditional Russian methods to expand on new and experimental ideas. As an experienced ballet dancer and soloist himself, Vlasov worked with the world renowned Bolshoi Ballet before taking up the director's position at Moscow State. "He understands the ballet dancers because he was one for a long time," says Sabitova. "And he knows how to make us give better performances."
But maintaining harmony among the group of 30 is not always easy and Sabitova says her husband always struggles to maintain vigilance over the troupe's quality. "Professional dancers always have their own ideas and subjectivity and there are arguments too," says Sabitova. "But we all know that we are heading for the same goal and that is to bring excellent performances to our fans. We constantly have a lot of communication along the way."
When it comes to the making of an excellent ballerina, Sabitova says the key is to practice and to try different experiences. "You need to practice more than a lot, and you have to overcome the feelings of being tired and tedious." Sabitova also performs as a guest artist for other ballet troupes, such as the American Ballet Theater, Kirov, Bolshoi, Makarov Ballet, and the Ballet of Russia.
She says her experience with the American Ballet Theater was an enlightening challenge. "I am totally different from Americans, and I learned more about modern ballet. In particular, how to do a cowboy dance."
Sabitova has performed the leading roles in traditional pieces, such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, and also modern pieces, such as Rodeo, Dance of the Shadow and La ., which will premier, in its full version, in Taiwan.
The ballet follows the tumultuous love of Violetta and her admirer, Alfredo Germont. The two live an idyllic life in the countryside until Violetta's maid, Annina, reveals to Alfredo that the couple is running out of money and that Violetta is selling her belongings keep money coming in.
Anxious to avoid embarrassment over a financial collapse, Alfredo's father asks Violetta to leave his son. She agrees and promises not to reveal the father's involvement. After Violetta leaves the villa, however, Alfredo is heartbroken and no amount of consolation from his father helps. He feels betrayed by love.
"Violetta is a totally feminine role. She is elegant and her emotions are presented in a variety of ways, her happiness, sadness, disappointment, generosity and spirit as well," says Sabitova of the protagonist in La Traviata, a most personal and intimate romantic opera that Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi created in 1853. "You get deep, different and touching feelings inside her mind, quite a challenge to us soloists."
Ballet will not be the only thing on Sabitova's agenda during her Taiwan visit. She is expecting to see some traditional performances while in town, such as Chinese opera and local Taiwan opera as well as some Aboriginal and folk dances. She will also attend contemporary performances from local artists.
After her Taiwan trip, Sabitova and her team will continue to tour and dance, first in Europe and then in China. For her, life is a series of ballet performances. Life can not be otherwise, she says. "If I were not a ballerina, I really don't know what I would do."
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