Alexei Ratmansky: biography, career, family

The modern choreographer, formerly dancer Alexei Ratmansky, whose biography is full of ups, unusual twists and decisions, today is among the top outstanding figures of the world ballet. He is a great admirer and propagandist of the Russian classical ballet school, but in Russia today it is not enough.

Childhood and parents

The future dancer Alexey Ratmansky was born in Leningrad on August 27, 1968. His family had nothing to do with ballet and art in general. The boy's father, Osip Yehudovich, worked as a research fellow at the Aerospace Institute. Mom - Valentina Vasilievna - a psychiatrist. Up to 10 years Alexey lived with his parents in Kiev. From the age of four, he showed great ability to dance, while still small, he threw a shawl over his shoulders and danced under Shchedrin's "Carmen Suite". He had excellent natural data, and since childhood he is engaged in a choreographic studio, is fond of gymnastics.

Study

When the boy turned 10 years old, the parents made a serious decision. They send him to study at the Moscow Choreography School. Here his teachers were A. Silantiev, E. Farmanyants, A. Markeeva. His classmates were V. Malakhov, Yu. Burlaka. In the final class with Ratmansky PA Pestov was engaged. At school, Alexey studied well, but was not a brilliant dancer. He was very diligent and workable, but always was in the shadow of his brilliant classmate V. Malakhov. The final performance was traditionally attended by the head of the Bolshoi Theater Yu. Grigorovich. But none of the graduates liked him, even the brilliant Malakhov.

The beginning of a difficult journey

After graduation from the school, Alexei Ratmansky returns to Kiev. This was not some outstanding career start, but still it was not bad for a debutant. He works at the Kiev Opera and Ballet Theater and quickly starts playing the leading roles. In his repertoire were almost all the classical parties. But it was a ceiling, there was nowhere to grow. Escape from the Kiev Theater, he practically had no chance. And then the Soviet Union collapsed, the Ukrainian salary was not enough even for daily expenses. It was necessary to decide something, change my life.

Career dancer

During the tour of the theater in the Canadian town of Winnipeg Ratmansky asks the art director about the possibility of cooperation and immediately receives a contract. Work in the Western theater, even this provincial, was very different from work in Kiev. Alexey spends all the time in the studio: studying, rehearsing, improving. He worked here for three years, for which he learned Western discipline and commitment. For three years he danced in Canada in such productions as The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Esmeralda, The Darkness Between Us and others. Realizing that he reaches the ceiling again, Ratmansky begins to visit the European theaters and receives a contract with the Royal Danish ballet. Here he dances not only in the classical repertoire, but also learns modern choreography. In his treasury there are staging: "Sweet complaints", "Refrain", "Ghosts", several innovative performances for instrumental and contemporary music. For 15 years after graduation from school, Alexei Ratmansky will dance in the performances of many outstanding directors: Rushton, Godden, Welsh and others. In his repertoire there were performances of such ballet stars as Balanchine, Lifar, Bejar, Neumeier, Galeotti, Ek, Nureyev.

Director

His first productions Ratmansky Alexei Osipovich, the choreographer, gives birth back in the years of work in Kiev. He puts several numbers for touring, in particular, the famous "Yurliberlu". In 1997, he staged a one-act ballet "Capriccio" by I. Stravinsky for a big New Year's program. Later in Denmark, Alexei Ratmansky begins to gradually put on full-length performances, he tries his strength in the classics: The Nutcracker, The Dream of Turandot, Anna Karenina. He begins to cooperate with the company "Postmodern Theater", which engages him as a director to work on the ballet "The charms of Mannerism", in which, among others, artists of the Bolshoi Theater are engaged. The real star of his productions is N. Ananiashvili, she dances in his performances "Dreams about Japan", "Lea". Ratmansky Alexei, a Russian choreographer, becomes famous, he is invited not only to entertainments, but also to repertory theaters. He successfully combines work in Denmark with staging performances in different parts of the world, in particular, he is invited to the Mariinsky Theater for the production of "Cinderella".

The Bolshoi Theatre

In 2003, Ratmansky staged "The Bright Path" at the Bolshoi Theater. The staging was clearly a success. And in 2004, quite unexpectedly for the general public, Alexei Ratmansky (Russian choreographer) heads the Bolshoi Theater. The first performance, which he puts in the Bolshoi, was the second edition of his production of the ballet Lea. For five years of work in the main theater of Russia, he has staged 12 performances, including: Bolt, The Flame of Paris, Playing Cards, Bolero, Lost Illusions. Years of his leadership were very successful for the Greater. He revived the repertoire, attracted many new artists, restored many traditions. He enjoyed great support from the country's leadership. But in parallel Ratmansky continues to work around the world and this is not very like the staff of the Bolshoi. Against him, intrigues constantly rumble, the atmosphere in the theater does not have a calm creativity. In 2008, he leaves Big for his own will, as he feels that he is losing too much time and opportunity in the daily struggle with the troupe.

The Conquest of America

Alexei Ratmansky received many proposals for cooperation, but for him in the first place was the opportunity to choose a repertoire and dispose of his time. In 2008, he accepted an offer from the American Ballet Theater and moved to New York. Here Ratmansky fully realizes his plans. He recovers some old editions of classical plays, he likes to dig in the archives, finding records of the great choreographers. At the same time, each of his performances is very modern, it does not just revive the productions, but revitalizes them and makes them relevant for the present day. For 8 years of work in America Ratmansky only gaining popularity. Today they write about him exclusively in excellent epithets, his performances are popular with the public, critics and artists, which is almost unbelievable. Among his productions in the United States are the following performances: Firebird, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Russian Seasons, Pictures at an Exhibition. He is increasingly inclined towards modern dance, his choreographic style can be characterized as an experimental, ironic, synthesizing modern and classical.

Outstanding work

Alexei Ratmansky, whose photo adorns the posters of the best theaters of the world today, has created many beautiful performances, and today he is at the peak of his creative form, so the list of his ballets will only grow. To date, to his merit, the specialists include new editions of the performances "The Bright Path", "The Nutcracker", "The Sleeping Beauty". His efforts in the US saw a brilliant production of "Cinderella" in the editorial Petipa. His productions Concerto DSCH Shostakovich, Shakespeare's "Storm", "Playing cards" I. Stravinsky, "Anna Karenina" Shchedrin became the pearls of modern ballet.

Awards

Alexei Ratmansky - choreographer, loved by critics, has repeatedly received the highest awards. In 2005, he was awarded the Benois prize "De la Dance" for the performance "Anna Karenina " , he received three Golden Mask awards, for "Dreams about Japan" in 1999, for "Bright Stream" in 2004, and for " Card Game "in 2007. Also on his account are such awards as the British Critics Award, the Golden Sofit Award, the Isadora Award Duncan and others.

Private life

Saturated creative life is often a hindrance to family happiness, but there are lucky people who manage to combine everything, it is to them Alexei Ratmansky. The choreographer's family is an example of happy creative and human unions. The young dancer was attractive for numerous female fans and colleagues. The choice was rich, and the choreographer did not immediately make it. Today Ratmansky Alexei Osipovich, whose wife is also a ballerina, successfully combines the family with creativity. The wife dances in his performances, helps as an assistant-choreographer. The couple have a son Vasily.