The modern choreographer, formerly dancer Alexei Ratmansky, whose biography is full of take-offs, unusual twists and decisions, today is among the top outstanding figures of the ballet of the world. He is a big fan and promoter of the Russian classical ballet school, but in Russia today it is not enough.
Childhood and parents
The future dancer Alexei 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 researcher at the Aerospace Institute. Mom - Valentina Vasilievna - a psychiatrist. Until the age of 10, Alexei lived with his parents in Kiev. From the age of four, he showed great dancing abilities, while still small, he threw a shawl over his shoulders and danced to Shchedrin's Carmen Suite. He had excellent natural data, and since childhood he has been engaged in a choreographic studio, is fond of gymnastics.
Study
When the boy was 10 years old, his parents made a serious decision. They send him to study at the Moscow Choreographic School. Here his teachers were A. Silantyev, E. Farmanyants, A. Markeeva. His classmates were V. Malakhov, Yu. Burlaka. In the final class, P. A. Pestov studied with Ratmansky. At school, Alex studied well, but was not a brilliant dancer. He was very diligent and efficient, but he was always in the shadow of his brilliant classmate V. Malakhov. According to tradition, the head of the Bolshoi Theater Yu. Grigorovich came to the final performance. But none of the graduates liked him, not even the brilliant Malakhov.
The beginning of a difficult journey
After graduating from college, Alexei Ratmansky returns to Kiev. This was not some sort of an outstanding start to a career, but still it was not bad for a newcomer. He works at the Kiev Opera and Ballet Theater and quickly begins to play leading roles. In his repertoire were almost all the classic parties. But it was a ceiling, there was nowhere to grow. He practically had no chance to escape from the Kiev theater . And then the Soviet Union collapsed, the Ukrainian salary was not enough even for everyday expenses. It was necessary to decide something, change your life.
Dancer career
During a 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 a western theater, even such a provincial one, was very different from work in Kiev. Alexei spends all the time in the studio: studying, rehearsing, improving. He worked here for three years, during which he learned Western discipline and commitment. For three years he danced in Canada in such performances as The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Esmeralda, The Darkness Between Us and others. Realizing that he is reaching the ceiling again, Ratmansky begins to visit European theaters and receives a contract with the Danish Royal Ballet. Here he dances not only in the classical repertoire, but also masters contemporary choreography. His collection includes productions: “Sweet complaints”, “Refrain”, “Ghosts”, several innovative plays on instrumental and modern music. For 15 years after graduating from college, 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, Bejart, Neumeier, Galeotti, Ek, Nureyev.
Director
Ratmansky Alexey Osipovich, choreographer, gives birth to his first productions even in the years of work in Kiev. He puts on several numbers for the tour, in particular the famous Yurliberlu. In 1997, he staged the one-act ballet Capriccio by I. Stravinsky for the big New Year program. Later in Denmark, Alexei Ratmansky begins to stage full-length performances, he tries his hand at the classics: The Nutcracker, Turandot's Dream, Anna Karenina. He begins to collaborate with the company Postmodern Theater, which engages him as a director to work on the ballet The Delights of Mannerism, which includes artists from the Bolshoi Theater. N. Ananiashvili becomes the real star of his productions, she dances in his performances "Dreams of Japan", "Lea". Ratmansky Aleksey, a Russian choreographer, is becoming famous, he is invited not only to enterprises, but also to repertoire theaters. He successfully combines work in Denmark with productions of 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 play "The Bright Way" at the Bolshoi Theater. The staging is clearly a success. And in 2004, quite unexpectedly for the general public, Alexei Ratmansky (Russian choreographer) led the Bolshoi Theater. The first performance that he staged at 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 staged 12 performances, including: “Bolt”, “Flames of Paris”, “Playing Cards”, “Bolero”, “Lost Illusions”. The years of his leadership were very successful for the Bolshoi. 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 the Bolshoi team really does not like it. Intrigues are constantly woven against him, the atmosphere in the theater does not favor calm creativity. In 2008, he leaves the Bolshoi of his own free will, as he feels that he is losing too much time and opportunities in the daily struggle with the troupe.
The Conquest of America
Alexei Ratmansky received many offers of cooperation, but for him in the first place was the opportunity to choose a repertoire and manage his time. In 2008, he accepts an offer from the American Ballet Theater and moves to New York. Here Ratmansky fully realizes his ideas. He restores some old editions of classical performances, he likes to delve into the archives, finding records of the great choreographers. Moreover, each of his performances is very modern, he not only revives the productions, but enlivens them and makes them relevant for today. For 8 years of work in America, Ratmansky is only gaining popularity. Today they write about him exclusively in excellent epithets; his performances are liked by the public, and critics, and artists, which is almost unbelievable. Among his productions in the USA are the performances “Firebird”, “The Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Russian Seasons”, “Pictures from the Exhibition”. He is increasingly leaning toward modern dance, his choreographic style can be described as experimental, ironic, synthesizing modern and classical.
Outstanding work
Alexei Ratmansky, whose photo is now adorned with posters of the best theaters in the world, has created many wonderful performances, and today he is at the peak of his creative form, so the list of his ballets will only grow. Today, experts attribute to his merits the new editions of the performances "The Bright Way", "The Nutcracker", "Sleeping Beauty." His efforts in the USA saw the brilliant production of Cinderella edited by Petipa. His productions of Concerto DSCH according to Shostakovich, Shakespeare's The Tempest, Playing Cards by I. Stravinsky, Anna Karenina Shchedrin became the pearls of modern ballet.
Awards
Alexei Ratmansky - a choreographer beloved by critics, has repeatedly received the highest awards. In 2005, he was awarded the Benoit De La Dance Prize for the performance of Anna Karenina, he received the Golden Mask award three times, for Dreams of Japan in 1999, for Bright Creek in 2004, and for Playing Cards ”in 2007. He also won such awards as the British Critics Award, Golden Spotlight Award, Isadora Duncan Award and others.
Private life
A busy creative life is often an obstacle to family happiness, but there are lucky people who manage to combine everything, it is to them that Alexei Ratmansky belongs. The choreographer's family is an example of happy creative and human unions. The young dancer was attractive to numerous fans and colleagues. The choice was rich, and the choreographer did not immediately make it. Today Ratmansky Alexey Osipovich, whose wife is also a ballerina, successfully combines his family with creativity. The wife dances in his productions, helps as an assistant choreographer. The couple has a son, Vasily.