The Moiseev Theater is official. Elena Shcherbakova: the ensemble named after Igor Moiseev is a unique phenomenon in world dance culture. About Tashkent and Uzbek dance

Today the Folk Dance Ensemble named after Igor Moiseev celebrates its anniversary. Exactly 80 years ago, Moiseev, soloist and choreographer of the Bolshoi Theater, held the first rehearsal with a small group of folk dance enthusiasts. Thus began the team’s journey to international recognition. On its eightieth birthday, the ensemble gives fans big performances at the country's main concert venues, including the Historical Stage of the Bolshoi Theater and the Tchaikovsky Hall. Elena Voroshilova reports.

Ninety-five ballet dancers perform a class-concert. Exercises at the barre are replaced by dances of the peoples of the world. In 1965, the “Road to Dance” program brought Igor Moiseev the Lenin Prize, and the ensemble received academic status.

“Moiseev is a brilliant director and philosopher. Creativity is good, that’s why it is modern,” says Elena Shcherbakova, director of the Moiseev Academic Folk Dance Ensemble.

Elena Shcherbakova has been in the ensemble since 1969. Soloist, teacher-tutor, director. He conducts rehearsals in a tough Moiseev style. Beginners learned a long time ago - when you go on stage, give it your all.

“The tradition before a performance is to put on a suit and check that everything is comfortable, so you have to walk at full speed in order to give your best at the concert,” says the ensemble’s soloist Ivan Makarov.

When creating a folk dance ensemble, Moiseev did not change ballet. A student of Gorsky, he combined classical with folk stage dance and said a new word in choreography.

The ensemble's repertoire includes two hundred numbers. And all this is the legacy of Moses. The Adyghe dance on buskins, choreographed by Aslan Khadzhaev, is an exception. It takes skill to avoid falling off the wooden platform.

“The main thing is posture, keep your back, we were told that after the rehearsal your back should hurt. Wooden shoes are necessary,” note the ensemble’s artists Maria Ionova and Anastasia Sorokina.

To become a Moiseevite, you need to study at a studio school for five years. It was opened in 1943. Here they teach not only dance, but also develop character.

“When we did this jump, I fell, then got up, you have to finish what you want to do,” explains studio school student Irina Smirnova.

This is the first course. They are thirteen. Every day from three to seven they do a class. No one is in a hurry to leave. And it has always been like this.

“We never looked at the clock, the rehearsal was going on, and we didn’t look at the clock, we were so carried away by the process,” recalls studio school director Guzel Apanaeva.

They already understand that dedication to the profession and honesty are the main thing in Igor Moiseev’s Ensemble, and they are ready to walk this path.

The world's first professional folk dance ensemble together with Natalia Letnikova.

1. “Feet later, carry your soul first”, - said Igor Moiseev at rehearsals. The troupe of the world's first folk dance ensemble traveled throughout the Soviet Union. The artists transferred disappearing dances and rituals to the stage straight from folklore expeditions.

2. How they dance in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania... The “Dances of Slavic Peoples” program, which still lives on stage, is already 70 years old. It was staged by Igor Moiseev without traveling abroad. And on the very first tour, the specialists were amazed by the accuracy of the hits.

3. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall is the home stage of the Moiseevites. The ensemble, already famous and even performing at receptions in the Kremlin, had nowhere to rehearse. Stalin personally suggested choosing a building. Igor Moiseev preferred the former Meyerhold Theater on Tverskaya.

4. “GANT USSR” - State Folk Dance Ensemble... and a tank. During the Great Patriotic War, the team traveled to Siberia, Transbaikalia, and the Far East. The artists earned one and a half million rubles and donated money to build a tank for the Soviet army.

5. Creative breakthrough of the Iron Curtain. 60 years ago, the Moiseev Ensemble became the first Soviet group to go on tour in a capital country. France enthusiastically received the dancers. The press dubbed the ensemble a ballet, recognizing its high art.

6. And again the only one in the world. Moiseevites are the owners of a luxury unprecedented for a dance group: their own symphony orchestra. 35 classical and folk musicians have been accompanying the dancers' performances since the 1940s.

7. “Whoever calls himself a soloist will be fired immediately”, said the creator of the group. The ensemble has no soloists and no corps de ballet: “Everyone learns everything.” But they have their own school and their own style. The selection for the team is strict, all artists dance both in solo roles and as extras.

8. The highest form of recognition for the Moiseevites is the fact that the people consider the work of the collective to be their own. Like the Bulba dance. Igor Moiseev came up with it while watching the potato harvest in Belarus, and years later he saw his production as folklore.

9. Moiseev’s ensemble was greeted with a sold-out crowd in 60 countries around the world. The dancers performed at the best concert venues on the planet, including La Scala and the Opera Garnier. For his productions, Igor Moiseev received about 30 foreign awards and the UNESCO Five Continents medal.

10. Choreographic miniatures and ballets, dance paintings and suites. Igor Moiseev brought high style to folk dance from academic dance. The soloist and choreographer of the Bolshoi led his ensemble for 70 years, staged 300 dances, and the 110th anniversary of the birth of Igor Moiseev is celebrated on the first stage of the master.

The State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble named after Igor Moiseev is the first and only professional choreographic group in the world engaged in the artistic interpretation and promotion of dance folklore of the peoples of the world.

The ensemble was organized on February 10, 1937, and since then the main artistic principles of its development have been continuity and creative interaction of traditions and innovation. The main task, which the founder of the ensemble Igor Moiseev (1906-2007) first set for the artists, was the creative processing of folklore samples existing in the USSR at that time. For this purpose, the ensemble's artists went on folklore expeditions around the country, where they found and recorded disappearing dances, songs, and rituals. As a result, the ensemble's first programs appeared: “Dances of the Peoples of the USSR” (1937-1938), “Dances of the Baltic Peoples” (1939). In the ensemble's repertoire, folklore samples received a new stage life and were preserved for several generations of spectators around the world. For this purpose, Igor Moiseev used all the means of stage culture: all types and types of dances, symphonic music, drama, scenography, acting.

An important stage was the development and creative interpretation of European folklore. The program “Dances of Slavic Peoples” (1945) was created in unique conditions: not being able to travel abroad, Igor Moiseev recreated living examples of dance creativity, consulting with musicians, folklorists, historians, and musicologists. On tour in 1946 in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, the audience was amazed at the accuracy of the productions and the true artistic meaning of the ensemble's stage works. From that time until now, the ensemble has been a school and creative laboratory for choreographers from different countries, and its repertoire serves as a kind of choreographic encyclopedia of the dance culture of the peoples of the world. With the direct participation of famous experts in folklore, choreographers Miklos Rabai (Hungary), Lubusha Ginkova (Czechoslovakia), Ahn Song Hee (Korea), whom Igor Moiseev involved in their work, the program “Peace and Friendship” (1953) was created, where for the first time samples of European and Asian dance folklore from eleven countries.

Based on the model of the folk dance ensemble of Igor Moiseev, choreographic groups were created in all republics of the USSR (now the CIS countries), as well as in many European countries.

The folk dance ensemble was the first Soviet group to go on tour during the Iron Curtain period. In 1955, the ensemble's artists performed for the first time in Paris and London. The triumph of the Soviet dance troupe served as the first step towards international détente. In 1958, Igor Moiseev’s ensemble was also the first Russian ensemble to perform in the USA. The successful tour, the American press admitted, melted the ice of mistrust in the USSR and became the basis for establishing new, constructive relations between our countries.

Another important achievement of the Folk Dance Ensemble is the creation of the unique, the only Moiseev School of Dance in the world (1943). Its distinctive features are high professionalism, virtuoso technical equipment, and the ability to convey the improvisational nature of folk performance. Actor-dancers trained by Igor Moiseev are widely educated, universal artists, fluent in all types of dance, capable of embodying national character in an artistic image. A dancer from the Moiseev school is the best recommendation anywhere on the planet, in a choreographic group of any direction. The ensemble's artists were awarded the titles of Honored and People's Artists of the USSR and Russia.

A clear expression of the creative principles of training actor-dancers is the program “The Road to Dance” (“Class Concert”), which clearly shows the creative path of the group from mastering individual elements to creating full-scale stage canvases. For the program “The Road to Dance” (1965), the group was the first of the folk dance ensembles to be awarded the title “Academic”, and Igor Moiseev was awarded the Lenin Prize.

For its concert activity, which has lasted more than 70 years, the group was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples. The ensemble has rightfully been and remains the calling card of our country abroad.

On different continents, audiences of different generations fell in love with the Ensemble’s “crown” numbers, which became the “calling cards” of the group: the legendary “Partisans”, the naval suite “Yablochko”, the ancient city Quadrille, the Moldavian Jock, the Ukrainian Hopak, the Russian dance “Summer”, the incendiary Tarantella. The Ensemble gained great success with its bright one-act performances staged by Igor Moiseev using the means and techniques of world folk and theatrical culture - “Vesnyanka”, “Tsam”, “Sanchakou”, “Polovtsian Dances” to the music of A. Borodin, “At the Skating Rink” on music by I. Strauss, “Night on Bald Mountain” to music by M. Mussorgsky, “Spanish Ballad” to music by Pablo di Luna, “Evening in a Tavern” to music by Argentine composers, etc.

And now, after the death of the permanent leader of the ensemble, Igor Moiseev, the choreographic level of the group still serves as an unsurpassed standard, and the title of “Moiseev” is synonymous with high professionalism.

On February 10, 1937, the State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble named after Igor Moiseev- a team that still has no analogues in the world. Moiseev created his own technique and a unique method of creative interpretation of folklore: his productions combine all types of dance, drama, symphonic music and acting. That’s why even now, after so many years, the ensemble continues to tour – and attracts full houses everywhere. AiF.ru suggests recalling several interesting facts from its history.

People's Artist of the USSR, artistic director of the State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble of the USSR Igor Moiseev, 1966. Photo: RIA Novosti / Umnov

While preparing new numbers, the team members went on folklore expeditions

When Igor Moiseev created his ensemble in the late 1930s, the artists were faced with an important task: the dancers had to display on stage the entire diversity of folklore of the USSR. The troupe traveled throughout the Union, studied disappearing songs, dances and rituals, and then creatively interpreted them and included them in their program.

In the Moiseev ensemble, all dancers are equal

One of the distinctive features of the group is the absence of soloists and corps de ballet. One artist can perform both leading and supporting roles.

Ukrainian dance performed by a folk dance ensemble led by Igor Moiseev. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Vyatkin

Unable to travel abroad, Igor Moiseev reliably recreated a number of Eastern European dances

In the 1940s, the artistic director of the ensemble staged the program “Dances of Slavic Peoples” - it included Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian and other dances. Since travel abroad was closed in those years, Moiseev consulted with historians, folklorists and musicologists while working. And when the troupe finally went on tour in 1946, spectators from Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and other countries were amazed at the accuracy of the productions.

Egyptian dance performed by soloists of the folk dance ensemble named after Igor Moiseev. Performance at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall of the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic. year 2009. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Vyatkin

Moiseev's ensemble was the first Soviet group to go on tour to France, Great Britain and the USA

In 1955, the group “cut through” the Iron Curtain, going on tour to Paris and London. And in 1958, the artists visited the USA - also the first of the Soviet dancers.

During the war, the money earned by the ensemble was used to build the GANT USSR tank.

In the 1940s, Moiseev's team toured Siberia, the Far East, Transbaikalia, and Mongolia. For its concerts, the ensemble earned about one and a half million rubles - with this money the tank “GANT USSR” (“State Folk Dance Ensemble of the USSR”) was built for the Soviet army.

Igor Moiseev at rehearsal. 1984 Photo: RIA Novosti / V. Malyshev

Igor Moiseev led the ensemble for 70 years

Choreographer Moiseev led the troupe for 70 years - almost until his death. When the artist passed away at the age of 101, his place in the team was taken by Elena Shcherbakova. She joined the ensemble as a 16-year-old girl, danced in the troupe for more than twenty years, and then worked as a teacher at the studio school at GAANT.

The daughter of a choreographer, teacher Olga Moiseeva, and director of the folk dance ensemble named after Igor Moiseev, Elena Shcherbakova, 2013. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Vyatkin

Moiseev's team performed at La Scala and Opera Garnier

GAANT is the only professional folk dance group that has performed on the stage of Milan's La Scala theater and the Parisian Opera Garnier (aka Grand Opera).

Based on the number of performances, the folk dance ensemble was included in the Russian Guinness Book of Records

The team toured more than 60 countries and entered the Russian Book of Records.

Artists of the folk dance ensemble named after Igor Moiseev perform Moldovan dances at the opening of the 77th season in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. year 2013. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Vyatkin

All concerts of the ensemble are accompanied by a small symphony orchestra

Initially, the ensemble had enough of a group of folk and national instruments, but in the late 1940s, due to the expansion of the repertoire, a small symphony orchestra was created within the ensemble. Now all the troupe’s concerts are accompanied by an orchestra of 35 people, and sometimes the musicians participate in the performance on stage.

The group's repertoire consists of approximately three hundred numbers

Over 77 years, Igor Moiseev staged about 300 numbers: choreographic miniatures, dance paintings, one-act ballets, and various suites. Some of them were created in the pre-war years, but still sell out.

On September 26-27, Tashkent will host one of the most anticipated cultural events, a long-awaited holiday for connoisseurs of the art of dance and music - the legendary State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble named after Igor Moiseev will perform on the stage of the Palace of Forums. 80 ballet dancers arrived to amaze Tashkent spectators with the beauty of dances of the peoples of the world.

On the eve of the charity concerts, we managed to talk with the artistic director of the ensemble, Elena Shcherbakova. She spoke about the history of the creation of the group, the repertoire, hard everyday life and tours, the creator of the ensemble - choreographer and choreographer Igor Moiseev, and shared her impressions of Tashkent, which she visited 36 years ago.

About the history of the ensemble and its creator

The ensemble was created in 1937. Igor Aleksandrovich Moiseev is a great choreographer, director, philosopher, creator of the genre of folk stage choreography, who brought folk dance to the professional stage and made it a professional art form based on his own unique choreography, which is subject to the laws of stage art. Igor Moiseev created his own school at the ensemble, which was founded in the most difficult times - at the very height of the Great Patriotic War, in 1943. Today, 99% of the ensemble’s artists are the best graduates of our school. This year, the school-studio at the ensemble will celebrate its 75th anniversary.

The red thread running through all of Igor Moiseev’s unique work is his philosophy of goodness, which today not only fully preserves, but also enhances Igor Moiseev’s Ballet - to bring goodness to people, regardless of political regimes, ethnicity, religion.

How future ensemble artists learn

We accept children from 12 to 14 years of age into the school, after the 8th grade of secondary school.

We do not focus on having children perform from the first year of study - they perform their first concert just before graduation, because the most important thing for us is to teach them the basics of classical dance, the basics of acting and, of course, the Moiseev school of dance. Without this, entering the big stage is impossible. Our main task is for students to understand that everything they will dance on stage is clear to the viewer. Every movement of the head, arm, leg should say something, tell something. There is no folk dance without a theme.

About the workdays of the “Moiseevites”

The Moiseevites have a six-day working week, with only one day off. Our working day begins at 10 am, with a classical dance lesson to prepare the artist for rehearsals and lasts until 15.00, and then from 19.00 to 21.00. Between our rehearsals, school classes are held in our halls. Unfortunately, she still does not have her own building.

About ballet dancers

There are a total of 90 ballet dancers in the ensemble, their average age is 23-25 ​​years. But we have a unique artist, Rudiy Khojoyan, People’s Artist of Russia, holder of many orders and medals, who at 75 years old superbly performs the main role of “Father” in the Jewish suite “Family Joys,” staged specifically for him by Igor Moiseev in 1994. Rudiy Khojoyan is also an accompanist for all oriental and Caucasian dances in the ensemble. He is a teacher and tutor of the dance of the Argentine shepherds “Gaucho” - the hallmark of the ensemble.

About the repertoire

We have preserved the entire repertoire of Igor Moiseev, which was performed in the last years of his life, and even increased it. Now our repertoire includes 200 unique numbers. We are constantly changing and updating the program - so, to the existing one we have added 7 new dances and one mini-performance - “Tango “Del Plata”” staged by Argentine choreographer Laura Roatta, which premiered in May 2018.

About the ensemble phenomenon

We have completely preserved all the unique heritage of Igor Moiseev, all the traditions laid down by the master, the Moiseev school of dance. Our performances are different in that everything that happens on stage is true. In addition, our artists have unique energy and the ability to ignite enthusiasm among the public. Even phlegmatic spectators at our concerts become temperamental. The ensemble of Igor Moiseev is the only group that has its own small symphony orchestra (32 people). All musical arrangements were written specifically for our orchestra. The repertoire includes unique one-act ballets staged by Igor Moiseev to the music of Russian symphonic composers - Borodin, Mussorgsky, Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov.

About my own creative path

I joined the ensemble (1969) after graduating from the choreographic school at the Bolshoi Theater, now the Academy of Choreography. Having seen the ensemble while still a student, I decided for myself that if I didn’t get into the ensemble, then I wouldn’t dance and would immediately go to the pedagogical department of GITIS. I'm lucky. Igor Moiseev accepted me into the ensemble. Having worked for 23 years, becoming a soloist of the ensemble, before retiring, Igor Aleksandrovich invited me to try myself as a teacher at our school, and two years later, in 1994, he made me an offer to become the director of the ensemble. The time was very difficult, the 90s, perestroika, no one cared about art. But we managed to preserve the ensemble in its original form!

Elena Shcherbakova and Igor Moiseev

About art in the modern world

On November 2, 2018, it will be 11 years since our creator has been with us, but we are holding the bar to the highest level, everything is as it was under Igor Alexandrovich. Unfortunately, today there is a tendency to include pop elements and modern music in folk dances. I don't accept this. I am for the purity of the genre. I am for every nation to preserve and pass on folk dances from generation to generation. For me, folk dance and the word “show” are incompatible.

In addition, developing technologies are sometimes not the best companions for art, since they choke spirituality. People stop reading books - the Internet thinks for them.

Today decoration is very fashionable - a lot of lights, light decorations, costumes with sparkles. But among the people everything was different. The motto of the Moiseevites is a minimum of decoration - a maximum of performance.

About Tashkent and Uzbek dance

I am shocked by the beauty of Tashkent, like all our artists who are here for the first time. Oriental hospitality can be felt at every corner. It has been a long-standing dream to return the ensemble to Uzbekistan, and Gazprombank, Uzbekneftegaz JSC, and the International Oilfield Service Company Eriell Group were able to realize it, for which many thanks to them.

I was in Tashkent 36 years ago, during our tour, and this is a very long time, considering that we are promoting the culture of Uzbekistan around the world. The ensemble's repertoire includes an Uzbek dance with dishes, choreographed by Igor Moiseev back in 1937. Now he is a huge success. This year in Italy the audience gave the Uzbek dance a standing ovation.