Highlights from the life of a prima ballerina
Tirana Times
Tirana, Dec 22 – Galina Ponareva has been an active member of the ballet scene for over a decade. Though the Russian native is only 26, her dance career has spanned over fifteen years and has brought her to some of the most prestigious dance academies.
“As a ballerina, it is important to start early. Ballet is incredibly demanding both physically and mentally; so if ones hopes to become a professional dancer, it’s something that needs to be trained from a very early age. Most people think tutus and pink and pointe shoes and slippers in a merry-Happy-Time world. Like cotton candy or something. But you realize that it’s just another jobءnd a hard one at that! You put yourself through a lot every day. Many dancers tend to be perfectionists. One of the strange things is you critique yourself, you are your worst critic.”
While Galina may be her worst critic, it appears that others have embraced her skill and performances even from a young age. At the age of six Galinaطho began her dance career on iceآecame the champion of her figure skating age group in Russia. In fact, her choreographer, a former professional ballerina, was so impressed with her talent that she encouraged her to consider a career in ballet.
“She started talking to my mother about this and of course, like most young girls, I liked the idea of becoming a ballerina,” remembers Galina. “But I considered ballet something far too difficult and beyond my level.”
“When I was 10 my parents finally sent me to the ballet school to try out. I was accepted immediately, but I had a difficult time trying to combine ice-skating and ballet, and also because I felt I eventually would have to make a decision. The training is completely different, so after one year my mother wanted me to choose. I don’t know why, but I took ballet. And that was it.”
Since then, the prima ballerina excelled in her work and earned a scholarship to continue training in the United States, and later moved on to large stages in New York and around the world.
“I feel lucky that I could work with almost every major company in the world and I always considered it a privilege to learn different styles: Balanchine with New York City Ballet, Bournonville with the Royal Danish, MacMillan with the Royal Ballet. And I never came there with the attitude of “I’m already the big ballerina. There’s nothing more I can learn.” No, I always had a good relationship and there isn’t a place where I only went once; I always return,” she adds.
In addition to her passion for dance, Galina’s love of travel has helped maintain her motivation despite the physical stress of demanding dance routines and continuous touring. In the last few months alone, the ballerina has danced in Moscow, Japan, London, China, the U.S and then Japan again. With this rigorous schedule, one would imagine that Galina finds little free time, but in fact it was one of her periods off that she credits for being inspired to come to Albania. While in France, Galina attended an opera by Albanian soprano, Inva Mula, in Avignon. Impressed with her talent, Galina became curious about other elements of the Albanian artistic scene.
“Of course I had heard of Albania before,” she comments. “But I honestly never thought it was a place that I absolutely would be drawn to. However, I actually have always been a fan of Inva Mula and her mother who is Russian. After the show, I had the honor of meeting with Inva through some contacts of mine, and she encouraged me to visit her country. I couldn’t refuse her,” remarks the ballerina with a smile.
As a result, Galina came to Albania to view its ballet scene and understand a country she had previously dismissed. In addition to visiting several coastal cities and cultural tourism sites, the dancer has been able to tour some of the dance schools in Tirana and attend performances at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet.
“I have enjoyed this experience. It taught me that I never know enough and helped me gain some perspective on my U.S.-based career. For example, the working system is totally different in the West and every company has its own style and manner. You just trust them, no problem. At the same time, some younger dancers have funny ideas about coaching. They think that when they are corrected the coach dislikes them. They don’t realize it’s for their own good. Here, I noticed that the coaching critiques are not contested and there also seems to be a more uniform method.”
“Another difference I have come to understand is that the schedule is different. Like in America, there is for instance two months of performing and then there follows a time to rehearse. They work with blocks in the West, which is very hard. I sometimes cannot understand how they can dance like thirty-two Nutcrackers in one month,” adds Galina.
In fact, though Galina is only 26ءn age at which most non-dancers are only beginning their careersشhe ballerina anticipates that her remaining years of dancing are limited. As she explained, many opera houses, such as the Paris Op곡 and many in Denmark, now have age limits for their dancers and dismiss ballerinas when they reach a certain age in favor of younger dancers.
“In a way that’s fine, but on the other hand it’s wrong, because you need examples. It’s so important when you start out that you have these great artists in front of you, dancers you respect and admire, and from whom you can learn. That’s why when I finish my professional career look forward to working as an instructor and helping the young dancers on whom there is so much pressure these days,” remarks Galina.
Expressing this final comment with a sense of both sadness and enthusiasm, the veteran ballerina also notes that she would love to work with theatres and schools in especial need of advancement.
“I think it’s important to spread the existing talent in a way that they could have the maximal impact. I mean, let’s take Albania as an example. It’s a great place with lots of youth and excellent potential. It would also stand to gain a lot by adding to its cultural sector, like dance, theatre, and music. It could be fantastic. Yes, if I had the opportunity, it would be an honor for me to come and give what I can to nourish a richer cultural scene here.”
