Today’s dancers are weak and self-obsessed, says ballet star
ONE of the world’s most celebrated ballerinas has accused younger dancers of being weak, lacking dedication and being too concerned with their own happiness.
Diana Vishneva recalled learning her craft under harsh conditions while subject to fierce competition in Russia – in stark contrast to today’s youths.
“I was lucky. I came from a generation of teachers who were great at preparing us,” Vishneva, 40, recalled. “Today’s dancers are weaker, less prepared even than our graduation class.
“I remember how it was in my time. There were holes in the floor and it was always terribly cold, because the window frames were not fixed properly. But there was good discipline and we were very concentrated.
“Now, with this different style, with the internet, young people get so much information and their attention is taken away from work. I was taught not to spare myself, to give everything I had.” Vishneva was born in St Petersburg, making her name with the Mariinsky company. She has spent the past 12 years as a principal at the American Ballet Theatre, before stepping down. She still dances with the Mariinsky and will perform in London this summer in Alexei Ratmansky’s Anna Karenina and Alberto Alonso’s Carmen Suite.
She told The Sunday Times she was concerned by developments at the Vaganova ballet academy, where she studied, since Bolshoi-trained Nikolai Tsiskaridze became head. “When we were entering school, 90 people were competing for one place. That is why we were so determined.”