Swanning Around

If you think this is cold then think again. For The Russian State Ballet of Siberia, these temperatures are positively clement.

So for the men and women in tights, coming to Oxford on Monday will be a walk in the park.

Arkady Zinov, who plays the Prince in Sleeping Beauty, says: “The temperature in Siberia can drop to -30C or even -40C, but children are only allowed to stay at home and not to go to school when temperatures drop below -30C. So we come over to warm up in Britain,” he smiles.

Arkady must find our whole attitude to snow hysterical then? “Well, at home everyone wraps up in furs and warm clothes,” he adds. “We are used to the cold and do not complain.

“So our hearts sink when we see British girls in the cold queueing up at club entrances bareheaded and dressed in tiny summer short skirts and tops in freezing temperatures.

“We can’t understand why they need to be practically naked in the street when they could take off their coats inside.”

But Arkady remembers it snowing heavily in the UK this time last year as well. “People really struggled to come and see our performances. But I was taken not only by the reception of the audience, but with the beauty of your city. I always admire how your country preserves its history and traditions, I can’t say the same about my country where a beautiful historic building can be demolished and an office block built on the site.”

Those who didn’t manage to make it to their performances missed out, because The Russian State Ballet of Siberia is superb.

Arkady admits it’s hard work. He said: “To get to the top of the ballet in Siberia, is similar to any other place or company – every day spent exercising and sweating in the ballet class and rehearsals, sharpening your techniques and developing skills.”

So is his training still as hard on tour? “We train until the pain in our muscles comes and goes away, every day. But I don’t regret choosing the profession of a ballet dancer. And in Russia when I was young, ballet dancers were considered macho and are respected.

“So the beauty of the profession is that you can demonstrate your talent to audiences in other countries and receive recognition of your hard work in the ballet class.”

But with every round of applause comes a sacrifice. “Yes that’s true,” Arkady concedes. “You need to be at the ballet bar every morning, at rehearsals in the afternoon and performances in the evening. You need moderation in meals and cakes, when your friends are basking in bed, enjoying a good meal and drinks or having a fun night out. Our life is more restricted.”

And yet nothing could have stopped Arkady fulfiling his destiny. “My parents asked me if I wanted to be a Prince when I was eight years old. Who could refuse?” he laughs. “We all need to have a dream. What would life be without a dream?”

Quite.

“It makes no sense to dance when you do not understand what you’re doing,” says Maria Kuimova who plays Princess Odette in Swan Lake, a professional in every sense of the word. “So I always do my utmost to deliver the dream.”

But as the lead swan, Maria has one of the most complex routines, namely the numerous pirouettes that conclude the ballet. “Swan Lake is technically the most difficult classical ballet,” Maria agrees, “and multiple pirouettes are very hard to do. Ballerinas can get dizzy doing them and fall into the Prince’s arms. But as all little girls do, I always dreamed of meeting my Prince.”

Maria’s dreams came true through hard work and an understanding family. “When I was a child I loved to dance,” Maria tells me, “so my mum made a decision to take me to the ballet school, where one could receive general education together with special professional ballet education.”

But weren’t most people out skating in Siberia rather than taking ballet lessons? “No, because in Krasnoyarsk there are only one or two ice skating-rinks. And I don’t see people skating on the streets. But we had a full house at our performances,” she says.

Fair enough. But how hard was it to get to the top of the ballet world in Siberia? “It is hard in any country and any company. You must exercise and improve yourself every day,” Maria advises.

“And sometimes I have to resist sweets and have to exercise instead of going to the movies, but in the end it is worth the effort when you come on stage and bring joy to the audience.”

As for being homesick, Maria shrugs and giggles: “I don’t miss home as I live with my parents and it is good to have a break.”

* The Russian State Ballet of Siberia will be performing Swan Lake on Monday and Tuesday and Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday at Oxford’s New Theatre. Call the box office on 0844 8471588.