Alexander Ivanovich Pushkin (September 7, 1907 - March 20, 1970) is a ballet dancer and an outstanding ballet teacher. Honored Artist of the RSFSR ( 1968 ) [1] .
| Alexander Pushkin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alexander Ivanovich Pushkin |
| Date of Birth | September 7, 1907 |
| Place of Birth | Mikulino-Gorodishche village, Staritsky district , Tver province , Russia |
| Date of death | March 20, 1970 (62 years old) |
| A place of death | Leningrad , USSR |
| Citizenship |  Russian Empire →  the USSR |
| Profession | ballet dancer , ballet teacher |
| Theatre | Mariinskii Opera House |
| Awards |  |
Biography
Born on September 7, 1907 in the village of Mikulino-Settlement of the Tver province, now Lotoshinsky district of the Moscow region .
He studied at the private school of Nikolai Legat , where Vera Volkova was his partner, then at the Petrograd Theater School (teacher Vladimir Ponomarev ).
Since 1925 - at the Kirov Theater . While still a young dancer, he began teaching and became an outstanding teacher of male classical dance at the Leningrad Choreographic School (1932-1970). As a teacher and mentor, he brought up a galaxy of world stars of ballet dancers such as Askold Makarov , Rudolf Nureyev , Mikhail Baryshnikov , Yuri Soloviev , Sergey Vikulov , Oleg Vinogradov .
The system of movements of Pushkin was based on the experience of musical theater, the experience that, starting from the 17th century, raised Russian ballet to an academic level. This system of movements arose relatively recently, having left the folk-characteristic, everyday and other types of dance. It is this system that is associated with the concepts of “Russian” and “classical” ballet. Alexander Ivanovich himself had the unique gift of composing educational combinations — logical, consistent, danceable and, at the same time, extremely useful for the development of coordination, “educating” the body of the dancer. This system, designed to make the body disciplined, mobile and beautiful, turns it into a sensitive instrument, obedient to the will of the choreographer and the performer himself. The pedagogical gift, the ability to transfer his experience to the student and give him a chance to ignite the flame of genius from a spark of talent, allowed A.I. Pushkin to educate such talented ballet dancers. In 1951, Pushkin adopted the improvement class for dancers of the Kirov Theater from Vladimir Ivanovich Ponomarev. The premieres of not only the ballet of Leningrad, but of the whole world, were striving to get to the “star class” —that was what Pushkin’s lessons were called. The hall where mastery classes were held was always crowded.
A.I. Pushkin tragically died on March 20, 1970 in Leningrad. Alexander Ivanovich had a heart attack on the street. And when, having fallen, he asked passers-by for help, no one helped: everyone thought he was drunk. After all, when asked what his name was, he answered: “Alexander Pushkin ...”
students
- Rudolf Nureyev
An experienced teacher, A.I. Pushkin managed to discern a bright, original talent in Nureyev. Nureyev subsequently gratefully recalled his teacher: Alexander Ivanovich was his only truly close person at the school, whom he loved and respected like no other. When Nureyev was supposed to graduate from ninth grade and leave school, A.I. Pushkin, despite Rudolph's desire to begin an independent career, convinced him to stay at the school for another year. The author of a biographical book about Nureyev Otis Stewart believes that: “their joint work on the classical repertoire not only strengthened the artist’s technique, but also became the basis of his amazing ballet erudition ...”
After the dancer decided to emigrate from the USSR and become a “defector,” A. I. Pushkin had to repeatedly give explanatory testimonies about his former student in the KGB of the USSR .
From the book “Silver Ball: Overcoming Yourself. Dramas Behind the Stage
Engaged with him (Nureyev) Alexander Ivanovich Pushkin. His pedagogical glory was great. Nureyev was his favorite student. The zeal of Nureyev conquered Pushkin, as did his musicality. Before leaving for Paris, Rudolph practically lived in the family of his teacher.
On May 11, 1961, the Kirov Ballet troupe flew to Paris, Nureyev never saw Alexander Ivanovich again, although he always remembered his cozy apartment in the courtyard of the Choreographic School. It was a house where he was loved.
- Mikhail Baryshnikov
In 1964, the Riga Opera and Ballet Theater toured in Leningrad, in the performances of which sixteen-year-old student of the Riga Choreographic School Mikhail Baryshnikov was engaged. During these tours, one of the artists of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. Kirov invited A.I. Pushkin to see the young artist. A.I. Pushkin examined the boy and invited him to go to school, which predetermined his fate. So Baryshnikov became a student of the famous Russian ballet school, and then a soloist of the ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov.
Mikhail Baryshnikov: “The fact that I got to Petersburg was almost an accident. Of course, I wanted to go to school myself, but I had a patron, who herself studied for several years in St. Petersburg in Vaganovsky. She knew Alexander Ivanovich Pushkin secretly, as she was a close friend of Tangiev, my teacher, and organized this meeting. All. The rest is a matter of history. Pushkin took me to Shelkov, the director of the Vaganovsky school, and forced me to do two rounds in front of his nose, right on his heels. A small exercise in the office, and Pushkin simply said: “I’m taking it!” Silkov, of course: “We have to wait and see. Let him come for an exam! ”But then, when we were already downstairs, Alexander Ivanovich reassured me:“ Don’t worry, I wrote you to my class ””.
- Alla Osipenko
Alexander Ivanovich Pushkin, quiet, modest, shy and at the same time with a huge sense of humor. We, artists, often asked him for a lesson in order to “jump” more. A.I. himself danced for a long time, because then there were still problems with pensions. There was no law on 20 years of service on the ballet stage. I also had a chance to dance with him in the ballet Red Poppy, in Phoenix, performed in six pairs. I was worried. It was very responsible ... And once A. I. turned out to be a predictor to me. He was engaged in a theater class John Markovsky . I was at a lesson with A. I. that day. We stood with him at the piano, and suddenly he said to me: “Alla, look what a good boy he graduated from school. He will be able to dance everything. And how does support! .. Take it as your partner. " I laughed, deciding that this joke. In those years, no one had our partners, we danced with those whom the leadership posed. But ... a miracle happened. A few years later, John becomes my regular and beloved partner. Together with him, we soon left the Kirov Theater. We started our own new interesting creative life. Thanks to A. I., his providence, his sensitivity, which brought me so many creative joys.
Notes
- ↑ Pushkin, Alexander Ivanovich // Russian Ballet: Encyclopedia. - M.: Big Russian Encyclopedia, Concord, 1997.