The Presidential Library’s video lectures to mark the World Theater Day

March 27 is celebrated annually as the World Theater Day. Russian theater is a unique and original phenomenon that has no analogues in the world.

The Presidential Library’s portal, within the framework of the Knowledge of Russia project, presents in the Audiovisual Materials section video lectures by outstanding theatrical figures - a ballet dancer and a ballet teacher, the premiere of the Bolshoi Theater ballet in 1992-2013, vice Rector of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Nikolai Tsiskaridze and the famous dancer, choreographer, theater director, People's Artist of the USSR Vladimir Vasiliev.

In his lecture “The Russian Ballet School: Tradition and Modernity”, Nikolai Tsiskaridze emphasized that we have no equal in the field of classical ballet. At the same time, tradition and modernity, in his opinion, are very controversial concepts. Recently, in the ballet, drama, and opera theaters, there have been discussions about what theater is.

Ballet performances exist for 200 years, and, of course, undergo changes, also because fashion changes. One of the most famous ballets, Giselle, staged in 1842, "stuck in the ages" because it was at that time a revolutionary romantic ballet. Using his example, Tsiskaridze reflects on approaches to the Vaganova system, on whether it is worth preserving traditions in ballet or whether it is necessary to adjust the production to the modern audience.

He also spoke about the role and place of negative and positive characters in the ballet performance, explained why the negative character did not have the right to classical dance. Answering questions, Nikolai Tsiskaridze dwelled on the relationship and interaction between the Moscow and St. Petersburg ballet schools and traditions, expressed his opinion about the age at which one should start ballet, whether famous classical ballet productions should be remade and much more.

Vladimir Vasiliev's video lecture "Dance and Fate" (2017) is, in fact, his memories of childhood, youth, performances, colleagues and teachers and reflections on the essence of art and life, on the principles of creativity.

In a conversation with listeners, he answers various questions. For example, Vasiliev talks about his childhood and his great desire to read.

Music is the basis of ballet art, although once Vladimir Vasiliev had to dance "Narcissus" without musical accompaniment. "But Cherepnin's music still sat in me, I could not and did not want to get out of it", - the artist admitted.

In his opinion, one can dance under any conditions and at any age. World fame, recalled Vasiliev, came to Ulanova when she was 46 years old, and she danced Juliet.

As a theater director, Vladimir Vasiliev could not help but talk about his own directorial principles.

As part of the video lecture, excerpts from Vasiliev's very first ballet - "Les Sylphides" in 1958 with Galina Ulanova were show and a song based on his poems was performed.

The Presidential Library’s portal features an extensive collection The Year of Theater in Russia which includes official documents, archival materials, monographs, serials, visual, audiovisual and other materials. The collections is based on the archives of fund 497 "Directorate of the Imperial Theaters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs", stored in the Russian State Historical Museum. The collection is constantly updated and already contains more than 1,400 depository items.