The artistic director of the Astana Ballet Theatre, Honored Artist of Russia and Tatarstan Nurlan Kanetov told what to expect the audience of the Astana Ballet in 2023.
In 2023, Astana Ballet celebrates its 10th anniversary, this is a very important landmark in the history of the capital theatre. In your opinion, what is the mission of the theatre?
I think the mission of any theatre is to be a lively space for communication, art, and reflection. We create performances through which a dialogue is built between their creators and the audience. It is this communication that leads to reflection. After visiting the theatre, a person sometimes finds answers to the most important questions.
From your point of view, who creates the history of the theatre?
The theatre is a living organism, a contexture of so many components. Plenty of people create the theatre: they are not only the director, choreographers, and dancers, but also people who are not in the public eye. They are the fighters on “the invisible front”, by the way, we filmed a series of videos about them in order to reveal the nuances of behind-the-scenes work. Of course, the dancers are the heart of the theatre team. But there is no such situation when everything depends on one person.
On what basis do you select performances?
This is a very interesting question. We focus on our inner feelings — how interesting it will be to the audience, and whether it turns our hearts personally. Fortunately, we have not made any mistakes yet. It is extremely significant when choosing performances to try to predict what will be captivating to the modern audience.
We preserve national ballet traditions and simultaneously keep up with the times, so we are not afraid to invite directors with different creative views, who offer dancers various ways of existence, and offer spectators unusual points of view. We have repeatedly said that the repertoire of our theatre is diverse and multi-genre.
According to your observations, what performance is the most beloved by the capital audience?
There are spectators who repeatedly visit the same performances. The author’s performances created by Mukaram Avakhri, chief choreographer of the theatre – “Sultan Baybars”, “Salome”, “The Silk Road”, “The Arcana of Fate”, as well as our children’s performances “The Nutcracker” and “The Snow Queen” are very loved by the public — tickets are sold out long before the event and they gather constant full houses. However, I want to emphasize that all our performances are in demand with the capital audience, and this is the highest assessment of our work.
But personally, what is your favourite performance?
You know, when we have a new play being staged, I immediately fall in love with it. This is naturally determined. After all, if you do not like what you do, you should leave the profession.
How do you rate the anniversary season of the theatre?
For the theatre, the anniversary season has become a period of implementation of new bright and interesting creative projects, premieres, as well as new tours in Kazakhstan and abroad. We are pleased with this season, although there are still many exciting things ahead!
But first of all, I would like to emphasize that it is extremely significant for our entire team to feel the warmth of caring, cordial support of our spectators and their lively interest in our work!
What are the theatre’s plans in the near future?
In April, the premiere of two modern productions will take place: “Soli Deo Gloria” staged by Ainur Abilgazina, and “Nine” choreographed by Olzhas Makhanbetaliev.
In addition, there will be the premiere of the choreographic production “Zheti Kazyna”, staged by the winners of the I Republican Competition “Ashyq Sakhna”. The main objectives of this project are to find and support talented choreographers, stage designers, composers, and script writers in the field of choreographic art from all regions of Kazakhstan, as well as to look for new ideas and forms for the development of modern national choreography, and to strengthen national traditions in the field of ballet art.
Will there be any tours?
Tours are planned to Aktobe and Almaty to present the masterpieces of world and national classics, as well as original choreographic productions. We will announce the tour program very soon, but I am sure the audience will be delighted.
Do you plan to involve star performers in cooperation?
At the end of March, a high-profile cultural event will take place – a joint concert of the symphony orchestra of the Astana Ballet Theatre and the Kazakhstani music group URKER, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the legendary group.
Moreover, the performance “Carmen Suite” will be shown with the participation of unsurpassed dancers of our time – Svetlana Zakharova and Diana Vishneva, accompanied by the orchestra! The audience will have a chance to enjoy the incredibly passionate and technically complex ballet “Carmen Suite” by G. Bizet – R. Shchedrin in the iconic production by the Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso.
At the top of the event list there is the Gala Ballet on the occasion of the end of the season, the cast of the participants and the program of which is still kept secret, but we assure you, the audience will be presented with the wonderful multifaceted world of ballet: from classics to unique productions of modern choreographic art.
What dreams do you have regarding the future of the theatre?
We want to make our theatre a real gem of choreographic art and a center of attraction for residents not only of the whole country, but also of the whole world! After all, this is a theatre with its own unique history, with an incredible company and huge potential. The fact is that our theatre has grown seriously in a creative sense. Our spectators, theatre critics, and ourselves, without false modesty, recognize this fact. I am glad that there is such trend in our country — theatres attract interest because this is undoubtedly a very important part of human life