VAGANOVA TEACHER SEMINARS

Mansur Kamaletdinov, Master Ballet Teacher. Mansur Kamaletdinov’s 2009/2010 Teacher Seminars cover the study of teaching methodology for Classical Ballet and Character Dance, including Technique, Pointe and Variations from Classical and Classical Character repertoire.

Former Principal Dancer, Teacher, Ballet Master, Choreographer and Acting Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet.

This is an extraordinary and unique opportunity for ballet teachers to tap into over 50 years of teaching experience as well as the opportunity to learn from one of the few surviving dance professionals who studied directly under Aggripina Vaganova herself. The program thus brings the legacy of The Vaganova Academy, which produced Pavlova, Nijinksi, Nureyev and Baryshnikov, directly to dedicated teachers in North America.

The seminars are unique for a number of reasons. Mansur studied with Alexander Shirayev, who was Marius Petipa’s assistant, and thus provides an unbroken link from the original creators of this art. Mansur’s knowledge of the original classical repertoire comes directly from teachers, dancers, ballet masters and choreographers who themselves worked directly with Petipa, Fokine and other greats. Mansur also worked directly with Vakhtang Chabukiani and learned his repertoire directly as it was being created. As a Ballet Master at the Bolshoi, where he worked for over 15 years, Mansur taught his students Classical and Classical Character choreography in its original, unadulterated form before it began to be altered. Furthermore, Mansur is possibly the last living authority on Character Dance, having studied with Shirayev who codified the art form during Petipa. Many of Mansur’s students, such as Vladimir Vasiliev and Maris Liepa became international superstars of ballet. Many also became outstanding and renowned teachers in their own right.

Each seminar will be conducted in the form of a class with Mansur’s Master Class and Summer School students. Unlike other programs that only use dancers who act simply as models, this program allows attendees to see the actual teaching and learning process. Over the course of six days, attending teachers will see this process bear fruit as the dancers learn and perfect the repertoire under Mansur’s expert teaching technique.

We encourage you to take advantage of these programs which will greatly enhance your teaching and give you the tools to teach original choreography as it was intended to be performed by its creators. We look forward to meeting you and feel free to e-mail or call us at 412-343-1926 with any questions.

VAGANOVA SUMMER SCHOOL PITTSBURGH, PADATES TO BE ANNOUNCED BY NOVEMBER 1, 2009