Wayne Eagling English choreographer Date of Birth: 27.11.1950 Country: Great Britain

1. Wayne Eagling: A Biography of the English Choreographer
2. Drawing Inspiration from a Classic Fairy Tale
3. Collaborating with Composer Vangelis
4. The Challenges of Performing at the Kremlin Palace
5. Unfamiliar Works and Potential Future Projects
6. Thoughts on Sergei Polunin and Nikolai Tsiskaridze

Wayne Eagling: A Biography of the English Choreographer

Wayne Eagling, a renowned English choreographer, is known for his sense of humor and his ability to create captivating ballet productions. On January 22nd, the premiere of his ballet "Beauty and the Beast" will take place at the State Kremlin Palace, featuring music by Greek composer Vangelis. As the former director of the English National Ballet, Eagling sat down for an interview with a correspondent from Izvestia to discuss his work and experiences.

Drawing Inspiration from a Classic Fairy Tale

When asked about his inspiration for the ballet, Eagling explained that he drew from the ancient fairy tale by Charles Perrault, long before Walt Disney's famous adaptation. He aimed to recreate the atmosphere of Jean Cocteau's film "Beauty and the Beast," which he found to be darker than Disney's version. Eagling first staged this ballet as a one-act production at the Royal Opera House in 1986. However, for the Kremlin Ballet, he expanded it into a full-length performance, adding 45 minutes of new choreography and incorporating numerous forest characters.

Collaborating with Composer Vangelis

Eagling shared his experience of working with the renowned and rumored-to-be temperamental composer Vangelis. They had previously collaborated on Eagling's first ballet, "Frankenstein, a Modern Prometheus," which led to a friendship. Eagling proposed that Vangelis compose the music for his second ballet, and the composer agreed. Despite being on different continents at the time (Vangelis in Los Angeles and Eagling in London), they communicated over the phone, with Vangelis playing his compositions directly into the receiver and then sending tapes to Eagling. This transatlantic collaboration resulted in a successful partnership.

The Challenges of Performing at the Kremlin Palace

When discussing the venue for the premiere, Eagling acknowledged that the Kremlin Palace is known for its size, which can pose challenges for ballet performances. It is twice the size of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Eagling explained that if the audience sits too far away, the dancers may appear tiny, preventing the spectators from fully immersing themselves in the performance. However, he noted that the technical equipment at the Kremlin Palace is of high quality.

Unfamiliar Works and Potential Future Projects

Eagling mentioned his ballet "Nijinsky," which may be unfamiliar to Russian audiences. It is a theatrical ballet about the life of Vaslav Nijinsky, which Eagling previously staged in Naples many years ago, with Vladimir Vasiliev dancing the role of Nijinsky. Eagling expressed his admiration for Vasiliev, calling him his hero. He also discussed his departure from the English National Ballet in 2012, stating that he would consider leading another company if the opportunity arose. Currently, he plans to take a year off to spend time with his family before embarking on two major projects: staging a new production of "Sleeping Beauty" in Tokyo and dancing alongside Sergei Polunin in Peter Schaufuss's ballet "Midnight Express" in London.

Thoughts on Sergei Polunin and Nikolai Tsiskaridze

Eagling expressed his admiration for Sergei Polunin, considering him one of the best dancers of the past 5-10 years. He revealed that he had observed Polunin during his time at the Royal Ballet School and would have offered him a contract if he had not joined the Royal Ballet. Regarding Polunin's departure from the company, Eagling believed that he may have risen to the top too quickly and lacked sufficient support from the troupe. However, Eagling believed that Polunin could make a comeback, especially now that there is a new director at the Royal Ballet. Eagling also spoke highly of Vadim Muntagirov, another talented dancer working in the English National Ballet. He emphasized the importance of providing necessary support and creating a comfortable environment for young dancers.

Regarding Nikolai Tsiskaridze's criticism of the Bolshoi Theatre's management, Eagling humorously suggested that Tsiskaridze may want to become the director himself. He acknowledged that criticism can be valuable and that it is impossible to please everyone as the director of a company. Eagling emphasized the importance of listening, especially when feedback comes from the troupe's stars. He believed that Tsiskaridze's criticism may stem from his desire to make the Bolshoi Theatre even better.