Galery

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I dream of it very often, but the interesting thing is that, I don’t dance, but that I have some kind of problem with the play. For example, that I am in an unknown for me theatre and I have to get to the stage but get lost in the halls. The music is already on and I don’t manage to find the door to get on stage. 

Actually, how did you decide to become a ballerina? I guess that since you have been a little girl, as all young girls, something strongly attracted you and probably this wasn’t just putting on the pink dress… 

Very simple, from a very young age my mother and I visited all the ballet plays. I started dancing when I was four years old in different schools with very good instructors, so I didn’t have a problem getting into a ballet school. During all the nine years in ballet school, simultaneously I worked with one of the best Bulgarian ballerinas from the past – Valia Verbeva, now deceased, who gave up many ballet “secrets”. Not only did she study with Vaganova in Leningrad, but she has taken the best from the French schools. Later on, as a ballerina I had the pleasure to work with the famous Bulgarian ballerina Vera Kirova. For a very short time she managed to prepare me for the Ballet competition in Varna during 1994. from her I learned and mastered the “fine points in this art.” 

OK, but when you love ballet so much, how did you make the decision to stop? 

Circumstances decided it, not I. Actually I never left ballet. In my everyday work I keep on dancing with my students – everything I teach them, I show it to them – I dance. It is sad to sit behind stage and watch my students perform the annual plays we have been working on. But when I see the satisfaction of the audience, I’m satisfied too. 

Right now, you are probably inspired and motivated by different things. Tell me about your work in the ballet school, which is the best part of it all? 

In a professional school undoubtedly one of the most important things is the everyday effort. Most of all discipline and responsibility are required. But because you are asking me about the best part of the job, I can say that it is the annual concert on the American University stage in Athens – a very nice theatre with an excellent stage and technical possibilities. I don’t want to ignore also the great atmosphere in the school, the goodness and dedication of the administration and the owners of this ballet school. 

Which part is the one closest to you and is your character? 

My favourite ballet is “Giselle.” It is a very beautiful story about the power of love, which is stronger even than death. I didn’t get the chance to dance the whole play, because the role is for a prime ballerina, but as a participant in the International ballet competitions in Varna, I had the chance to play some of the most beautiful part of this ballet. During 1990 I played a variation from the first act and during 1994, one very beautiful pas de deux from the second act. The stage of the summer theatre in Varna was very beautiful. It was all covered in green and when it was getting darker everything looked as if it was real. 

Is there anything that you miss here in Greece? 

I feel good here – my family, my husband, my house. I can’t say that I don’t miss Bulgaria, especially my parents! I like going back and sitting with them as it was before. Of course, also going back to the Opera and seeing my colleagues.