FREEDOM-LOVING LIKE CARMEN

Ballet is a fantastic beauty that we see on the stage and the harmony of body movements with music and thought. However, behind a perfectly performed dance is the titanic work of the person who devoted himself to ballet. And one of them is the people's artist of Azerbaijan Kamilla Huseynova, the winner of the Golden Dervish and Zirva prizes and presidential scholarship holder, who works not only as chief choreographer of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, but also teaches and is the artistic director of the Ballet Academy of Choreography.

- How did you become the prima ballerina of Azerbaijani ballet and the leading soloist of the country's Opera and Ballet Theatre?

- As far as I can remember, I always felt the need to dance, maybe also because my mother and grandmother also danced, but didn't become professional ballet dancers. My parents were chemists. I was sent to the dance club at the House of Officers at five years. My dad, who was against ballet, decided not to ruin the fate of his daughter and allowed me to study at the school where I was admitted at nine years. And I engaged in artistic gymnastics for a long time. I learnt from renowned teachers - Leyla Vakilova and Tamilla Siraliyeva, with whom we are still working together, Olga Arifulina and Pulumb Agaliu. I fanatically loved ballet and worked hard to get on stage. And the stage is everything for me! You forget about everything - your pain and problems, and enter another dimension - the world of illusions. The first, and therefore, the most beloved part was Juliet from the ballet "Romeo and Juliet". I had just graduated from college, and work on the role required great responsibility, because Juliet is a well-known character.

- What role did you receive the Golden Dervish prize for?

- The mugam ballet Rast based on a symphonic mugam by Niyazi staged by Tamilla Siraliyeva on the theme of love and defence of the motherland. I performed the solo part of the epic character Tomris. The performance was interesting and colourful, and a musical improvisation in the form of mugam was used for the first time.

- Your particularly interesting ballet...

- The role of the young Beycan in the new play of Polad Bulbuloglu "Love and Death". The dramatic story of the ballet required a great emotional impact. It's based on the folk epic Dada Qorqud.

- The viewer knows you more as a lyrical character - Layla, Giselle or Juliet. What characters do you prefer: lyrical or dramatic?

- I also performed the dramatic roles of Carmen, Tomris, Beycan, Laura and Zibeyda - they are close to me in spirit. After the performance "Carmen", it took me a long time to come out of the role - this character is so dear to me by the spirit of freedom that in everyday life, I acted as my character. My most favourite characters - I don't part with them even now. Their costumes are stored in a cabinet in my home. The suit of Francesca da Rimini, the pointes and hat of Scheherazade are kept in the State Museum of Musical Instruments of Azerbaijan. I must say that the roles of Carmen, Giselle and Scheherazade in my performance were different ten years ago, I can't say how, but different ... And now I would dance them differently.

- How do you assess the state of Azerbaijani ballet today?

- The level of ballet art continues to grow, given the diverse repertoire, the number of premieres and full houses. Each season begins with 1-3 premieres. We have a strong company, and we are capable of great performances. Along with modern and national ballet, we show classical performances by the best schools throughout the world. The credit for this goes to director Akif Malikov and the leading tutors and teachers of the theatre. And most importantly, we have talented young people and we are glad that we have someone to hand over our stage experience to.

- You won the Zirva award too...

- It's for the role of the most beautiful girl in a new production of the ballet "Seven Beauties" by Qara Qarayev. I have to say that before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijani ballet was very popular, but in 1993 we had to start everything from scratch. And only thanks to the support of Heydar Aliyev, the management of the theatre and the actors themselves, as well as the help of our President Ilham Aliyev, our ballet takes a worthy face today and can represent Azerbaijani culture abroad. We have very pronounced national ballet, and it's very rare when there is a classical base with a national bias, and while on a tour, we amaze with our national ballet. The new production "Seven Beauties" was so successful that we performed it in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow too. I danced with the leading soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, Mikhail Lobukhin. At the insistence of the management, I arrived in Moscow before anyone else to rehearse. In Moscow, there is a very large sloping stage, and you have to dance on the slope, and it's not easy. But the slope strengthens the effect of performance in crowd scenes. As I know, valuable assistance in the premiere was rendered by the heirs of the great composer's son - composer Farac Qarayev and his daughter - a professor of the Istanbul Conservatory, Zuleyxa Bagirova (Qarayeva), who helped to include in the ballet the scenes that were previously unknown to the public, which made the production even more interesting. The new libretto was written by Yana Temiz. The ballet was staged by the Russian choreographer Vasiliy Medvedev and conducted by the conductor of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, Elsad Bagirov. This is not the only memory that links me to Moscow. We went on tours with the ballet "1001 Nights", "Don Quixote", "Layla and Majnun" and "Love and Death". And the management of the theatre presented me with a gift - they sent me for training in Moscow, where I attended classes of Tsiskaridze and Semenyako.

- What do you think about the feeling of jealousy that accompanies the success of an artist?

- Previously, it was difficult for me to live in an atmosphere of malevolence, but now I know: my family is reliable support for me, I don't pay much attention to this and move on, trying to do my job well. Our theatre lived as a big happy family, we have known each other since childhood, we studied together, and we celebrate all holidays together, too. And then life in the theatre is so interesting - foreign opera and ballet artists from other countries, who not only show performances, but also conduct master classes, are regular visitors to it. And all this is very informative!

- What can you say about Azerbaijan's image as a country abroad?

- If previously, on a tour, it was necessary to explain which countries Azerbaijan neighbours on, now they know us from exhibitions, concerts, sporting achievements and national ballet. This is competent propaganda conducted at the level of the country's state policy.

- What can you say about your partners in the performance?

- I've always been lucky with partners whose firm and sturdy shoulder I felt near me. It was not only technically well-trained actors, but also creative people, and that's half the battle. I worked with many of the best dancers - People's Artist Gulagasi Mirzayev, honoured artists Yuriy Lobachyov and Islam Islamov, as well as with Makar Fershtand, Anar Mikayilov and Anar Tahirov.

- What ballet do you prefer - classical, avant-garde or pop?

- In avant-garde ballet it's easier to express yourself as there are many different canons and restrictions in classic ballet. To be honest, I love everything, and I really feel bored when I don't dance. Although I'm 37, the age of a ballerina is short, ballet loves youth, and now we must give way to the young. At the time, I was placed in the foreground as a young artist.

- What are your duties today?

- With the consent of the management, I assign roles, rehearse with actors, learn separate fragments, then I collect a full performance and participate in the selection of new actors. It's a responsible job.

- When you danced, did you adhere to a special diet to make work easy not only for you, but also for your partner?

- I'm lucky, I didn't limit myself, I didn't observe any diets. Only in the days of performances, to avoid problems, did I take healthy low-fat food. All the extra calories were burned on stage and during rehearsals. And now, my daughter and I love pancakes, curds and cheese cakes. Fortunately, this doesn't spoil my figure, and I don't gain weight. Sofia is 9 years old, she's engaged in music, swimming, horseback riding and karate. Let her enjoy her life - she has no fanatical love for ballet like me, and that's very good. And she also goes to the eco-camp in the village of Qala, where children plant trees and go to the country. In short, she lives an interesting life. I'm not alone, I'm responsible for my child's life, and her happiness is the priority for me. I'd like, if possible, to show her other countries.

- How do you see the future of your daughter?

- I'm trying to make sure that she has a wide range of interests, but the choice is hers.

- Does a ballerina have free time?

- Yes, it happens, and in these intervals, I love to read historical and fiction novels, as well as with elements of mysticism. I have a dream to play in a movie with the same storyline. I love to knit. I knit more for my daughter, who shows my products to everyone and is proud of me. When I hear just one sentence: Mom, I love you, all my problems, sadness and stress go away. It costs a lot! I wish all women to find something for which they were born and to which they could devote themselves.

- In spring, creative people always an emotional recovery...

- Yes, because spring primarily carries warmth. This is a renewal in everything, the smell of flowers, sometimes unexpected, the smell of buds and the desire to take another summit. But what it will be, only time will tell. I do know that it will only be a movement forward, only upwards, and I would like to put up big classical canvases...