Children and their parents have been delighted with the spectacular Nutcracker ballet last week. This time it was more of the real experience with the new production led by State Honored Artist Altankhuyag Dugaraa. First time the ballet was introduced to Mongolian viewers in 1982 and ever since then it was never changed until this year.
D.Altankhuyag delivered Boston Ballet experience to Mongolian viewers as the stage decorations and costumes were brought from Boston Ballet Company. Total of seven plays have gathered many children for this magical performance and provided with once in a lifetime experience. We had a chance to interview D.Altankhuyag during his busy schedule.
Although you are working at Boston Ballet you always have a way to stage great performances in Mongolia and deliver spectacular shows for Mongolian viewers contributing greatly to development of ballet in Mongolia.
I was one of the first professional ballet dancers in Mongolia as I was studying at Music and Dance College for years in1993-2000. There were 24 students, but only 15 graduated and unfortunately only 5-6 are doing ballet currently.
Ballet itself requires a lot of funds and I appreciate how the state supports its development in Mongolia. There are not many states that support ballet and classic arts. I personally believe that it is good opportunity to contribute right at this moment and inspire young kids.
Full audience during Nutcracker performances have proven how much Mongolian viewers are interested in the ballet?
Indeed. Nutcracker is the most played ballet around the world during the New Year and this year’s performances were full and viewers were terrific. Ballet has been developing in Mongolia for over 50 years, but yet there were very few children who really knew what happens in Nutcracker. Ballet and especially the Nutcracker help to inspire children for classic arts and develop the artistic approach in them. Lately many parents are coming together with their kids to see this ballet.
You mentioned that all the decorations and costumes for the performance was shipped from USA, guess it required funds as well.
Everything was purchased from Boston Ballet and shipped over to Mongolia. It took 5 containers. Moreover, 12 ballet performers from Japan were invited to perform on stage with Mongolian performers. Team of over 400 people has worked on this production of the Nutcracker.
I wanted to deliver the experience to Mongolian viewers in Mongolia. Art is always one step ahead in the social development of a country. Therefore, I believe that clothes designer should challenge oneself to work on the costumes and an artist should challenge oneself at stage decoration as well.
I understand that these are not easy, but this is the only way for development. Production of the Nutcracker was organized solely by the Mongolian Ballet Development Fund with the enormous support from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and Capital City Governor’s Office. It was impossible to pull through this without any support and the preparations were held continuously.
Did this production generate any profits?
This production of Nutcracker was one of the expensive ones and we did not expect to generate any profits, as we have purchased decorations and costumes for USD 150,000, it costs USD 40,000 to ship them here and we also paid additional MNT 41 million at customs. So it is inevitable that this production will bear losses. Even though the tickets price ranged between 20,000-120,000MNT it was not enough to cover the costs, but helped a lot.
There are many households that cannot afford the tickets. But ballet is expensive art. We have implemented program to involve children from poor households, for instance Asashoryu D.Dagvadorj purchased tickets for kids. Nutcracker ballet is one of the very special and magical performances suited for children and once they have experienced this they tend to wait for next year’s performances. This is the main focus of our production.
Over 200 children participated in the Nutcracker production, though it not all of them will pursue the ballet in future.
I have noticed how many children were interested in participating in the production and came to the auditions. It is indeed true that very few of them will pursue the career in ballet. But for the most of them this experience will give them second thought on choosing their career.
Ballet seems to require the perfection in every angle?
Ballet performance is the perfect combination of the performer’s skills, costumes, decoration, live music and lights. It won’t have the same feel to see the performance on TV. One has to see it and experience it live.
How did ballet affect you?
I became more emotional on personal side, while on the professional side I tend to notice more positive and light sides in everything.
Is it more of aesthetics?
More of free and simple. Simple things tend to be even more elegant.
You are one of the best eight ballet performers currently?
Best choreographers of the 20th century Roland Petit and Maurice Bejart have established the modern dance trend. In 2006 I had a chance to be selected into the crew of Roland Petit for eight dancers and toured with performances in many countries. Probably best eight performers derived from that.
Some say that stage is harsh, especially the ballet stage?
It is not about the harshness. It requires strict discipline. One has to master techniques in order to avoid injuries on top of having full artistic expression of what one is to convey to viewers.
How long one can pursue career in ballet?
Opera singers become better and better with age, while ballet is totally opposite. With age muscles get stiff, more like the professional athletes. One can dance unto age of 40 and even the injuries tend to heal faster. There are some dancers who perform after age of 40. Average age is around 40.
You have invited many foreign performers to Mongolia. There should be moments when you feel frustrated or discouraged.
Although the state is supporting the ballet development in Mongolia, there is a lot of room for our ballet to improve and develop. For instance, the stage at the State Opera and Ballet theatre is small and many of the foreign performers complain about it. I never get frustrated with those kinds of obstacles. One day we will have big stage. Also there is no big spacious studio to fit 180 children at once. It was one of the hard parts in the Nutcracker preparations. Personally, I have apologized for the circumstances to the parents of children participating at the ballet.
How long do you intend to work with Boston Ballet?
I don’t know for sure. I took some time off to come to Mongolia to work on the production of the Nutcracker, which was very hard to get. But this was the work started 2 years ago and they had to give me time off as I have purchased the costumes and decorations. Otherwise, they don’t really allow performers leave during such loaded times. Our company performs 40 plays during this time, while I have performed at only 7 here. But I think that these 7 performances together with the preparations will count as 70 plays /laughs/.
You have two daughters. Do they also attend ballet school?
They attend the Boston Ballet School. It is not about becoming ballet dancers, but more of the enjoying and appreciating the classic arts. At Boston Ballet School they have comprehensive curriculum to develop aesthetic and artistic sides.
You are the one who is always on stage. How does it feel to sit in the audience?
Last I saw the Nutcracker. I like to sit and see the performance. I enjoy it, because I don’t have to worry about the routine.
It is said that you have performed Nutcracker for over 250 times?
It is more than 250. This number is only including the performances with Boston Ballet only. If I to count every performance since 2000 in Mongolia, Japan and Europe, it will be far more than 250.
Children and their parents have been delighted with the spectacular Nutcracker ballet last week. This time it was more of the real experience with the new production led by State Honored Artist Altankhuyag Dugaraa. First time the ballet was introduced to Mongolian viewers in 1982 and ever since then it was never changed until this year.
D.Altankhuyag delivered Boston Ballet experience to Mongolian viewers as the stage decorations and costumes were brought from Boston Ballet Company. Total of seven plays have gathered many children for this magical performance and provided with once in a lifetime experience. We had a chance to interview D.Altankhuyag during his busy schedule.
Although you are working at Boston Ballet you always have a way to stage great performances in Mongolia and deliver spectacular shows for Mongolian viewers contributing greatly to development of ballet in Mongolia.
I was one of the first professional ballet dancers in Mongolia as I was studying at Music and Dance College for years in1993-2000. There were 24 students, but only 15 graduated and unfortunately only 5-6 are doing ballet currently.
Ballet itself requires a lot of funds and I appreciate how the state supports its development in Mongolia. There are not many states that support ballet and classic arts. I personally believe that it is good opportunity to contribute right at this moment and inspire young kids.
Full audience during Nutcracker performances have proven how much Mongolian viewers are interested in the ballet?
Indeed. Nutcracker is the most played ballet around the world during the New Year and this year’s performances were full and viewers were terrific. Ballet has been developing in Mongolia for over 50 years, but yet there were very few children who really knew what happens in Nutcracker. Ballet and especially the Nutcracker help to inspire children for classic arts and develop the artistic approach in them. Lately many parents are coming together with their kids to see this ballet.
You mentioned that all the decorations and costumes for the performance was shipped from USA, guess it required funds as well.
Everything was purchased from Boston Ballet and shipped over to Mongolia. It took 5 containers. Moreover, 12 ballet performers from Japan were invited to perform on stage with Mongolian performers. Team of over 400 people has worked on this production of the Nutcracker.
I wanted to deliver the experience to Mongolian viewers in Mongolia. Art is always one step ahead in the social development of a country. Therefore, I believe that clothes designer should challenge oneself to work on the costumes and an artist should challenge oneself at stage decoration as well.
I understand that these are not easy, but this is the only way for development. Production of the Nutcracker was organized solely by the Mongolian Ballet Development Fund with the enormous support from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and Capital City Governor’s Office. It was impossible to pull through this without any support and the preparations were held continuously.
Did this production generate any profits?
This production of Nutcracker was one of the expensive ones and we did not expect to generate any profits, as we have purchased decorations and costumes for USD 150,000, it costs USD 40,000 to ship them here and we also paid additional MNT 41 million at customs. So it is inevitable that this production will bear losses. Even though the tickets price ranged between 20,000-120,000MNT it was not enough to cover the costs, but helped a lot.
There are many households that cannot afford the tickets. But ballet is expensive art. We have implemented program to involve children from poor households, for instance Asashoryu D.Dagvadorj purchased tickets for kids. Nutcracker ballet is one of the very special and magical performances suited for children and once they have experienced this they tend to wait for next year’s performances. This is the main focus of our production.
Over 200 children participated in the Nutcracker production, though it not all of them will pursue the ballet in future.
I have noticed how many children were interested in participating in the production and came to the auditions. It is indeed true that very few of them will pursue the career in ballet. But for the most of them this experience will give them second thought on choosing their career.
Ballet seems to require the perfection in every angle?
Ballet performance is the perfect combination of the performer’s skills, costumes, decoration, live music and lights. It won’t have the same feel to see the performance on TV. One has to see it and experience it live.
How did ballet affect you?
I became more emotional on personal side, while on the professional side I tend to notice more positive and light sides in everything.
Is it more of aesthetics?
More of free and simple. Simple things tend to be even more elegant.
You are one of the best eight ballet performers currently?
Best choreographers of the 20th century Roland Petit and Maurice Bejart have established the modern dance trend. In 2006 I had a chance to be selected into the crew of Roland Petit for eight dancers and toured with performances in many countries. Probably best eight performers derived from that.
Some say that stage is harsh, especially the ballet stage?
It is not about the harshness. It requires strict discipline. One has to master techniques in order to avoid injuries on top of having full artistic expression of what one is to convey to viewers.
How long one can pursue career in ballet?
Opera singers become better and better with age, while ballet is totally opposite. With age muscles get stiff, more like the professional athletes. One can dance unto age of 40 and even the injuries tend to heal faster. There are some dancers who perform after age of 40. Average age is around 40.
You have invited many foreign performers to Mongolia. There should be moments when you feel frustrated or discouraged.
Although the state is supporting the ballet development in Mongolia, there is a lot of room for our ballet to improve and develop. For instance, the stage at the State Opera and Ballet theatre is small and many of the foreign performers complain about it. I never get frustrated with those kinds of obstacles. One day we will have big stage. Also there is no big spacious studio to fit 180 children at once. It was one of the hard parts in the Nutcracker preparations. Personally, I have apologized for the circumstances to the parents of children participating at the ballet.
How long do you intend to work with Boston Ballet?
I don’t know for sure. I took some time off to come to Mongolia to work on the production of the Nutcracker, which was very hard to get. But this was the work started 2 years ago and they had to give me time off as I have purchased the costumes and decorations. Otherwise, they don’t really allow performers leave during such loaded times. Our company performs 40 plays during this time, while I have performed at only 7 here. But I think that these 7 performances together with the preparations will count as 70 plays /laughs/.
You have two daughters. Do they also attend ballet school?
They attend the Boston Ballet School. It is not about becoming ballet dancers, but more of the enjoying and appreciating the classic arts. At Boston Ballet School they have comprehensive curriculum to develop aesthetic and artistic sides.
You are the one who is always on stage. How does it feel to sit in the audience?
Last I saw the Nutcracker. I like to sit and see the performance. I enjoy it, because I don’t have to worry about the routine.
It is said that you have performed Nutcracker for over 250 times?
It is more than 250. This number is only including the performances with Boston Ballet only. If I to count every performance since 2000 in Mongolia, Japan and Europe, it will be far more than 250.