Update: changes at the Vaganova Academy

Posted on October 30, 2013

The Russian newspaper Izvestia has published an interview with Vera Dorofeeva, who has been replaced by Nikolai Tsiskaridze as Rector of the Vaganova Academy.

Vladimir Kekhman, general director of St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre, has invited Dorofeeva to become his deputy. She told Izvestia that she will leave the Vaganova with a heavy heart, and join the Mikhailovsky with a light one, taking up her new position on November 1.

Dorofeeva further suggests that Valery Gergiev, artistic director of the Maryinsky Ballet, is behind the changes at the Vaganova Academy. She suggests that Gergiev would like to use the Vaganova building for extra rehearsal space.

With thanks to Tony Devereux for translation

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.