Ballet as an art movement emerged from ritual dances. To be successful on stage, you need to not only have talent, but also work hard. Marina Leonova served at the Bolshoi Theater for twenty years.
Starting conditions
Formally, it is very easy to get the profession of "ballet dancer". The mechanism for the selection of specialists operates according to the standard scheme. It is enough to enter and take a course at a specialized school. However, in this case, the details and nuances are very important, which have to be reckoned with. The girl who is brought to the exams by her mother must have very specific physical data. Experts first of all assess the growth, backbone, genetic predisposition. The future star of Soviet ballet Marina Konstantinovna Leonova was born on February 18, 1949 in an ordinary Soviet family.
Parents lived in Moscow. My father worked as an engineer in a construction trust. Mother taught solfeggio at a music school. At one time, she was seriously engaged in dancing and even graduated from a choreographic school, but a knee injury put an end to her future career. Marina grew up a collected and clever girl. From an early age she loved outdoor games. I easily learned how to handle a rope. Even strangers noted that she had good coordination of movements. When Leonova was seven years old, she went to a regular, comprehensive school. At the same time, her mother enrolled her in the choreographic section at the House of Pioneers.
It should be noted that choreography classes did not prevent Marina from leading a full life at school. She did not study badly. The favorite subjects of the future ballet star were history and literature. The girl managed to sing in the school choir and perform in amateur art shows. As a high school student, Leonova studied folk and modern dances with the kids. When the time came to choose a profession, the girl already had her own view of the future. She was determined to become a ballet actress.
Having received a certificate of maturity, Leonova entered the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. The educational process at the academy was established long ago. The program is based on the best examples of foreign and domestic ballet. Looking from the outside, even observant spectators do not always notice the changes that take place on the stage. With all this, new elements, rhythms and pauses appear in the dance. Methodological materials are being updated. In nature, and even more so in art, there is nothing frozen or petrified forever. In 1969, a certified ballerina joined the Bolshoi Theater.
Works and days
The main stage of the country required proper preparation during rehearsals and complete dedication during the performance. Here, in the past, famous actors shone, who are always equal to their contemporaries. But tomorrow is not promised to everyone. Leonova, as an aspiring dancer, was worried before going on stage. It would seem that there are no objective reasons to doubt their abilities. Internal excitement and stiffness went away after the soloist began to trust the main roles in the performances. And one more circumstance - Marina did not envy anyone.
Exactly twenty years Leonova gave the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. The dancer was involved in all repertoire performances. Suffice it to note the role of the mistress of the copper mountain in The Legend of the Stone Flower. The Lady of the Dryads in the play Don Quixote. Nymphs in the ballet "Walpurgis Night". Articles about her work regularly appeared in thematic publications. When asked how she manages to keep herself in shape, she replied that she knows how to manage her desires. And not just manage, but direct daily affairs in a certain direction.
In the pedagogical field
In 1989, Marina Konstantinovna completed her stage career and moved on to teaching at her native choreography academy. For several years she taught the basics of classical dance. In parallel with this, she took a course at the pedagogical department of GITIS. Not to say that she was a strict teacher. But the students tried not to miss classes. Performance indicators in the group of Leonova were always higher than the average grades at the academy. In 1994 she was awarded the title of Associate Professor, and five years later she became a professor.
In 2001, Marina Leonova was appointed rector of the academy. She still holds a trusted post. Over the past period, a huge amount of work has been done to improve the training program for actors and improve the quality of education. The material and technical base of the educational institution has been updated. In 2008, Leonova defended her thesis for the scientific title of candidate of art history. She regularly publishes articles in scientific journals. Takes an active part in the development of educational programs.
Awards and personal life
Leonova talks sparingly about her personal life. She is legally married. The husband and wife raised their daughter, who is also an actress. A granddaughter is growing up, about whose professional orientation there is no exact information. It is known for certain that the granddaughter adores her grandmother.
Marina Konstantinovna was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. For her great contribution to the development of science and art, she was awarded two Orders of Merit for the Fatherland. Leonova was elected a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
