Gabriel Stoyanov appears on the Bulgarian stage in the last show “Our Party” by the great Neshka Robeva
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https://cafearte.bg/gabriel-stoyanov-on-the-bulgarian-stage/
ENGLISH VERSION:
Coming soon
Interview with Gabriel Stoyanov
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https://worldances.com/interviu-s-gabriel-stoyanov/
ENGLISH VERSION:
Coming soon…
The Secrets of graceful dance with Gabriel Stoyanov
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https://www.tialoto.bg/a/7-art/107353-taynite-na-izyashtniya-tants-s-gabriel-stoyanov
ENGLISH VERSION:
The ballet dancer and choreographer tells how he keeps fit.
Ballet is one of the most difficult and exquisite arts, and therein lies its perfection. Since he was 5 years old, Gabriel Stoyanov recognized himself in dance. After intense training and many deprivations, he manages to enter the academy of his dreams, where he meets the professors he had only heard about. His first steps in dance were in the “Rosna Kitka” ensemble. He trains a lot, especially when he realizes that ballet is his calling. She also attended the National School of Dance Art in Sofia, at the same time after school she went to additional classes with Academician Krasimira Koldamova. “I used to start my day at 7.30 and finish it at 8.30 p.m.,” he recalls.
It was at the school that he realized that this was only the beginning of a huge preparation for the stage, for life, and even for the creation of not only professionals but also personalities. “Wonderful years, filled with a lot of dance, built in me incredible discipline and responsibility towards the profession,” says Gabriel.
You have been accepted to follow the most prestigious ballet academy “Agripina Vaganova” in St. Petersburg. What is behind this success?
The path to success goes through a lot of work, dedication, and love for the profession. To continue my education in the academy that I dreamed of since I was a child, to have the opportunity to touch all these great teachers about whom I had only read or watched interviews, to draw information from the sources of ballet art, from people dedicated to a common purpose – there is no such indescribable feeling. I am very grateful to my supervisor – doctor of cultural sciences, professor, and head of the post-graduate qualification department Irina Igorevna Irhen for the given chance.
Who have you learned from and who inspires you on stage?
In Bulgaria, my teachers were Nikola Kolev, Petar Koldamov, Anatoly Klochkov, Antoineta Asenova, Boyko Nedelchev, but it seems that two exceptional legends of Bulgarian ballet played the greatest role in my development, namely:
Academician Krasimira Koldamova and Associate Professor Kalina Bogoeva.
After completing a master’s degree at the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music, majoring in Ballet Pedagogy/Baletmaster, I began working with Russian pedagogues who gave me and continue to pass on these important nuances from the ballet treasury. My inspiration is my teacher Jan Godowski.
The body of a ballet dancer is among his most important instruments. Share how you take care of it – do you follow a special diet?
In order to maintain the high metabolism required for ballet, not to mention the long days in the studio that takes a lot of energy, I need some “fuel” to stay healthy and strong. If I want something, I don’t say no, but I usually try to add protein and sources of iron to my diet with every meal. Meat, fish, eggs, nuts, fruits and vegetables, milk or yogurt are part of my menu. In addition to ballet classes and daily stretching, which is a very important part of the whole process of developing and promoting good physical and aesthetic shape, I also have a training program in the gym designed to increase or maintain my muscle mass.
Outside of the stage and ballet – what is it that excites you?
Right now, my concentration is fully focused on completing my first year at the academy and maintaining good classical form.
I like to travel, see new worlds, new cultures, meet different people, learn interesting things other than my world of ballet. There is no greater wealth than this.
Ballet — the embodiment of culture, communication & practice
Gabriel Stoyanov at TEDxZurich, exploring ballet as an embodiment of culture, communication and practice.
“The ballet world is much more open and accepting”
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https://proud.bg/baletniat-svyat-e-mnogo-po-otvoren-i-priemasht-intervyu-s-gabriel-stoyanov/
ENGLISH VERSION:
In recent months, Gabriel Stoyanov has become known as the first Bulgarian accepted to study for a doctorate at the most prestigious ballet institution – the Agripina Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg. We contacted him to talk about dance, self-expression, and attitudes towards homosexuality in Russia.
Hello, Gabriel! What are the three most important things HUGE readers need to know about you?
Hello! Thanks for the invitation to do this interview. The most important qualities that define me are that I am disciplined, dedicated to the profession, always on time, and maybe also following my dreams until they become a reality.
When and how did your passion for the art of ballet first appear?
Most likely this moment came when I was admitted to the National School of Dance in Sofia. Then I realized that this period will be great preparation for the stage, for life, and even for the creation of not only professionals but also personalities. It was a wonderful year, filled with a lot of dance and built-in me incredible discipline and responsibility for the profession. When I was in 10th grade, I decided to focus on one thing and I chose ballet. I can’t say that there was a specific ballet that prompted me to make this decision. Sometimes it happens that boys want to become ballet dancers after being impressed by some unusual performance on stage. It happened to me differently. I danced a lot since childhood, there were a lot of dances at home too. Ballet has become not only happiness for me, but also the embodiment of the freedom to move and express myself.
Which came first – awareness as gay or passion for ballet?
That I’m gay. I don’t think it was a specific realization, but rather a moment when I decided to share it with close friends, and also at a later stage with my family. I have always had a passion for dance. I do not think that one has anything to do with the other or is comparable. Rather, it is a stereotype that has developed in some way in society but does not correspond to reality.
Has ballet always been interesting to the LGBT + community? And is it open enough to her?
I think the ballet world tends to be much more open and accepting when it comes to sexuality. People tend to focus more on the artistic side of things anyway.
You are currently studying at one of the most prestigious ballet academies in the world – “Agripina Ya. Vaganova” in St. Petersburg. What does this mean for you?
At the end of August 2020, I decided to take a risk. I did not count on anything, but the result was a pleasant surprise – I was accepted. I remember as a child I dreamed of entering the academy. This is the oldest ballet academy, which has preserved the traditions of classical ballet to this day! To draw information from the sources of ballet art, from people dedicated to a common goal – there is no such indescribable feeling. As I told you, that was my dream. I would like to note that there are high requirements and very high competition. I guess this is a very big motivation for the applicants. Studying at the Academy is difficult and responsible, but all the conditions are created for us: wonderful demanding teachers who softened my character and supported me to fight for my dream and not lose my heart. Even a simple visit to the legendary studios was happiness in itself.
Over the last decade, Russia has built a reputation as one of the most homophobic countries in the world. How do you feel as an LGBT + person in St. Petersburg?
I do not live in St. Petersburg at the moment, but I can say, judging by my frequent visits, that the Russian ballet world and the country usually adhere to the “do not ask, do not say” policy. There are many high-ranking figures who, although not officially out, are widely known as gay. These people enjoy great respect and support from the public and the government, even though they are known as “deviants”. Some of them even have high-ranking same-sex relationships without affecting their careers. As long as no one talks about it openly or “parades”… I have never been treated differently or worse. On the contrary, the academy treats me fantastically, I get help all the time so that I can master my studies. I have an extremely rich palette of Russian friends too. Ballet is so highly valued in Russia that you are never questioned as an artist, even if people suspect you are gay.
Who are the people who inspire you the most and why?
My biggest inspiration is the ideas I create, develop, and try to put into life. Also my teachers and the fact that they believe in me and support me. This is priceless!
Do self-expression and activism have a place in the art of dance?
We can always face the social stigma of being a boy in ballet. The thought of a boy starting ballet immediately carries connotations of homosexuality, weakness, and femininity. Ballet is an incredibly exhausting job. Dancers spend their lives being told to raise their legs higher, to push their limits, to jump beyond the possible, constantly realizing that their best must be better. They face stigma and ridicule, on top of the difficulties of the profession, and this sheds light not only on the spread of bullying that boys suffer from peers outside the ballet studio but also on their passion and determination to continue dancing, however.
For many people, an evening in the theater is a joyous occasion. The audience is dark, the orchestra begins a beautiful symphony, the spotlight comes on and a tall, muscular figure enters the stage, carrying his partner, a whole human being, over his head with effortless grace. A moment of fascinating balance between artistry, athleticism, and biology. Ballet training is perhaps one of the most intensive and exhausting educations that young men can receive. But for some, all they see is a man with makeup and walk-in tights.
A message to HUGE readers?
Don’t stop working on yourself. Not only physically, but also mentally. You have to be strong in this world – be it in ballet or in general. It is important to develop to have something to be proud of. Do not allow yourself to be categorized by your gender or your sexuality, but by what you have achieved and who you are as a person.
“How a passion for ballet can overcome all prejudices”
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ENGLISH VERSION:
Gabriel Stoyanov found his passion for dancing at the age of five. The Bulgarian is now a professional ballet dancer and is working on his doctorate at the famous Vaganova Academy in Russia. In an interview, the 27-year-old explains how he experiences Russia as a gay man and how he can turn his passion into a career.
Gabriel, you are studying ballet at the Vaganova Academy. What does that mean to you?
It is simply indescribable to be able to study at an academy in Russia with such a long history. It is the oldest and most famous ballet school in the world. Ballet is not just dancing there, but an art form, and it is cultivated with great passion. When I was allowed to attend the academy for the first time, I was able to attend the rector’s lecture and one of my greatest role models, Ludmila Valentinovna Kovaleva, was sitting next to me. I was just blown away. Then I knew that one day I would study here, no matter what it costs me, and now I have made it.
What does the training at the academy offer you as a dancer and artist?
As a ballet master, I specialize in a doctorate in choreographic art. I hope to travel to Russia again soon to work with all of these dedicated and talented people. Hopefully, there will be engagements in theaters again in the future, of course, that depends on a variety of developments.
You have been studying from Switzerland since the corona pandemic, how do your training and studies work?
I get up early and do an hour of stretching. Sometimes I have my first lecture at eight o’clock because of the two-hour time difference between here and St. Petersburg. Then I go to the studio to work with my coach for a good two hours. After that, I race home to attend lectures for two to three hours. I do homework and in the evenings I teach at various ballet schools. When the situation improves again, I go to a gym for a few hours for weight training.
How does studying in Switzerland and Russia differ?
It is very strict in Russia and Bulgaria. You do what the lecturers say, or you’re out. It’s very tough but incredibly educational. In Switzerland, studying is more democratic, and more is done together. I like that very much, but it takes longer to achieve the same results.
Speaking of dancing, how did you discover ballet for yourself?
I grew up in two small villages near Sofia, Bulgaria. When I was five my parents took me to a dance school where I first learned traditional Bulgarian dances. When I was a little older, I secretly took ballet classes. It was there that I discovered my great passion for ballet. An important moment was when I got to know the Bulgarian ballet legend Krasimira Koldamova. She told me that my talent could go a long way if I started training seriously.
What else do you want to achieve in the world of ballet?
The first big goal is the successful completion of the degree and thus the doctorate. I can’t dance a lot right now, so I hope to be able to perform in Russia and around the world for a few more years. Later I would like to use all my experience to pass on my knowledge to the children here in Switzerland and to help build the next generation of great dancers.
Let’s say a young person from the LGBTIQ community reads our interview and wants to become a professional dancer too. What would you advise as a role model?
Don’t stop working on yourself. Not just physically, but also mentally. You have to be strong in this world – be it in ballet or in general. It is important that you develop yourself so that you have something to be really proud of. Do not let yourself be defined by your gender or your sexuality, but by what you have achieved and how you are. Surround yourself with great people who support you in everything and encourage each other on your way.
Due to a number of reasons, some of the questions and answers can be seen by subscribing to the magazine.
Gabriel Stoyanov: The ballet world is evolving – I don’t think perfection is possible
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ENGLISH VERSION:
From “Rosna Kitka” to “Agripina Vaganova” Academy in St. Petersburg.
Gabriel Stoyanov is a ballet dancer, choreographer, classical dancer and not only – dance is an integral part of his destiny. In 2020, Gabriel was accepted to do a doctorate at the A. Ya. Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg.
About the journey from Bulgaria to Switzerland and to Russia, about the teachers and their significant role in life, about the love for the art of ballet, about what inspires him, and about the Academy of Russian Ballet “A. Ya. Vaganova” – tells in “Artefir” Gabriel Stoyanov:
Dance as destiny
“Ballet fascinates, admires aesthetics, all the perfection of forms … At the age of 5, my parents took me to the folk ensemble“ Rosna Kitka. ”Somehow they defined my destiny.
Bulgaria is also known for its traditions in ballet and professionalism in the art of ballet. The Pancho Vladigerov Music Academy has given me a lot. Assoc. Prof. Kalina Bogoeva, who was constantly by my side during all these 6 years of my studies, has helped me a lot.
Ballet is an art that has become a business card of Russia. The A.Ya. Vaganova Academy was established in 1738. It manages to preserve the whole history to this day, absolutely everything in classical dance, which has not been lost even to this day. If earlier it was seen how the artists dance and how much they are musical, today it is the same way. I think that the Academy “A. Ya. Vaganova ”and to this day is a huge pedestal of ballet art.
There was an upgrade of material that was handed over to me from Bulgaria. ”
The measure of perfection in ballet
“In general, I believe that in the ballet world there is no way to achieve perfection – it is work on yourself throughout life – both physically and not only. We must always develop, there must be a good foundation to relate to, this is Vaganova, of course, but the world is evolving in our time, over the years the ballet world is evolving a lot – I do not think that perfection can be achieved. ”
Listen to the entire interview in the sound file above.
“Successful professional dancers – Laura Fernandez-Gromova & Gabriel Stoyanov – tell stories through their dance!”
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VIDEO BELOW:
Pain on the Quest of Perfection
ENGLISH VERSION:
A beautiful spectacle, or a life of pressure and pain on the quest for perfection? We’re left pondering this question as the world of ballet remains one of secrecy. Until we’ve talked to Laura and Gabriel. The practice is an eternal concept, where they would endlessly repeat graceful movements until every muscle fell delicately into place. And it’s certainly no easy feat. ‘Dancers prepare like actors if they have a ‘role’ with research and so on, but the repetition of the physical rehearsal in the quest for perfection is grueling. Bear in mind that they don’t just do one whole run of a show like in musical theatre or acting. They could be rehearsing for two different classics and a couple of triple bills all in one week. In other words, ballet has survived for centuries because hundreds of thousands of people decided that it should. That is what culture is, after all: people deciding, en masse, that something matters. Ballet is the result of almost 400 years worth of people all around the world — dancers, repetitors, ballet masters, set designers, the people who make pointe shoes by hand, and all the people who trained all those people — deciding that this old art form is still worth their time. Ballet is a quest for perfection that doesn’t exist, but still, there are precious, perfect moments. It is also important to bring your own feelings into the movement. Develop your own unique movement style. Each body has its own way of moving, but it takes time to find it. Laura Fernandez-Gromova studied at the Dance Academy Zurich under the direction of Oliver Matz and at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia. She has already won 3 prizes at the Prix de Lausanne, one of the most important international competitions for young dancers. She is as well former ballet dancer at the Mariinsky Theater and currently performs as a soloist at the Stanislavsky Theater in Moskow. Gabriel Stoyanov is presently working as a guest artist and acclaimed ballet teacher. He was recently admitted to the most prestigious ballet school in the world of ballet, the “Vaganova Ballet Academy” in St. Petersburg, director People’s Artist of Russia – Nikolay Maximovich Tsiskaridze. “Choreographic art” is a specialty in which he specializes in obtaining a doctorate. Doctor of Science (Cultural Studies), Professor, Head of Post-Graduate Studies, and as well his mentor Irina Igorevna Irhen. Laura and Gabriel share a passion for movement and a love for telling stories through dance. They are both proud that they never gave up as children. They had to sacrifice a lot for it, almost the whole childhood, a big part of their free time. It was hard work with many ups and downs. You have to and want to give everything every day. For them, a dream has come true and they cannot imagine a life without ballet. The connection and the friendship that had developed over time made them want to create together. In times where art is struggling a lot, they’ve exploded with energy, ready to conquer the world by creating a video out of which is our new cover. Video about love, passion, emotion, fight, respecting your dance partner, sadness, happiness, distancing, connection…It literally has everything in it. They are absorbed in the dance. The dance that’s not just body movement, but their soul, their passion, their feelings. Those are the precious perfect moments. Moments that can not be repeated, but are worth trying.
“When you have a direction.” Gabriel Stoyanov to the top in ballet
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Despite the pandemic, 2020 is the most successful in the career of Gabriel Stoyanov. It is already part of the most prestigious ballet academy in the world.
When dreams come true: Gabriel, who is part of the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy
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Bulgarian in one of the oldest ballet schools in the world – “ Vaganova ” in St. Petersburg – what is the story of the ballet dancer Gabriel Stoyanov? One candid interview on national television!
ENGLISH VERSION:
VIDEO in YOUTUBE National Television – ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Gabriel’s dream is to dance. From an early age, he was enchanted by the Bulgarian folk dances. He later rediscovered ballet!
I was born in Sofia, I grew up in the village of Dobroslavtsi and I started dancing at the age of five. “My mother took me to the Rosna Kitka folk ensemble, and that’s how my development in the world of dance began,” he recalls.
Krassimira Koldamova – she directs him to ballet.
So after the National Ballet School and the National Academy of Music, Gabriel left for Poland. There is part of a ballet troupe. His talent was quickly noticed, although he began to engage in fine art at a much later age. He has danced in ballet productions such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Coppelia, and Giselle.
“It’s a world where you definitely have to work extremely hard, to prove yourself every day, whether you’re tired, you’re in the mood or not. A world of cruel discipline,” tells Gabriel
“It was quite difficult, I had to work extra, I worked with Russian teachers, also in Bulgaria with Kalina Bogoeva. I took extra lessons. The first month after I met my teacher, he literally put me between two chairs to keep me as stretched as possible. He sat on me, he lifted my legs up, literally all this training in the first month was very important, “the dancer recalls.
After years of hard work, he moved to Switzerland, where he was invited to teach young children. “Switzerland is quite a business-oriented country with a lot of positives, but ballet is definitely the pride of Russia. The state is trying to attract people who can contribute to the development of children, “said Gabriel.
His big dream continues to be connected with the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. “I’m in the studio every day and even if it hurts, I keep going because I think that when a person has an extremely clear goal and dreams and follows it uncompromisingly, there is no way it can’t happen. It takes discipline and a lot of work, ”says Gabriel.
Today he is 27, already speaks four languages, and only a month ago he made a huge step towards the realization of his dream by accepting a doctorate at one of the most prestigious ballet academies in the world – “Vaganova” in St. Petersburg, Russia.
“This is the oldest ballet academy. It has existed for 283 years, created by Empress Anna. And the academy has built a bunch of world luminaries in the ballet world, not only as dancers but also as educators. The method used is the same as 200 years ago, “said Gabriel.
The prestigious academy is named after the ballet master Agripina Vaganova. Ballet dancers such as Rudolf Nureyev and Svetlana Zakharova studied there. The Bulgarian prima ballerina Masha Ilieva also graduated there.
Gabriel’s training is currently online. He can’t wait for the end of the pandemic to attend his lectures on Russian soil and touch his dream.