The British ballet star calls the twelve years he danced in Russia an adventure. – Ballet in Russia is something very special. It is world class. But the fairy tale changed overnight when Russia invaded Ukraine. And Xander Parish had to make a choice to stay and carry on as before, or to walk away from life as he knew it. Xander Parish dances here with Whitney Jensen who has the role of Giselle. The premiere date is September 3. Photo: aida khorami / news – I had to make a choice quickly, because suddenly there were no more flights from Russia to the rest of the world. I was afraid that I was stuck. Parish was actually supposed to be on stage on a Monday in February, to play the male lead in the ballet Giselle. But now he had made the choice. He quickly packed two suitcases. One with clothes and one with ballet costumes. He thought that if he was going to make it outside of Russia, he was going to need his costumes. The way out of the country was via bus to Estonia. When he was over the limit, he posted this message to his followers on Instagram. Photo: SCREEN DUMP / INSTAGRAM – Russia is a wonderful country, but it felt completely wrong to stay there as the situation was and still is. My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people, he tells news. For the dancer, it was a loss to leave the theater that had made him a star. The Mariinsky Theater is one of the world’s most famous when it comes to ballet. Several well-known plays such as The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty have premiered there. But for Parish, it was most important to show which side he was on. – The right choice was to leave Russia and show support for democracy. Not to stay in a country that is right now fighting against it. Although he is clear on his choice, it is clear that he misses parts of his old life. – It is of course not comparable to what refugees experience, but it was a big change for me. I had a lifetime, many memories and close friendships that I had to leave within a few days. Throughout his twelve years at the theatre, Parish was a kind of ambassador for modern Russia. The ballet dancers were often sent around the world to promote Russian ballet and art to the rest of the world. Soon the ballet star will be able to dance again, in the same role he had before he left Russia. Photo: Aida Khorami / news – Ballet is easily used for political reasons. We were all over the world. It was so nice to see that the West and Russia learned things from each other. – Is it likely that you will go back to Russia? – I want to go back in the future sometime, I love Russia. But I am disappointed that the momentum that they have had in the last twenty years has disappeared. Now the iron curtain is up again. Director of Ballet at Den Norske Opera og Ballett is happy that Xander Parish chose Norway in particular. Ingrid Lorentzen believes it is important that dancers from all over the world can gather at the Norwegian opera. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news – It’s fantastic to see that artists meet here. We have artists from all over the world here now, says Ingrid Lorentzen and continues: – I heard that he had left and I was one of several ballet directors who got in touch. Then he chose us, for which we are very grateful. On 3 September, Xander Parish will again be allowed to stand on stage, as the male lead in Giselle. A romantic ballet piece about love, betrayal and forgiveness. – The story is so simple and so recognisable. Everyone can relate to it. It was written many years ago but is still just as relevant today, says Parish. – Love, betrayal and forgiveness, do you see similarities between the play and your own situation? – Who am I in that story, asks Parish and laughs. We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the second act, I think. Then we can hope that the second act is about reconciliation and peace. The romantic play Giselle is about betrayal, love and forgiveness. Photo: Aida Khorami / no
ttn-69
The world star left Russia after the war – Now he is in Norway – news Culture and entertainment
