Farukh Ruzimatov turns into Fairy Carabosse
On 10, 11 and 12 December, legendary dancer Farukh Ruzimatov will be performing the part of Fairy Carabosse in the ballet The Sleeping Beauty.
«This is the first time I’ve ever been asked to perform a role that is one hundred percent female,» says the artist. "There was a Japanese piece in which I played a being that was half-male, half-female, a sort of androgynous character that channelled the energies of both sexes. Everyone is made up of both male and female attributes; which of these sides prevails is another matter.
«Right now, it’s hard for me to talk about Fairy Carabosse. I generally don’t like to discuss a role until I’ve performed it many times. I’ll say this much, though: I consider Fairy Carabosse to be an extremely interesting character. For a ballet dancer, this type of role, with its dominating negative characteristics, is one of the most appealing ones to dance. I don’t mean to say that Fairy Carabosse is an out-and-out villain, or evil incarnate. That’s not the case: she is a beautiful fairy, a beautiful woman. Just like most real women, I suppose, she can’t stand being insulted. This is why her desire for revenge arises; and as we all know, a woman’s revenge is not something to be taken lightly. To a large extent, there is no conflict here, it’s just that the fairy was not invited to the festivities. To give an equivalent scenario from real life, it’s as though some girl has been left off the invitation list for a birthday party or a wedding. This is why insult and fury arise, followed by a desire for revenge. This fairy tale doesn’t just tear us away from reality, it also displays human feelings and conditions in a clearer way.
«I remember that before the premiere of The Sleeping Beauty four years ago, there was talk of me possibly being involved in the production, but somehow it didn’t work out on that occasion,» Ruzimatov recalls. «At the start of this season, Vladimir Kekhman came to me once again with this proposition. We’re now going through the working process, learning the roles. The Sleeping Beauty is my first encounter with Nacho Duato’s choreography. For a dancer who has danced the entire classical repertoire many times over, this is no easy endeavour. It calls for a different way of moving, a different approach. There are a lot of things that don’t quite feel comfortable, but then again very little is ever comfortable in ballet. Right now we’re going through the normal work process, the process of overcoming our own preconceptions and starting to embody what the choreographer has in his mind.»
