Izumi Chvykova, a ballet dancer in Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theater,
25 years old, adores ballet dancing since 5 years old age. Izumi has seen ballet
in different countries which she visited in search for a place where she could and would love to work - as a ballet dancer. Izumi completed her ballet education in Japan, Russia, and Ukraine. An amazing example of pursuing a dream and making it come true.
It was a complete privilege to me to talk with Izumi, I got to know much new about ballet dancing, about our two cultures - Ukrainian and Japanese - as well as about my own country - an inside view from an outside guest.
Q: What do you like about Kharkiv, Izumi?
A: People. When I came here the first time, it was a shock to me, but a pleasant shock, you know. People are very kind here, which is so different from other places I have been. I studied in Saint-Petersburg for 2 years, and I can see the difference in how people communicate with one another there and here, and how they do it - people are so friendly here, it amazes me.
Q: What are your favorite places in Kharkiv?
A: There is a place down the river, with a park. It is a very quiet place, I like it. The difference with Tokyo is the buildings, the green areas, the streets. In Tokyo there are high buildings everywhere, and because of that the color of the whole city becomes dark and grey. We do not have much greenery there really. Here is much different.
Q: What about food?
A: I like the food, especially vareniki with potatoes, with cabbage. Sometimes I make them by myself, although there is a big chance to eat a lot, which is dangerous (laughing).
Q: Do ballet dancers have strict regulations in food?
A: Hmm, not really. Of course, we must train a lot. We train almost every day.
Of course it is preferable to restrain from eating much sweets.
Q: Izumi, can you tell your story of ballet study? Did you first start it in Japan?
A: Yes, I was a kid when my parents took me to a ballet teacher. We have a different system of ballet schools in Japan. Because ballet is not popular in my country - compare with traditional arts and theatres - we don't really have big ballet schools. Imagine, we have the only ballet theatre for the whole country which is the New National Theatre, in Tokyo. Others are smaller theatres or rather groups, such as in Osaka, and they perform 3 to 4 times a year! - Not a big deal for someone who wants to do this for life. Thus, where you can learn ballet dancing in Japan is from private teachers who open their studios and teach there. I think ballet is not popular in Japan because not many people go there. Men do not go to see ballet very much; they think that it is an "art for chicks" (laughing) and they are shy to go and see ballet performance. So there are not many people going to see. But anyway, I started to learn from a private teacher in Tokyo, and then I decided to start a search for opportunity to dance in ballet outside of Japan.
Q: Where did you go?
A: I went Russia, Saint-Petersburg. I studied there for 2 years.
Q: What was your impression about the Russian ballet?
A: I love it. The first time I saw the Russian ballet performance was back in my childhood when we got a video tape with Gabriela Komleva - a famous Russian ballet dancer - I adored her dancing. In fact, after watching it I made up my mind to go to Russia. She is my famous ballet dancer. I could see how beautiful the Russian style is; to me it is just perfect, ideal. So I was curious about the Russian style, and after I have visited other countries and seen their ballet schools, I just understood that the Russian style was the most beautiful to me.
Q: And when you went to Russia, how was your ballet study there?
A: It was hard. The teachers are very good but very strict too.
Q: How did you know about Kharkiv ballet school?
A: I went back to Japan after Russia, and there I met a ballet teacher from Kharkiv in Tokyo and I asked her about the Kharkiv School and, eventually I became curious. So I decided to come here and look. I asked the Kharkiv teacher to contact the school so I could come and possibly study here. So she did that for me, and in February, 2007, I came here. I saw the ballet performance here and I loved it. It is very similar to the Russian ballet.
Q; So I see that the styles of ballet dancing are different in different countries? I did not know that.
A: Oh yes! It is one style in America, another in Europe, and it is absolutely different and adorable in Russia. The movements of ballet dancers, the way they hold their head, the way they jump - everything is so much different.
Q: Was it hard to enter the Kharkiv ballet group?
A: Yes. Mostly because I have got Asian face and I differ from among the other dancers when on the stage. For example, I decided to color my hair recently - I used to have my natural dark color.
Q: Izumi, what was your "culture shock" experience in Ukraine?
A: The first thing is a pleasant one which I mentioned before, the culture of communication. The other thing is that in the public transportation young people always free seats to the older people. And also the trash thing. As you know, in Japan we divide the trash onto paper trash, bottles, cans, burnable, unburnable, etc. Here you don't have this - it was a shock for me. We took the example from Germany. I wonder why they have this system in Europe and Asia, and don't have it in Russia and Ukraine?... But the thing that I like here in this context, is that you have smaller trash cans all the way along the streets - that we do not have in Japan. But I think that is very convenient because you don't have to take the trash all the way back home, as we do in Japan. The difference is that in Japan if, say a restaurant has a trash can nearby - the owner has to pay for it - to have it taken away regularly.
Q: Izumi, what is the message you would like to deliver to the people from your country?
A: Soul. It really amazes me how people build and maintain their friendships here.
Q: I have heard numerous stories about Japanese families where fathers simply do not have time to play with their kids because they are busy at work.
A: Yes, that happens very often. Fortunately, my parent's jobs allow us to meet at the dinner table and have talks and fun together. I treasure that.
Q: So now when you became a ballet dancer your childhood dream has become true, what are your other dreams?
A: Umm (thinking)... To become a bride (smiling).
Q: Well, I know that you are getting married soon. Please, accept my congratulations! And thank you very much! It was so much interesting to have this talk with you today!
A: To me too. Thank you.
I believe that the arts like singing and dancing make us feel better and happier. The atmosphere of the inside of Opera and Ballet House is not to be described by words - the music penetrates you. And when it comes in combination with a fantastic, huge, enormous work a dancer does, the efforts put in it while we, the audience, are watching and relaxing - to me that is adorable and absolutely touching the very inside of us. I thank Izumi for the wonderful job she does.
The performances where you can see Izumi in Kharkiv State Opera and Ballet House:
The Nutcracker (Chinese doll)
Swan lake (swan)
Sleeping Beauty (friend and white cat)
Giselle (Giselle's friend and fairy)
Prince Igor (Polovchanka)
La Bayadere (Beyer and Djanr)
Don Quijote (fairy)
Arabic nights
and others.
View pictures of Izumi.
1. Polovchanki.
Taken before ballet play "Prince Igor"
2. Taken during the Swiss tour.
White cat from Sleeping Beauty.
3. Izumi in Kharkiv, downtown.
4. La Bayadere.
Izumi plays the role called Beyer.
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5. Swan Lake.
Napole dance.
6,7. Ballet Chopiniana.
8. La Bayadere.
After the play.
9. L'oiseau de feu.
The Princess.
