Today, we would like to feature Shintaro Aboshi, winner of 2^nd Prize and silver medal at the 8^th International Grigorovich Contest Young Ballet of the World.

Shintaro Aboshi with his teacher Denis Medvedev

Shintaro is a student of the graduates’ class – 3V, taught by Denis Medvedev, Senior Teacher of the Pas-de-Deux Department. Under Medvedev’s guidance, Shintaro prepared six numbers for the Contest – four classical numbers, two folk dance numbers and a contemporary dance number – the Lucien d' Hervilly Variation from the Paquita, the Little Count Cherry variation from the Cipollino, the James variation from La Sylphide, the Prince variation from the Swan Lake, the Armen variation from the Gayane and Dance # 7.

“We started rehearsals for the Contest in the beginning of September. Quite a lot of time we spent on the Count Cherry variation and the contemporary dance number, because both were new to me”, says the future ballet performer.

Shintaro performs Dance # 7


In response to the question whether the new stage was hard to performed at, Shintaro confessed: “It was quite hard, because at the Academy we are used to rakes in our rehearsal halls and at the Academy’s theater. The stage of the Winter Garden Theater in Sochi is flat. On the first day, during my rehearsals, I kept “drifting” toward the back of the stage, and could not  stay in the middle. It was quite hard to get used to!”. Shintaro was on pins and needles because of the Count Cherry variation and the folk dance. On the other hand, he was quite sure of his performances of the variations from the Paquita and La Sylphide. “Mr. Medvedev, my teacher, as well as other Academy students who were at the Contest, gave me quite a lot of invaluable support. My mother was very nervous and sent best wishes from Japan. Upon the completion of the program, I sent her videos of my performances”, recalls Shintaro.


Shintaro Aboshi with Ms. Marina K. Leonova, Principal of the Academy, and Makar Mikhalkin

“Frankly, I had hoped to win the Grand prix, but I am glad to have won the Second Prize as well, because it motivates me to keep working and participating in ballet contests and competitions toward future wins and triumphs!”.

Congratulations, Shintaro, on the splendid performance at the Young Ballet of the World Contest!

We wish you new accomplishments and triumphs!

 

Text: Elizaveta Emel’kina
Translation: Dmitry Linyaev