Valery Dance Academy

I thank my lucky stars
 

In 1938, having successfully completed choreographic school at the Kiev Opera Theatre young Alex Segal graduated, with a diploma for “Solo” Ballet Dancer. This determined his destiny for his whole life.

Possibly the genes of his parents helped shape his personality, because Alexander says that he was born solely for ballet. At the beginning of his career Alexander perfected his skills with the help of Eriko Sukhishvili – famous ballet master, who later founded the Georgian National Dance Company that bears his name till today. In the Diasi opera Alexander and his female partner Lilia Gerasimchuk brilliantly performed the highland dance “Mikhuri”. It is easy to imagine how they did it: lyrical mysterious “Odilia” – Lilia and stormy, like erupting Vesuvius, Alexander whose artistic temperament keeps surprising us.

He became a movie star when famous Ukrainian director Alexander Dovzhenko invited him to perform the “Cossack dance” in the popular film “Shores”. Unforgettable are his roles of Tibald in “Romeo and Juliet”, Hans in “Lily”, Rotbar in “Swan Lake” and many others.

Today, on Segal’s ninetieth birthday, we must also remember Zoya Serkova, his wife, his closest and dearest friend, who was one of the first students of Agripina Vaganova – follower of the traditions established by famous Johannsen, founder of the Russian ballet school, Zoya preserved those traditions and transferred them to her pupils – future stars of the Ukrainian ballet.

At present, the Kiev choreographic school can be proud of the fact that its graduates like L. Sarafanov, D. Matvienko and others have become the leading dancers at the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet which is “Mecca” of the Russian ballet.Zoya Serkova and Alexander Segal were among those who formed the foundation of the Ukrainian National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, one of the most popular around the world.

We draw your attention to 1960, the golden year of the Ukrainian folk dance. At that time, the State Folk Dance Company of Ukraine was established. It was headed by the well-known Soviet ballet master Pavlo Virsky, student of the famous choreographer Kasyan Goleyzovsky. Virsky managed to transform folk dance from ethnic tradition into academic professional dance with numerous artistic, dramatic concepts and unique esthetics now called the “Pavlo Virsky style”.

At this time, he invites Alexander Segal to the post of choreographer. During WWII, they served together at the military ensemble where Segal was a leading dancer and Virsky – chief ballet master. They went together from Kiev to Stalingrad, from Stalingrad to Berlin, often performed for the allies and their military leaders – Zhukov, Eisenhower, Montgomery. They gave their last Victory concert on May 3, 1945, near the Brandenburg Gates in Berlin. Then they separated till 1960 when Pavlo Virsky launched the major dance campaign “We are from Ukraine”, which, in fact, represented the Ukrainian folk dance culture in the 20th century and became the platform for development of this genre in local professional and amateur ensembles.

Virsky appointed Segal as the ballet master because of his rich experience as a dancer who tested on himself all secrets and intricacies of dancer’s profession. Even when training the future dancers, their teacher must be able practically to show them how to do the job. Ballet needs professional succession; otherwise no Great Dance is possible. Dancers must be instructed by highly skilled professionals and Alexander Segal is just the man to do this job. He says that technical skills are nothing without spiritual values. As the Great Russian poet Pushkin said: “The soul is fulfilled in flight”. Segal was inimitable during our rehearsals, full of emotion, fire and artistic vigor which he has retained till the present day!

In his work Alexander Segal often uses the elements of Pavlo Virsky’s repertoire closely connecting choreography and plastic images like he did in the dancing composition “Matchmaker and Bridegroom”, composer I. Ivashchenko. For instance, his production “The Willow” brilliantly combines the round dance and dramatic elements. In France, “The Willow” was included into the so-called golden dance art fund of the country. .Many of us agree with Valentyna Verkholomova, one of the first dancers in Pavlo Virsky’s Company, for whom he staged “Tatar Dance” and “Shepherds”, who says that Alexander is always fit, buoyant, a kind man and a highly gifted choreographer.

Segal is a versatile ballet master: he danced in the Theatre of Opera and Ballet, staged dances, jointly with Virsky, in operas “Cossack behind the Danube”, “Mazepa”, “Natalka Poltavka” and many others. He worked in the L. Ukrainka Russian Drama Theatre, I. Franko Ukrainian Drama Theatre, Military Ensembles, and Music Halls.

And finally, his work at the State Operetta Theatre, where for 28 year, Alexander Segal staged dances in some 50 plays combining lyric and dramatic effects, humor and satire. Today he remains popular among his audiences and professionals. His talent and artistic zeal are everlasting and deserve national recognition. Alexander Segal is a great choreographer, “the last of the Mohicans”, who brought us this great epoch of dance. His great experience and knowledge as an actor, teacher and choreographer has earned national recognition and respect.

I was attached to his world of artistry, and am using in my professional activity his knowledge for which I am grateful – my teacher – Alexander Naumovechu Segal. Wishing you good health, inexhaustible energy on your 90th birthday!

Respectfully Yours,
Choreographer Valeriy Debelyy
May 2009, Kiev

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