BWW Interview Diana Vishneva Discusses Sleeping Beauty Dreams at Beacon Theatre

Diana Vishneva is an international prima ballerina getting ready for her latest performance as Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty Dreams. The show consists of contemporary ballet mixed with digital projections for a fantastical art performance. The world premiere first hits Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center and then comes to New York City's Beacon Theatre later this month. BroadwayWorld.com chatted with the ballerina about the show, her inspirations, and the ballet world today.

How did you start in ballet?

I have not dreamed about ballet in the usual sense. I have not pictured a tutu, pointe shoes, and a crown. My mother sent me to the dance class, and then we tried to enter the Vaganova Ballet Academy. They did not admit me at the first attempt, and that gave me an impulse. I realized I wanted to stay here. A new beautiful world opened for me. It motivated me and I desired to be a part of this world.

Who were your role models/inspirations?

There are no role models that I would say moved me significantly. There were people who inspired me greatly, whose performing style and creative development I found kindred and close to my perception. Natalia Makarova and Rudolf Nureyev were among them. I engrossed myself in the biographies of those like Maurice Béjart.

Before I would like to say that the meeting with my pedagogue, Lyudmila Kovaleva was a pivotal moment in my career. Lyudmila Kovaleva is not only my tutor, but also my mentor, friend, and Godmother. Together we emerged from all stages of formation, and fought through every hardship. We still walk hand in hand wherever I am in the world.

Tells us a little bit about Sleeping Beauty Dreams. What makes it so unique?

The genre is absolutely new for me. I have never worked with the art and dance performance genre before. The production presents a symbiosis of music, dance, and state-of-art technology real-time digital avatar. I am on the stage alongside the digital dancer who responds to my movements. While constantly changing, this projection takes different fantastical guises. My character directs the motion of her avatars and interacts with them through all the performance. Using the real-time digital avatar technology, Sleeping Beauty Dreams welcomes you into the inner world of the main character to show the transformations and battles she endures.

Talking about the project in general, we took the well-known fairytale about the Sleeping Beauty and focused on the mystical and unexplored part of it: her dreams. Everybody knows how long she slept and nobody knows what her dreams were about. Sleeping Beauty Dreams is not an attempt to rewrite or modernize the old story. The fairytale makes the world of emotions black and white, while good and evil coexist inside our main character. This is the story about meeting and overcoming the inner dark sides. This theme seems relevant now as never.

How it is to perform alongside a digital avatar?

The most unusual part for me is the rehearsal process. I am used to working in the studio with a pedagogue, partner, and the mirror. Here, I align my movements with the projection behind me, to interact with it and implement the tasks the choreographer sets for me.

What are you most excited about for Sleeping Beauty Dreams? What do you hope the audience will take away from this show?

I am excited about the moment when the copies of my character will fuse with real me, how it will happen in real-time on stage. Of course, such a symbiosis of the choreography, music, and modern technologies will be a new experience for the spectators.

What do you think about age in the ballet world? How do you overcome the typical stereotypes?

The world has changed profoundly, and now the artists perform as long as their strength allows it. Today, many classical dancers have a long artistic life in the modern dance world, which gives them infinite opportunities to express themselves and to explore new possibilities.

Any advice for other women out there (young and old) who want to tackle something but afraid age might get in the way?

I advise being unafraid of following the chosen pass and confident about your vision.

We hear you have a new baby. Congrats! How do you juggle a new baby and ballet?

It comes absolutely natural to me. Less-is-more is my approach to everything. I came into my regular shape gradually and did not pursue the timeline. Although, I returned to performing only four months after the birth of my son. It was a grandeur opening evening of the Paris Opera ballet season. I danced with a French Étoile Aurélie Dupont and we performed B/olero, by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin. At the beginning of November, I danced one of my favorite productions John Cranko's Onegin in Tokyo and challenged myself with it. My son provides me with a lot of energy and strength. He has changed me a lot and he lets me see many things in a different light, making me discover myself anew.

Any future plans you can share?

I am interested in a particular new dimension now, the adjustment of the drama theatre and the musical theatre. The diversity of art forms inspires the plans for future work.

What is the best advice you ever received and why?

My life and my fate always make me listen to my inner voice, and to trust my intuition. It always helps and guides me toward the right path.

Sleeping Beauty Dreams runs at the Beacon Theatre from December 14th-15th.

Photo courtesy of Magic Reality Group and Bart Hess