ENGLISH VERSION OF PETITIONTo the ballet world, and to all of Russia Petition regarding the appointment of Nikolai Tsiskaridze to the position of rector of the A. Y. Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. This petition is created in connection with the recent removal of the rector of the Vaganova Academy in Saint Petersburg, which has caused a serious public outcry. By decree of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, ex-premier danseur of the Bolshoi Theatre, Nikolai Tsiskaridze was appointed to the position of rector of the Academy. We, the undersigned supporters of Russian culture, have already spoken out against this appointment. We, the undersigned, also consider this decision to be ill-advised and legally unauthorized on the one hand, and harmful to the fate of the Academy on the other. We believe it is our duty as citizens to set forth and substantiate our opinion publicly. The entire cultural community of our country holds deep respect for the extraordinary artistic talent of Peoples Artist N. M. Tsiskaridze. He is not only a talented dancer, but loved by the people and known by the public at large as a face in the media. However, the post of rector of the Academy requires a long list of other qualities from the candidate. The rector of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a civil servant who answers to the administrative, educational and commercial processes in this Institute of Higher Education, where more than 600 students study and approximately 1000 pedagogues teach. The rector directs all educational processes for both specialized and general educational disciplines; in the current regime, he/she decides daily administrative questions; coordinates staff policy and issues of social security for employees; and constantly monitors the support of the huge establishment of the Academy, which includes not just the educational building, but the dormitories for students. All of this requires not only enthusiasm and knowledge of the details of the profession of dancer, but great managerial work. We note, in particular, one specific trait of the Academy: it includes, besides the Institute of Higher Education, a secondary general education school, therefore the rector must have a wide range of knowledge in working with children.We must objectively admit that N. M. Tsiskaridze does not have this type of work experience. It is fully possible that Nikolai Mikhailovich as a talented individual may turn out to be a capable director, however we are certain that developing such skills should occur in less important positions than directing an educational arts institution that is respected throughout the world. Yet another important aspect which requires steadfast attention and calls forth the greatest apprehension among pedagogues of dance and specialists in the world of ballet is the preservation of what is called the school - meaning a specific training methodology. The Petersburg ballet school is the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in the world. For 275 years it has trained and graduated talented artists, many of which have become world-renowned. It has formed its own pedagogical signature and developed unique methodology, its own particular scent. Traditions of generational succession have been formed which is very important for the preservation and transmission of professional experience and for the support of the highest standards of the Petersburg ballet school, a school recognized throughout the world. The bearers of the Petersburg dance traditions —previous graduates— teach new generations of dancers in the Academy. It is not at all a coincidence that the administration of the Academy is secured by its own graduates. Nikolai Tsiskaridze, both a brilliant and respected student, comes from a completely different school; he is not a bearer and preserver of the traditions of the Petersburg school. On the other hand, the parallel appointment to the position of acting first pro-rector, artistic director of the Academy, talen Mariinsky Theater U.V. Lopatkina, is puzzling. Undoubtedly shes one of the brightest graduates of the Academy, however it is verifiably known that U.V. Lopatkina does not plan to stop her performing activity, as she plans to combine that with the administrative activities at the Academy. We are fully certain that this combination cannot take place at a serious professional level. Inevitably one of the two areas will not receive adequate attention. Considering that the profession of a ballerina requires daily work and rehearsals, it is logical to presume that it will be the educational process at the Academy that will suffer from partial administration. The sudden change in the administration of the Academy calls forth yet another question. The previous rector of the Academy, V.A. Dorofeyeva, was appointed to the position by decree of the Ministry of Culture, effective until 2016. In truth, the Ministry of Culture as an institute possesses full rights to appoint and remove civil servants in institutions within its jurisdiction. Nevertheless, the removal of V. A. Dorofeyeva (as well as artistic director of the Academy, A.A. Asylmuratova), in the midst of the school year and without prior notification, must have an extremely valid reason connected with serious administrative violations. In this particular situation, no concrete claims towards V.A. Dorofeyeva and A.A. Asylmuratova were made. We consider the abruptness and groundlessness of this decision by the Ministry of Culture of Russia, in addition to all else, to bring appreciable damage to the reputations of the form rector and pro-rector of the Academy who are both very respected individuals in the professional ballet world in Russia and internationally. We do not attempt to judge the goals that may stand behind such hasty, unexpected staff replacements. However, as we are passionate about the fate of the Academy, we call into question the fact that these decisions will benefit the educational institution whose graduates have brought and continue to bring fame and international recognition to the culture of Saint Petersburg and of Russia.It is evident that today the situation has not simply become strained, but has come to a dead end. We consider that, in the name of preserving the stability of the future development of this unique artistic Institute of Higher Education, it would be more correct to engage the Academys Academic Council in the coming days in order to offer to the Ministry of Culture of Russia its own candidates for consideration for the positions of rector and artistic director of the Vaganova Academy. We are confident that such a decision will allow us to overcome this crisis and to give the Academy the ability to continue its work for the benefit of Russian ballet and Russian culture. в петиции в русской версии, оригинал , там есть в самом низу все имена ,если кликнуть неже подписавшие .
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 10:40:10 +0000
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