The brilliant ballerina Ilze Liepa, whose biography, whose personal life is constantly in the media's attention, has clear ideas about her goals and strict moral principles. Despite the fact that for many years she reasonably has the title of “star”, her character and lifestyle are characterized by asceticism and restraint. Ballerina is a very independent woman, her school has been working for many years. Ilze Liepa founded it for teaching children and adults according to the author’s methodology.
Origin and childhood
In a family with the surname Liepa famous in ballet on November 22, 1963, a second child appeared, a girl. Ilze Liepe, whose biography from birth was associated with art, was given a name in honor of the heroine, who was played by her mother in the theater. Although the father wanted to name the girl Jacqueline in honor of the wife of President Kennedy, who was murdered in the United States. Ilze was 2 years younger than her brother Andris. The family was artistic. Mom Margarita Zhigunova, a dramatic actress, worked at the Moscow Theater. A. Pushkin. Father - the world famous ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher Maris Liepa worked for more than 20 years at the Bolshoi Theater. Children spent a lot of time behind the curtains of theaters and it is not surprising that both children in the future followed in the footsteps of their father. Maris Liepa instilled responsibility and discipline in children from an early age. They were brought up in great love, the atmosphere of the holiday reigned in the house, guests were often here, performances and parties were held.
The main love of life is ballet
Since Maris Liepa devoted his whole life to art, and the children saw how he was passionate about ballet, we can say that they absorbed this love from childhood. Already at the age of 5, Ilze went on stage in the play "Cio-Cio-san." She says that their father never forced them to practice ballet, but explained that the profession has certain requirements and rules, and they must be respected. It was the love of craft that became the main motivator for Ilse; for the sake of art, she was ready for much. And, choosing the ballet path, she was aware of what awaited her. After all, she saw how her father lives, devoting herself to the service of art. Having made her choice so early, she continues the work of her father, goes the difficult but happy path. Ilze Liepa says that she realized her calling early and, of course, her father played the main role in this.
Education
By tradition, Liepa studied at the Moscow State Choreographic School, as did her brother. She entered there at the age of 9, and before the start of the school year, her father had a long and serious conversation with her. He said that she must understand: her childhood is over. Now she begins hard, daily work, there will be no time for games, walks, doing nothing. And she organically accepted it, the ballerina did not show feelings of protest against strict rules. In 1981, Ilze Liepa graduated from college in the class of N. Zolotova. Later she graduated at GITIS, in the pedagogical department.
Ballet career
At the end of the school, Ilze was invited to work at the Bolshoi Theater. Ill-wishers say that the reason for such employment is the connection of the father. But her career speaks of undoubted talent. Ilze Liepe, whose height is 170 cm, was not easy to find a partner, but at her time in the Bolshoi there were several tall dancers, including her beloved Nikolai Tsiskaridze. Therefore, her physical data did not become an obstacle to a successful career. She became one of the founders of fashion for fairly high ballet dancers. She began her journey in the Bolshoi with a mimic group, then she played a little minor roles, she was given mostly characteristic roles. She danced in the operas Carmen, Ivan Susanin, La Traviata, and Prince Igor. But soon the choreographers considered the makings of a soloist in it.
Prima path
Ilze Liepa's first great success, a biography whose personal history is associated with ballet, was recognized after playing the role of Mercedes in Don Quixote of Minkus. This happened in Chisinau on tour of the theater. After a successful performance, the ballerina began to trust new, serious roles. In her repertoire, interesting characteristic parties appeared: Stepmother in Sleeping Beauty, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet and others. She was lucky to work with many famous directors: D. Bryantsev, M. Shannon, G. Aleksidze, some of them made specially performances for Ilze. In 1993, her brother Andris restores the play of M. Fokine to the music of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, in which Ilze played the role of Zobeida with great success. In 2007, she was invited to England to dance the main role of Princess Diana in the performance of Cayce Harnet's "People's Princess". Despite his age for ballet, Ilze continues to perform and tour today. She found her way, being a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, she worked a lot in independent projects.
The best parties
In total, Ilze Liepa danced about 30 parts of various levels in her life, from small outlets to the main roles. Her undoubted successes are:
- Party Carmen in the Carmen Suite by R. Shchedrin (1991). She became the first ballerina, after M. Plisetskaya, who dared to take on this complex and magnificent role. Ilze talked a lot with Maya Mikhailovna and received a “blessing” for this performance and, of course, many tips that helped her to cope with a difficult task.
- The role of the countess in the production of Roland Petit "Queen of Spades" at the Bolshoi Theater. Many ballet dancers dream of dancing this part. Petit chose a suitable actress for a long time until he settled on Liepa. He and Tsiskaridze became a great duet. The premiere took place in 2001, and Ilze went on stage in this performance for more than 10 years. Even after the birth of her daughter, after 2.5 months she was already dancing this part. The performance ended with the departure of Tsiskaridze from the scene.
- For the benefit of Ilse, choreographer Patrick de Ban staged the play Cleopatra. The idea was proposed by brother Ilze Andris, he also became the producer of the production. The premiere took place in 2012. In the play, Ilse plays two roles: Ida Rubinstein and Cleopatra. This is a modern choreography, which allows the ballerina to play a vivid dramatic role in the dance.
Also, the audience is very fond of such concert performances performed by Ilze as “Swan” by Saint-Saens, “Madame Bovary”, “Vision of a Rose” by G. Mahler, “Scheherazade” by N. Rimsky-Korsakov.
Movie work
In the late 90s, Ilze Liepa began to learn a new profession - a dramatic actress. She played in several entreprise performances, in the theater "Modern" she was entrusted with the main role in the play "Dream of the Empress." Liepa’s innate aristocracy looks great on stage and on screen. Therefore, she was repeatedly invited to the set. She played 14 roles, among which the most notable are the tapes: “Mikhailo Lomonosov”, “First Love”, “Empire under attack”.
The training system of Ilze Liepa
At the end of the 20th century, Ilze Liepa began to think about creating her own ballet school. Throughout her life, she gained a lot of experience that she wanted to convey to someone. In addition, she wanted to help girls and women in revealing their femininity. The project was hatched for a long time, formed until the Russian National Ballet School appeared. Ilze Liepa together with her friend Maria Subbotovskaya opened a special format institution. This is not only a school for children in the usual sense, it is a whole complex.
Ilze Liepa, whose school-studio today has become a real center of grace and beauty, discovered Pilates gymnastics, which helped her recover from childbirth, and wanted to tell women about her discovery. Ballet dancers from all over the world practice it, theaters have trainers in this gymnastics, and Liepa decided to combine choreography and Pilates at her school.
Today in its center there is an early development school, where children from 2 to 6 years old learn to control their body, they help them develop a gait, form a posture. The children's ballet school is intended for teaching the skills of ballet choreography according to Liepa’s own technique. This is a real hard work for those who intend to connect their lives with dance.
A ballet studio for adults helps people learn how to dance, learn their body and develop coordination and plasticity. Pilates Studio helps to keep the body in good shape, gives it a fit and flexibility. Several branches of the Liepa school already exist in Moscow, and she dreams of expanding the project.
Awards and Achievements
Throughout his life, Ilze Liepe, whose biography is inextricable with choreography, has repeatedly received awards. She is the owner of the Golden Mask Award, the Seagull, Crystal Turandot, and Olympia awards. Ilze bears the title of Honored and People's Artist of the Russian Federation. She says that no one ever thought that there would be three folk artists in their family, and notes with a sigh that Dad would be happy.
