The secret of a happy life from Tarana Muradova

Tarana Muradova: You will go your own way, you will succeed! CHOREOGRAPHY Extraordinary grace, plastic lines, a delicate sense of musical range, admiring the ancient art of folk dance - all this is combined into perfect unity when the People's Artist of Azerbaijan Tarana Muradova dances. Advocating Azerbaijan’s unique dance art, she adequately represented her country on the most prestigious world stages, acting as a soloist of the State Dance Ensemble. A well-deserved assessment of the fast-paced career of this talented representative of high dance art was her assignment of the title “People's Artist of Azerbaijan”, bypassing the traditionally “honored” stage.

Just the other day, the awarding ceremony of the XXVII Humay National Prize, established by the Bakuin International Cultural Society, took place. In the nomination "For Contribution to the Development of National Dance Art" this prestigious award was awarded to People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Vice-Rector of the Baku Academy of Choreography Tarana Muradova.

Tarana hanym, with her characteristic respectful attitude towards colleagues, accepting congratulations from the Kaspiy newspaper, at the same time expressing gratitude expressed joy for her colleagues, also awarded the Humay Prize: “I am glad to realize how much dance art is valued in our country. I am also happy because the Humay 2019 Prize winners were my wonderful colleagues, including the soloist of the State Dance Ensemble, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Eteri Jafarova.Presenting folk dance art, I pay constant attention to the successes of modern Azerbaijani ballet, one of the brightest representatives of which is the chief choreographer of the ballet troupe of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Kamilla Huseynova, was awarded the Humay Award in the nomination "For Contribution to Development choreographic art. "

And how not to be happy with the recognition of the successes of the young talented ballerina Jamily Kerimova, now the owner of such a prestigious award in the nomination "Theater"! And it’s wonderful that talents do not go unnoticed. I sincerely congratulate my dear colleagues and wish them continued success! ”

It is believed that talking about the age of a woman is not comme il faut. But not in the case of the heroine of our story: having celebrated his 50th anniversary on the stage of the Heydar Aliyev Palace, Tarana hanym remains in art. Having completed her brilliant performing career, today T. Muradova turned her attention to pedagogy, science, and administrative activities.

- Tarana hanym, it is well known: for dancers, the creative path is short, and time is so fleeting! Did you manage to taste all the beauty and happiness of being on the professional stage for the time allotted?

- I lived a scenic life rich in impressions, eventful, which continues today, but in a new quality. I traveled the whole world, heard loud applause in my address, danced on the best world stages: at La Scala, the Bolshoi Theater, UNESCO, Aspendos, the famous Kremlin, Kirov theaters and others. I danced in front of the first persons of many states and always tried to perform national dances of the countries they represent. Hearing such personalities highly appreciate your work is a high reward for work! For me it is a great honor and good memory.

I was once asked: “If you had the opportunity to start all over again, what would you change in your life?” I didn’t even have to think about the answer, I immediately answered: "Absolutely nothing." And you know why? Because my path is destiny, destined work. I cannot imagine another life! But to the above I want to add that despite the most tight work schedule, I never forget about the family. Family and profession - a single center of my universe, a source of inspiration, stimulating life and creativity.

- They say that the earth is full of rumors: the news that Tarana Muradova was dancing her crown dance at her daughter’s wedding quickly spread around certain circles related to art ...

“A certain time has already passed from that moment, but, remembering those moments, I relive this exciting event for our family!” If I say that my daughter’s wedding coincided with the end of such a large-scale project as the Gamer Almaszadeh International Competition of Classical and National Dances held under the auspices of the Baku Choreographic Academy, you can imagine the mode in which these days passed. Once again I was convinced (although I never doubted it) how dear to me art, to which I have been devoted all my creative life!

Imagine, even the wedding of my daughter with all the preparations could not distract me from the competitive performances held in the republic. Both events were too expensive for me to overlap the other. My husband and I decided to invite all the guests who arrived at the contest and have not yet managed to leave. As a result, so many people came to share the joy with us! And I am grateful to everyone who considered it possible to be there on that happy day for our family.

- Tarana hanym, reveal to the uninitiated a secret: what kind of dance did you perform at your daughter’s wedding?

- The day before the event, I turned to our dance group with a request to support me. They could not hide their surprise: “How, in one day?”. And we put on a dance in just two hours. I opted for the old national dance “Süzən qız”, which is included in the repertoire of the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble, the artistic director of which is the national artist Afag Melikova, but I put it in my own interpretation. Nobody, except our whipped up formed “wedding” dance group, knew about the upcoming surprise.Even my spouse and our daughter-bride Zeynab I did not devote to my plans. After the wedding, the husband asked with genuine surprise: “When did you manage?”

“Have you ever danced at an invitation wedding?”

- Never, although there were many such invitations. The fact is that I got used to the stage, and I could not dance when the bulk of you are busy with food. Daughter's wedding is another matter. In addition, I was just sure that all the attention would be paid to our ensemble. And so it happened.

- You always have amazing costumes in beauty and grace. Have you prepared a special outfit for a wedding surprise dance?

- All the outfits in which I perform at concerts are my own. They are really amazingly beautiful, sustained in the best national traditions, for which I am grateful to the talented designer and wonderful needlewoman Lena Almaszade, whose opinion and taste I fully trust. Lena hanym has a special ability to try on a concert costume with music and dance, for the performance of which this outfit is intended.

For my daughter’s wedding, I prepared a national costume made of silver fabric, cast in various shades, decorated with beautiful embroidery and decoration. Seizing the moment, I stepped out of the hall as discreetly as possible to change clothes. There was very little time, since the wedding script was scheduled every minute - to the smallest detail. I didn’t even pin the traditional braids - there was no time, and I was afraid to spoil my hair.

- Worried the same way as before going on stage?

 - Incomparably more! To say that I was worried - to say nothing ... But the effect was amazing! Imagine: the girls closed in a tight circle, forming a kind of flower bud. With the movement of their hands they created the effect of a slowly opening flower, from which I unexpectedly appeared. The hall gasped in surprise!

Dancing, she approached her daughter. “Mommy! This is the most expensive present for me! ”She said excitedly, barely holding back the tears that had come to her eyes. I always dreamed of dancing at my daughter's wedding, and was happy that everything turned out so beautiful!

- May your dreams always come true!

- Thank you, so far it has been. Not immediately, even through certain difficulties, worries, experiences, but all my dreams come true. I dreamed of becoming a ballerina, and although my professional life is connected with a different direction of choreography, I still had the good fortune to dance Afrasiyab Badalbeyli in the Maiden Tower ballets and Polad Bulbuloglu, Love and Death, by Ballet. I wanted to embody the image of Carmen in the dance, to perform the Argentine tango with all its delights - and these dreams were realized in the best way. I dreamed of meeting with the president of the country - it worked! A rather thorough dialogue took place on the problem of preserving and developing the national art of dance. Heydar Aliyevich's attention to art created the best conditions for the cultural prosperity of the country.

On this wave, a great desire is ripening in me to create something new in Azerbaijani dance art. This, of course, is not about a radical revolution, but time forces me to reconsider, moreover, many professionals in love with art work next to me. I am grateful to the people who support me, grateful to a higher power for sent mercy. Being in art is a difficult way. Here you have to be a fighter, strive for the goal, not hear and not see the negative. I said “difficult way” - it’s true, but it’s also the way to the beautiful world!

- Your work is one of the landmark pages of the national dance art, and therefore let me ask: what happened to the art of dance with your name?

 - Each professional dancer leaves his “autograph” in the dance. I have such a "painting". I can safely say that I was not afraid to experiment in the profession. I think I will not be mistaken if I say that I was one of the first to turn to the synthesis of folk and classical purely dance music.

I remember the reaction of Heydar Aliyevich when he heard the famous dance “Uzundarə”, which was performed on my initiative by a chamber orchestra with the inclusion of harmony and carbon. Feeling the music with subtlety, this outstanding politician of our time instructed me to put a dance on this music. As soon as they gave me the assignment, I immediately composed a dance and the next day I already performed it. With this dance, I traveled the whole world, and everywhere it was accepted with applause. And here, believe me, the authorship of the elements is not at all important, it is much more important not to lose what the people have for centuries formed into such a capacious concept as the national dance art of Azerbaijan.

- You have correctly emphasized the point: it is to preserve, but to enrich not by an alien plaque, but by searching for the lost elements and their delicate adaptation to the new time.   

- The one you are talking about is given priority at the Choreographic Academy today. We decided to systematize the existing dance elements according to the type of how it is done and exists in classical ballet, where all positions and movements are indicated in French. This systematization, which has evolved over the centuries-old history of Western ballet, facilitates the training of classical dancers.

It is strange that we took so long to understand the need to create such a common vocabulary of gestures and pa in relation to national dances. It would be unfair not to note that many elements of Azerbaijani dances have long had their own names, for example: süzmə, sındıra, yerişi, etc. But over time, the language of dance has enriched, and today we can safely talk about the existence of new movements, some of which are directly related to my creativity. Over the years, comprehending the extraordinary richness of the dance art created by the Azerbaijani people, new elements appeared in my work based on the experience gained, which eventually gained wide popularity. These include qızıl gül, sürmə, çiçək and many others, which will also be included in the list of characteristic elements of our national dances. Imagine how much easier the work during rehearsals will be! Speak the name of the element - and the dancers instantly perform it.

Today, young people need updating, and time dictates its own laws. National dance does not lose its originality, but is surrounded by elements of classic, modern. Active research is underway that leads to interesting discoveries. So, we conducted a comparative analysis of the dances “Mirzai”, “Wagzaly” with elements of the classical ballet “Swan Lake” and found many intersections, and not only and not so much in the unusual plasticity of hands, but at a deeper level.

- You talk about time and its laws, but folk dance is the primary source of all further development of dance choreography. But the farther we go along the road of time, the more dangerous the prospect of losing something valuable from the baggage of traditions.

- Development is taking its active course - this is the law of nature, while, of course, there is a serious renewal of the adopted dance canons. I am glad that in the curriculum of the Choreographic Academy, dance courses of the peoples of the world and modern are taught. Such professional enrichment opens up new perspectives for national choreography. So, according to the established tradition, when performing folk dances, hands should not be raised above shoulders, but now such a movement is permissible. The legs were not “twisted”, but now allowed. Freedom is freedom, but any dance must necessarily rely on certain attitudes.

- At present you are vice-rector for international relations of the Baku Choreographic Academy. In the shortest possible time, the Academy successfully carried out a number of large-scale projects, including the international competitions named after Gamer Almaszade that have already become traditional. What does the academy live today?

- We managed to survive a rather difficult period associated with a shortage of both teaching staff and the composition of students. Hard work, short stage life, early retirement - not everyone is ready for such a professional life. As a result of such a pragmatic approach, unfavorable streaks arise, when a void forms between those who put an end to their professional and pedagogical careers by age and the new generation. Unfortunately, we had to witness such a “cliff”.

While we were growing, going to pedagogical activity, our teachers have already left their working positions. And there were few who stayed and took upon themselves inconceivable loads, but thanks to them, life was warm in the school and the line was not interrupted. Moreover, five years ago, by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 30, 2014, the Academy of Choreography was created on the basis of the Baku Choreographic School. The creation of the highest level of academic education in the field of choreography was dictated by the need to train highly qualified personnel in the field of national choreographic art, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

Today, we can say with confidence that the choreographic school of Azerbaijan has entered a new phase of its development. Over the five years of its existence, the first and so far the only academy in the Caucasus felt its capabilities, a still small, but sure, healthy heart beat in it, sensitively responding to the pulse of time. Today, young dancers from Georgia, Ukraine, Iran, and Turkey receive education at our academy.

International interest in the university, preparing ballet dancers, is constantly growing, which requires our constant attention to improve the general professional level and create additional conditions, and above all - the presence of our hostel and even a small but educational theater.

- How important is it for the academy to establish creative relations with the best choreographic universities in near and far abroad and how is this process carried out?

- A vocational school is a great thing, but you cannot boil in your own juice. In a short time, the Baku Academy of Choreography made many friends. We have established creative relationships with the St. Petersburg Academy of Russian Ballet named after Vaganova, with Moscow GITIS, with choreographic universities in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. At our invitation, teachers from Israel and Bulgaria came to Baku. The master class at the academy was given by such world ballet stars as Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Vyacheslav Gordeev, Vladimir Vasiliev. On the recommendation of the famous Yuri Grigorovich, Nikolai Dorokhov worked here for some time. We are waiting for Andrian Fadeev, who for two months will share his skills with students of the Baku Choreographic Academy.

At the initiative of the Academy’s leadership, represented by its rector Professor Timuchin Efendiyev, cooperation agreements were signed with Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. A special aspect of the teaching staff of the Academy is the publication of books, teaching aids, and textbooks - this is a valuable legacy that will remain for the next generation.

- Tarana hanym, are you doing scientific work?

 - The atmosphere at the academy is so creative that now, having completed work on a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Art Criticism, I am preparing to defend it. The constant pursuit of professional growth is my essence.

- The anniversary date is always excitement, active preparation, involving the solution of a huge number of problems. What surprises await fans of choreographic art?

- The entire academic year 2018/2019 is held under the sign of the 90th anniversary of the choreographic school of Azerbaijan. Initially, a project for holding anniversary events was developed, covering the three current trends in the country's dance art. These are folk dances, classical ballet and modern choreography. Only this month, from the planned anniversary cycle on May 1, a gala concert with the participation of bachelor students of the Choreographic Academy took place on the stage of the Opera Studio at the BMA named after Uzeyir Hajibayli. The concert program of college students (originally a choreographic school, and now the middle special link in the BHA system), dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, was successfully demonstrated from the stage of the Musical Theater.

It is symbolic that the first graduation of the Academy coincided with its anniversary year, and our students will perform in the first Azerbaijani ballet Maiden’s Tower (1940) Afrasiyab Badalbeyli as the final academic year. Beautiful costumes, a choreographic script without any discounts on the age of the participants, the presence of experienced tutors - all the conditions for the successful completion of the project are provided. We will continue the anniversary events in the new school year. An international scientific conference is planned, the arrival of our illustrious students with whom we keep in touch, rejoice in their success and international recognition. Someone will take part in the final event of the anniversary year as official guests, and those who continue their stage career may perform in concert programs. Of course, collecting our students, and now ballet stars of world magnitude, whose concert schedule is scheduled for many years to come, is not an easy task. But we really hope that everything planned will be realized.

- You, as vice-rector for international relations, probably have a big load. How do you do all this?

- I am sure that my colleagues will support me if I say that the main achievement, which we can boldly and openly be proud of, is our well-coordinated teaching staff devoted to their profession, sparing no effort in devoting themselves to the education of a new generation of dance art in Azerbaijan. In this, we rely on the glorious traditions laid down by the luminaries of the national choreographic art, and above all, Gamer hanym Almaszade, Leyla hanym Vekilova and their associates. Strong creative contact is also important with leading theater organizations led by the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, in which our talented graduates improve their professional skills without losing creative connections with their mentors. We constantly feel the attention of the country's leadership, from which, in fact, our conversation began, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, which creates real conditions for the further development of national choreography.

- Tarana hanym, we are not talking for the first time, and each time, saying goodbye to you, I leave with a feeling of satisfaction caused by your optimism, desire for a search, fullness of vital energy.

- Do not be surprised, but I can safely say that I created myself. I created myself, corrected myself, sculpted. Having chosen the profession of a dancer, I simply had to become much better than the Tarana that nature created. More recently, a fantastic photo shoot was held for the magazine M.O.S.T. I went out in one of the brand outfits prepared for shooting and heard the admiring exclamations of the young people present. I will not hide it, I was joyfully not from contentment with myself, but from the fact that my work, my sometimes exhausting work on myself was not in vain. But I’m already a grandmother! I have two charming grandchildren, whom I don’t teach to call my name to hide my age from strangers, but I really enjoy hearing their tender confessions: “My beloved nənəşka (granny)!”. Sometimes I catch the gaze of my dear spouse, who has not forgotten how to contact me, “My beautiful wife!”, For many years of our family life. With a special feeling I perceive the manifestation of love from my children.

Gaining happiness is not an easy path on which there are ups and downs. But if, having fallen, you yourself cannot rise, if you cannot find your way, then even if they help you at some interval of the way, then in one of the following you will fail anyway. Experience has shown that everything should take its course. The main thing is to live with faith: “You will learn! You will go your own way, you will succeed! ” If you want, then you can regard what has been said as the secret of a happy life from Tarana Muradova. Does it always work? I did succeed ...