The Russian State Ballet and Opera House bring Tchaikovsky’s classic Swan Lake to the region next month. Helen Brown speaks to Alexej Ignatow, chief executive and producer for Amande Concerts

How many dancers, musicians and stage crew are involved in this production?

WE will be bringing a cast of 45 dancers to perform in the UK this autumn and the music is a playback recording of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful composition. It’s a big production that requires a lot of help from stage crew and a lot of planning in advance!

Where do the dancers and musicians come from?

The Russian State Ballet and Opera House originate from Komi, Russia. The theatre company has grown from strength to strength in the 50 years since its creation.

When the theatre company was created many repressed artists fronted it. Their passion and continued dedication to the arts meant that the company could grow, even in tough economic and political times. Komi has really become a hub for cultural activity and the Russian State Ballet and Opera House of Komi have received many awards.

What is the age range of the dancers and how long can they expect to continue their careers?

On this tour we have artists aged between 17 and 32.

Historically, ballet dancers have progressed to prestigious ballet companies from academy level. This means that they are already at an incredible skill level from a young age. Ballet dancers are still able to dance into their late 30s, but most soloists are in their early 20s.

How tough is training for Russian dancers?

Our dancers are put through a grilling training schedule. Russian dance is well known for its skill and this has a lot to do with the academies of young dancers, who are taught and put into shape from an early age. We often find that our dancers will take every opportunity to better their skill too.

How long is the rehearsal period for the dancers and the orchestra?

Dancers, musicians, theatre directors and staging begin to come together around two months before the tour takes place. Rehearsals on the day of the performance last for about three hours. However, as we are often visiting a different theatre every night, much of the rehearsal time is spent adapting to the particular requirements of each theatre.

Do the cast and crew get time off and do they have any favourite places in the UK?

The cast and crew get a couple of days off a week and much of this time is spent resting and recovering from such a demanding schedule. However, they also get the opportunity to visit attractions in the areas that we visit. London is always a favourite among the cast and crew. They also enjoy visiting seaside towns and sampling British delights such as fish and chips.

Russian Ballet has always been synonymous with effortless grace and power. Do you have any tips for budding young dancers in the UK?

Although Russian dance has a history of skill and expertise, anyone could be the next amazing dancer.

It takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but it is possible if you are determined.

Why do you think Swan Lake is so popular?

Together with Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker, Swan Lake is one of the most well-known and well loved ballet classics of all time. The ballets were originally scored by Tchaikovsky, who was a musical genius, and this has certainly helped them to remain popular over time. Swan Lake is a classic ballet, with an easy-to-follow storyline. It is a romantic tale of good versus evil and this makes it popular.

How do you vary the shows that you bring to the UK each year?

At Amande Concerts, we are committed to bringing new theatre companies every year. This means that if a member of the audience has seen a performance of Swan Lake previously, when they come and see our performance it will feel like a completely different show. The staging will be different, the costumes and the sets will be different. We can guarantee that this performance of Swan Lake will be unique, while still retaining its classical charm.

As the producer of such a large company, what is your favourite part of the job?

It gives me great pleasure to see the amazement of audience members. The most rewarding comments are from those who have made our productions their first ever ballet experience. If you are curious about ballet, you should definitely just go for it and Swan Lake is such a classical ballet that it is suitable for ballet lovers old and new.

  • Swan Lake heads to the Empire Theatre in Consett on Friday, November 2, 7.30pm. Tickets are £19.50 or £15 for Under 16s. Tel: 01207-218-171 or leisureworks.net
  • Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty visit Scarborough Futurist on November 17 and 18. Tel: 01723-365789 futuristtheatre.co.uk