Alexei Kremnev, co-founder and artistic director of A&A Ballet, has shown audiences around the globe that ballet, properly presented, has a wide appeal to people of all ages and all walks of life.  Many of us have long thought that ballet, while beautiful, does not touch our lives in a significant way.  “The Art Deco Nutcracker”, Alexei’s latest creation, actively and enthusiastically shows us that ballet reaches us immediately and emotionally, we only need to go and see it.

I had the honor of speaking with him about his life in art, dance, and ballet, from his childhood training with the renown Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow, through his life now in Chicago.

Frank: How did you get started in dance and ballet?

Alexei: I was 10 years old when I started studying with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, and the studies take 10 years, you are generally 18 when you become a principle dancer.  In those years it was very difficult for Soviet artists, even ballet dancers, to travel outside the Soviet Union. Within Russia there was very little long term opportunity, so from 1988 until 1997 I danced with many different companies so that I was able to travel more, to build my repertoire, and to make progress both financially and artistically.  I have been to 35 different countries.

Frank: What brought you to the US?

Alexei: In 1997 we had a very successful US tour, with many very nice reviews.  Our US agent told us about the reviews in The New York Times, and in every city where we performed.  He suggested that this would be the right time to stay in America.  In Cincinnati I took a position with their ballet company, it’s very good, with a strong union and high quality performances, and we had a very successful season, so on October 5^th, 1997, I signed a contract.  I did not speak English, did not know American culture, had no health insurance, not even a drivers license.  This is how I started my new life in America.

Since then Alexei has been the Artistic Director, principle dancer, recruiter, and program director for ballet companies in Evansville, and later, South Bend, Indiana, before moving to Chicago to start the Academy and Youth Academy at the world-famous Joffery Ballet.  Those programs are still operating successfully, but Alexei has since left the Joffery to start, with his long time friend, dancer and now business partner, Anna Reznik, A&A Ballet. About all of this he says:

Alexei: As a dancer you must always look forward, to your own future, because your career as a dancer is very short, 10 years, at the most 15. So I look for ways to improve artistically and in business.  In Russia, with the Bolshoi, you are among the world’s best dancers, but business-wise, Russia was not so good. I moved into choreography, into administration, artistic direction to be sure of my future and especially that ballet continues to reach new audiences.

Frank:  Do you have a motto or mantra that you use?

Alexei: No, not as such. But I learned to ice skate at an early age, about 4 years old, and I followed Katarina Witt, who won back to back Olympic gold medals (ed. 1984 & 1988, in Women’s Singles Figure Skating), and learned how she worked very hard, studied, and practiced constantly to always improve.  Her example taught me a lot and has stayed with me ever since.

Frank:  Where do you like to go when you want to relax and unwind?

Alexei: Michigan, Lake Michigan shore. We especially like going to Union Pier and New Buffalo, Michigan.  It’s very beautiful there, very quiet and peaceful. Farther north in Michigan is even more beautiful, with more trees by the shore, but that’s a much longer drive.

It’s very nice in Union Pier, and really not a bad drive. We like the beaches, watching the lake. It reminds me of the Baltic seacoast, in Estonia, and Latvia, with white sand and cold water. (He laughed warmly as he spoke of these experiences.)

As far as traveling goes, my favorite culture to visit is Japan.  I really like Japan because the culture there embraces their traditions, while innovating and moving forward artistically, and as a country. I appreciate their culture, their discipline, and of course, the food.

In some ways, compared even to America it’s like they are already in the future, but they still have traditions that are very old. And everything is very close, if you want nightlife, Ginza district in Tokyo is lit up 24 hours a day.  But you can find quiet places not too far away.  It very different, of course, but I like it very much.

Frank: You say “we”.  You are married,correct, with one child, or more?

Alexei: Yes, one child, our son George. He is now 7 years old.  My wife, Emma, and I were married in 1995, so 23 years now!  It’s very good.

Frank: Finally, let me ask you; many Americans do not feel that ballet, as an art form, reaches into their lives. What encouragement do you want to offer to readers and the audience to help them better open up to the ballet?

Alexei: Yes, you are absolutely correct. Not only in America, but around the world, even in Russia and France, with their centuries-long tradition of ballet, today’s audiences don’t connect with the traditional presentations of Swan Lake or The Nutcracker.  With The Nutcracker, they know the story, they recognize the characters, but it’s our duty to recreate the presentation so that people can connect directly.  That is why this is ”The Art Deco Nutcracker”, set in 1920’s America.  The costumes and the action are more approachable, the scenes move faster, switching between comedy and something else, and the audiences stay engaged.

After one show we interviewed audience members, and a 9 year old boy told us “This is the best movie I’ve ever seen!”  To him it wasn’t ballet, or something strange, it was a movie.  That was a very high compliment, I think, and it shows that the future of ballet is strong for the next 50 years.

Frank: Thank you very much for your time and energy.  I’m sure that your choreography and exciting approach will encourage our readers and their friends to attend “The Art Deco Nutcracker.”

Frank Brichetto

Chicago Correspondent