The authors of the performance Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater Diana Vishneva and artists Jorge Nozal, Stefan Zeromski and Roger Van Der Poel shared their experiences with students and talked about the history of the performance. The creative evening was hosted by Altynai Asylmuratova, artistic director of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography and the ballet company of the Astana Opera Theater.

Sol León

It should be noted that the one-act ballet was created specifically for Diana Vishneva, prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater, étoile of the American Ballet Theater (2005-2017). Sol León and Paul Lightfoot are recognized worldwide as a creative duo, associated for 35 successful years with the famous Netherlands Dance Theater. The first experience of collaboration between choreographers and Diana Vishneva took place in 2011, when the ballerina performed their production "Object of Change" as part of her solo program "Dialogues". 10 years later, on the initiative of the Diana Vishneva Foundation, Sol León and Paul Lightfoot began creating a performance specifically for the ballerina. The project brought together unique artists from different schools and styles, worldviews and experiences. Artists with whom Lightfoot and León's work period in NDT is associated were invited to the production: Jorge Nozal, Roger van der Pol, Stefan Zeromski.

Paul Lightfoot

The life experience and personal experiences of the choreographers and soloist formed the basis of the ballet. Without strict narrativity, it develops around universal themes: love in its various manifestations - maternal and paternal, marital, passion for life and profession, spiritual love. The transformation of a girl who goes through the stages of growing up, becomes a wife and mother. Meeting the death of a loved one and how it changes our lives forever.

"Our performance touches on the themes and emotions that every person experiences throughout their life. Hence the name Sleza, as an expression of the highest degree of feelings, deep and innermost. It is polysemantic. A tear can be a manifestation of both joy and sorrow, cleansing and releasing inner emotion and strong experience. In the interpretation of our choreographer artists, one tear is not yet crying, but a released emotion," shared Diana Vishneva.

The set design was created by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot. The concept of video projections in the performance was also developed by the choreographers, and the director Tommy Pascal is responsible for its implementation. He is known for his work with the Paris Opera, NDT, Théâtre de la Ville, Théâtre National de Chaillot, Lyon Opera and others.

"Astana Ballet is an excellent platform for the world premiere of the performance Sleza. We are pleased to cooperate with the Diana Vishneva Foundation - an outstanding artist of our time. The Ballet Globe Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the world of ballet, bringing together the most talented artists from around the world. This festival is held annually and attracts the attention of connoisseurs and professionals of art from all over the world," - said the founder of the Ballet Globe festival Yerlan Andagulov.

During the premiere evening, the troupe of the «Astana Ballet» theater will also perform with the ballet "Salome" by the Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Mukaram Avakhri.