Moscow Ballet’s Featured Danseur and Dove of Peace Star, Rafael Urazov, featured in Men’s Health after recovering from knee injury
Rafael Urazov in Moscow Ballet’s exclusive Dove of Peace, left, and the Arabian Variation of the Great Russian Nutcracker, right.
The Great Russian Nutcracker will be in Sarasota on Fri., Dec. 21, 7 p.m., at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for two performances. Get tickets at www.nutcracker.com/buy-tickets
(Berkshires, Mass.) October 16, 2018 – Moscow Ballet’s principal danseur, Rafael Urazov, is featured in this month’s issue of Men’s Health. In the interview, he discusses how he got started in ballet, his workout regimen and some of the myths and stereotypes present in the world of ballet. Urazov tours with Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker performing in two of the most difficult acro-ballet roles: the Arabian Variation and the Dove of Peace, a role exclusive to Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker in which two dancers dance in unison to form a beautiful, white dove with a 20-foot wingspan.
Even more impressive than Urazov’s top physical condition is his miraculous comeback story. Just as he ascended to the pinnacle of the powerful and competitive Russian Ballet starring in the best leading roles, Urazov’s knee was badly injured. Not one to surrender, he began a rigorous training routine that included working with the National Kazakhstan Boxing team, the National Circus of Kazakhstan and, in Acrobatic Ballet tradition, with the national Circus Trainer of Russia/Kazakhstan.
After two years of hard work, Urazov returned to the Kazakhstan National Ballet and Opera in the leading role of Basil, in the most difficult ballet, Don Quixote. He premieres as leading Acro-Ballet dancer in the exclusive Moscow Ballet role of the Dove of Peace in more than 45 cities on the tour across North America in November and December.
Moscow Ballet – tours annually North America performing acclaimed ballets the Great Russian Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella and more. Known for presenting award-winning Ballerinas and Danseurs, from Lilia Sabitova in 1994 to Honored Artist of Russia Tatiana Predenia in 2002 to Andrey Batalov, former Principal Danseur with the Mariinsky Theatre in 2017, the company performs more than 100 engagements annually across Canada and the United States’ in the finest performing arts venues. In addition to public performances, Moscow Ballet’s North America tours include community engagement programs for all ages and interests. “Dance with Us” shares the Russian Vaganova ballet training with over 6000 American dance students annually bringing them on stage in ancillary roles to perform side-by-side with the professionals. Underwritten by Moscow Ballet, the program was developed by choreographer and co-producer Mary Giannone Talmi. “New Horizons – A Children’s Program for Life” is a cultural immersion program benefitting thousands of children across the country annually and Musical Wunderkind has the Russian principal dancer performing with American youth musician accompaniment. Many Moscow Ballet performances have a fund-raising component for organizations such as hospitals, children’s museums and more. www.moscowballet.com.
