Valentin Elizaryev. A Flight Towards Life. How Ballet is Born

The ballets of Valentin Elizaryev have formed a new type of ballet dramaturgy, based on continuous action, polyphony of musical and choreographic images, metaphoricality and diversity of plasticity, comparison, contrast, and harmony of individual scenes, and the unity of all... components of the performance. The outstanding choreographer discusses his creative method, how a performance is born—from the concept to the premiere. The author of the book has spoken with stars of the world art scene who studied and worked with Valentin Elizaryev. The book features insights from Mikhail Baryshnikov, Boris Eifman, Rodion Shchedrin, Heinrich Mayorov, Nina Ananiashvili, Andris Liepa, and many others about how his ballets were created, the essence of ballet art, and the nature of creativity.