British choreographer Jonah Paul Cook on Russian ballet & working in Russia

You speak Russian very well! Did you learn it before coming to Russia?

“No, I started learning it already here, when I came four years ago! I had to work in a Russian environment and it’s impossible without the language. So, I just had to do it!”

How different is Russian ballet today from Western ballet?

“To be honest, there is a small problem in Russia right now. If we're talking about classical theaters, over the last 20 years, they’ve  invited European and American choreographers for productions too often. And that was a very large part of the repertoire, probably about 50%. And when their contracts ended four years ago, a kind of vacuum formed, because, in those times, Russia had grown very few of its own talents. And now, this problem is especially acutely visible and everyone wants to do something about it.

As for the quality of the artists, it’s still at a high level. And it is very important that young artists grow without the Western repertoire, too. It will be difficult, but I think it's possible!”

So, Russians, who taught the world ballet in the 20th century, have nothing to teach in the 21st century?

“Unfortunately, for now that is so. You remember there were big breakthroughs – for example, in the choreography of Alexei Ratmansky, but he hasn't worked with Russian theaters for many years. And that, of course, is a pity.”

After four years, do you still feel like a British guest dancer and choreographer or more Russian?

“I no longer work in the West and it would be impossible for me in the future. And, for me, that's not a problem at all! I won't say whether I've become more Russian or not, but I feel that I've become part of Russian culture. And I'm very glad that there is such an opportunity!”

Do you have ambitions to develop Russian ballet?

“I don't look that far ahead. What I do every day is go to the studio and work with the artists, so that our work gets better. If everyone does that every day, then everything will work out.”

Right now you are preparing the world premiere of the ballet ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella. Is this an independent production? What will surprise people about it?

“Yes, this will be a completely new production conceived by the producing agency De Chambre, with a unique score written for the spectacle by composer Gleb Andrianov. For the first time in the history of Russian ballet, the title roles will be performed by the premiers of two major theaters – Vladislav Lantratov from the Bolshoi and Kimin Kim from the Mariinsky.

Moreover, the production will also feature four more premiers and two prima ballerinas from different theaters in Russia! Where else could you see such a cast at the same time?! The premiere will be in February 2027 on the stage of the Novaya Opera in Moscow.”