A DANCER'S TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1775, 13 June 1913, Page 2

A DANCER'S TRAINING.

.51. Volinin, who is officially designated as "Premier Danseur Classiquc," is olaßsed amongst the threo greatest Russian dancers of to-day. His career dates back to tile time he commenced at the Imperial Opera House in Moscow, at tho age of ten years, but the information ho was able to impart to a representative, ef the "Argus" was only exacted with much linguistic difficulty. In tho course of the interview, M. Volinin stated that Ms practice to_get into form for the coming season at Jier Majesty's on June 21 will comprise no fewer than four hours per day, but once he is "fit" for tho season his daily practico will be out down to ono hour.

"At the training school of the Iniperial Russian Ballet, in connection with tho Imporial Opera," said M. Volinin, "the tuition was of the standard of a university, for tho artists have to bo turned out cultured and accomplished. I was taught geography, anatomy, singing, music, and composition, painting, fencing, and, of course, dancing. In addition, the students are trained to depict tho emotions without speaking a word—a very important phase or our dancing—and wo becomo export pantomimists. The language of dancing is, of course, universal. "I havo danced in London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, and America, and in each jAaco tho dance makes itself understood not only by the technique, but also by tho depicting of tho emotions, which tells the story. Yes, it is very hard work, this dancing, for we can never relax our efforts or training, but after twenty years wo rotiro on full salary for tho rest of our lives. That means that a dancer who has commenced at tho ago of ten mil havo completed his career when ho is thirty years old." M. Volinin displayed, with much prido, a gold pin with monogram in diamonds presented to him by King George, before whom tie danced at Windsor Castle last yoar. In his buttonhole ho wore tho insignia of tlio Academy of Art, presented to him by the President of France, "ali'd a' gold palm was also awarded him last year by tho French Government on the completion of his season at the Grand Opera, Paris. At each East'ei 1 season at the Imperial Opera House, Moscow, M. Volinin lias danced before tho Tsar—a distinction which Mdlle. Schmolz also mentions with pride, She, too, has a gold medallion, set with diamonds, which tho Tsar presented to her two years ago. "I think I could make you understand hotter if I danced than by tnTlcing," said M. Volinin, in Russian, and both tho interpreter and tho interviewer agreed unreservedly.