"Nikolai Tsiskaridze opted against using the moniker 'Star' for the MHT promotional material"
The Ballet Maestro Goes Dramatic: Nikolai Tsiskaridze's Surprising Debut
Photo: Mikhail Frolov. Switch to Photo Bank KP
The spotlight isn't just for ballet anymore, as Nikolai Tsiskaridze, a renowned ballet star, is stepping into the world of drama. In the upcoming Moscow Art Theater season, he'll make his stage debut, playing King Louis XIV of France, in "Cabal of the Holy." However, don't be fooled, he won't be performing under his famed name. Instead, he'll go by the name "Maxim Nikolaev."
In a press conference at RIA Novosti, Tsiskaridze explained his reasons for taking this unexpected turn:
"I've always rejected the idea of performing on the dramatic stage. I didn't like my colleagues talking on stage; it's not right, it needs to be learned. But someone kept bugging me, and I said if I ever go crazy, I'd do it, but under a different name."
The invitation came from Konstantin Khabensky, the artistic director of the MHT, a call that Tsiskaridze found hard to resist:
"Imagine my idol calling me! And here's a Bulgakov play, Moliere, and the role of Louis XIV. This man intrigues me, who born my profession - ballet. I said, 'Kostya, I swore I wouldn't do this, but let's try, because you'd have to be an idiot to refuse Bulgakov, Moliere, Louis XIV, Khabensky, and the MHT.'"
Khabensky himself will play the role of Moliere. Despite knowing the primary cast, Tsiskaridze prefers to keep his last name off the playbill, choosing to perform under the pseudonym "Maxim Nikolaev."
"I can't stand in line with drama actors. My name has a certain reputation; I'm a people's artist, a laureate of international competitions, and many other awards. But it's all in a different genre."
Adapting to the dramatic stage has Tsiskaridze feeling nervous:
"It's very scary! I've said from the very beginning that I'm a ballet dancer, and here I'm a performer. In ballet, I know where to stand, where I'll land, what position to take. Here, I don't understand anything, I just honestly do everything and serve the art."
Compared to ballet, Tsiskaridze finds dramatic theater a breeze:
"Compared to ballet, everything else is a breeze. You don't understand the difference, even in the amount of physical exertion."
Rehearsals are just beginning, with the performance slated for October.
Additional Reads
Nikolai Tsiskaridze: "When they showed me to mom, she was horrified"
Nikolai Tsiskaridze spoke about his appointment as the head of the Bolshoi Theatre
"I don't like it when ballet dancers open their mouths on stage": Tsiskaridze explains what made him agree to the role of Louis XIV
Tsiskaridze's foray into acting extends beyond the world of ballet, venturing into the realm of entertainment as he prepares to share the stage with celebrities such as Konstantin Khabensky.
As Tsiskaridze adapts to his new role, he expresses reservations about performing alongside dramatic actors, citing the difference in his burgeoning acting career compared to his established ballet background.
