Have you ever wondered if your chosen profession is right for you? In our experiment, three superprofessionals and three applicants take a career guidance test. Have they chosen the business of life? Why do people need to know not only their interests, but also the features of memory, attention, performance? The results are in the TUT.BY test.

The success of the chosen pros can hardly be disputed. This is the country's chief transplantologist, general director of the Belarusian division of EPAM Systems, the leading ballerina of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Applicants were chosen at random. Medalist and professional athlete from Grodno. Girl from the village. And a guy from Minsk High School. All of them have practically decided where they will go this year. Is the choice correct?

In the Republican Center for Human Problems at the Belarusian State University, each of the heroes spent about three hours: so much time was spent on diagnostics at the computer and a consultation with a psychologist.

During the first half of testing, the heroes “put out” triangles, caught up with a point with a joystick, clapped their hands, memorized figures, listened to a series of words in both ears at the same time, in order to later recognize them among the proposed ones, and so on. All for speed! So the test assessed psychophysiological data: features of the work of the cerebral hemispheres, the level of development of working memory for words and numbers, working capacity, balance, information processing speed, attention switching, analytical abilities, and so on.

It is difficult to grasp the meaning of manipulation at once. It is impossible to guess-adjust the outcome of the tests. Everything is rather like a game, which by the end is very tiring. And when the head of all the heroes became “cast iron”, the participants were asked to quickly determine the evenness or oddness of the sum of numbers. In the center they say that this is how mental performance is determined.

The second half of testing determined professional preferences - in general and at the moment. Among the questions - "Do you like to conduct experiments?", "Do you like to repair equipment?" Here everything is more banal. Each of the heroes did this kind of tests-questionnaires more than once in his life. The results can be manipulated as desired. Our daredevils assured that they were as frank as possible.

Olga Gaiko, 35, People's Artist of Belarus

Olga Gaiko is a prima ballerina at the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. It is she who in the part of Odette-Odile from Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake" is depicted on gold and silver commemorative coins "Belarusian Ballet. 2013", released for the 80th anniversary of the theatre.

Olga was oriented to the profession by her mother, who worked all her life in Minsk at a factory. The woman gave her daughter at the age of five to rhythmic gymnastics. At the same time, the girl went to the Dream ensemble, whose leader advised her to try to enter the choreographic school.

“In dance, you can freely express your feelings,” explains the prima. And sport instilled purposefulness and responsibility.

The workload at the school was constantly very high. Grandmother saw how hard it was to study in the ballet class, how much strength it took, and she said to Olya: “Why do you need this ?!” She replied that she would still be a ballerina.

“When you are madly in love with what you are doing, then difficulties and loads are a pleasure,” Olga explains.

When did you realize that you are superior to others in some way?

“I heard in college that I was one of the best students… Ballet and theater are mine, 100%,” Olga Gaiko sums up.

The actress of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater believes that she still has a penchant for psychology and pedagogy. Let's check?

"Mom's choice was right"

Adding and subtracting in the process of completing assignments was not so fast for Olga. But the test showed a highly developed imagination and perseverance. She is a creative emotional nature with a visual-figurative type of thinking. In addition, Olga is always result-oriented. It was these qualities that allowed her to succeed in the profession of "artist", which is expected to be on the list of the main recommended ones.

The work of an architect and restorer is alien to Olga.

“Of course I like to look at beautiful things. But doing this is not my thing. But the design, primarily the interior, - yes, it's interesting to try, - she comments on the outcome of career guidance testing.

Olga Gaiko could well have caught fire with literature if she had delved into it in her time. At least she loved to write essays at school. The ballerina considers her work not extreme: it turns out to tune in, immerse yourself in the image and not be distracted by the public. According to Olga, thanks to the test, she will not be so fixated on her profession (“there are a lot of passionately dedicated people in the theater”). And the result confirmed: the mother's choice was the right one.

Oleg Rummo, 45 years old, Professor of Transplantation, Honored Doctor of Belarus

He was the first in the country to perform liver, pancreas and kidney transplants. At the age of 40, he headed the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation, of which he is still today. From the dynasty of doctors: mom and dad are doctors, grandmother is a nurse, sister, wife and her parents are from medicine. He graduated with honors from the Minsk State Medical Institute with a degree in general medicine in 1993 and from the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus in 2010.

“I am an excellent student in life. All items went equally well. And all this talk about dreams and dreams… I had no dreams,” says Oleg Rummo.

Oleg Rummo's father was a surgeon, deputy chief physician of the Slutsk Central District Hospital.

Mom is also a doctor. So it wasn't hard to choose. My parents actively pushed, and my decision was to please them. But this did not cause any rejection, says Dr. medical sciences.

Oleg Rummo believes that success was achieved thanks to the ability to quickly grasp useful and interesting material.

- There is a head on the shoulders to accumulate knowledge. Of course, manual skills are also very important. Therefore, I spent a lot of time in the clinic.

Everything came also because Rummo was interested in everything connected with the profession and going on around it.

- It's like a matter of life, if a person finds it, then he devotes himself entirely, and then gains experience faster.

In the life of a surgeon, everything was not so simple, but the opportunity turned up to realize what he wanted.

- There were people who were ready to help simply because you are nice to them, and you can do what you still need to do, and there is no one more suitable nearby. In addition, there are state interests and a desire to see Belarus as an advanced republic,” explains the head of the transplant center.

In 2008, declared the Year of Health, it was necessary to “shoot” with something.

- Here were the guys, and I was one of them, who took it and did it (meaning the first liver transplant in Belarus. - TUT.BY). And the president gave all kinds of support.

Rummo is a perfectionist. "Either don't do it, or do it well." Let not all things. To what it is important to do thoroughly, the surgeon considers work and family.

It is also important to understand whether you feel satisfaction.

- If it’s “high” to live with this woman, then it’s great, but if not, you’ll have to get a divorce. So it is at work.

The surgeon feels pleasure from the fact that for 2-10 hours he “owns” a person. He works for his own satisfaction, but he believes that a doctor for whom a patient ceases to exist should be driven out of medicine.

There was no thought about whether the profession was chosen even after the institute, when the future professor received a salary of only 6 dollars.

“Cosmetology, dentistry? I wouldn't go into medicine!"

- It turns out that in order not to burn out, I have to work in the pharmaceutical field, cosmetology, dentistry and physiotherapy. I would never go into medicine in my life if I worked as a dentist or cosmetologist.

With the fact that an extreme work schedule is not the best option for him, the MD agrees.

- I'm afraid to take risks - it's true. In transplantation, I have no right to risk at all. Human life? Would you like to risk yours? And I carefully prepare for dangerous situations, I bring each action to automatism.

Rummo found another way to stay in medicine and not burn out as a surgeon. Now most of his time (about 70%) he works as a “manager”, and operates several times a week.

“Perhaps I am even more able to organize, unite, commute,” Oleg Rummo assesses himself as a leader. “But I also enjoy leadership and operations.

Oleg Rummo really loves consistency and looks everywhere for logical connections.

- I spend a crazy amount of time and money on English, despite the fact that I have a very good (and the test confirms this. - TUT.BY) memory. Why? Yes, because foreign languages- this is pure cramming, there are no logical connections, and I have a completely different type of thinking.

- Defectology, speech therapy? Well, what kind of speech therapist am I? Re-rya-ryu ... I would die.

Rummo already saw himself as a teacher. He worked at the Medical University at the Department of Surgical Diseases. And now he is a professor at the Department of Transplantation of the Belarusian medical university postgraduate education.

I like teaching too, normal work.

The surgeon treats the administration offered by testing well.

— Yes, I can quickly put the documents in order.

But he "hates" activities with military specifics.

- I get rid of weapons by any means. I have been given licensed pistols, but they do not evoke any feelings in me. I like beautiful watches and suits more.

Sergey Divin, 43, CEO of the Belarusian division of EPAM Systems

Photo: Olga Shukaylo, TUT.BY

Has three higher education: legal (Belarusian Institute of Law), economic (BSEU), management in the field public relations(Institute for Advanced Studies). He believes that his current profession is a manager. And the tasks facing the leader are constantly different - from any field of activity.

- Right now, for example, my functions are in many ways similar to the work of a foreman-builder. The Estonian general contractor failed plans, and in the absence of a normal project documentation you need to finish building a building with a huge amount of marriage. Every day I understand this or that problem of construction, - says Sergey Divin.

The first profession that the CEO of EPAM Systems received was an “energy engineer” (power supply industrial enterprises and settings).

- I graduated from the 20th school in Bobruisk. Nearby was a mechanical and technological technical school, where my brother studied. My brother was pleased with the preparation, and so I went straight to the nearest institution and for four years counted the trolleybuses passing along Minskaya Street opposite the technical school.

Then there was a service in the border troops, and a lot of time had to be spent in outfits, night patrols. Bobruisk remained alone with himself and could think for a long time about who he was and what he liked best.

- It was the most useful period in terms of career guidance, - says Sergey. - Immediately after the army went to the Faculty of Law. There I found myself. I enjoyed practicing law.

It was to my liking to work in MTBank, then in a production holding, where Divin headed the legal department.

- The bank began to show what has always been hidden - organizational skills. I think I'm good at understanding people, understanding them.

After joining EPAM as a leader legal department, gradually took up administrative work. And for almost 14 years now, Divin has been a director. But he still continues to search and analyze what is closer to him.

— 14 years at EPAM have flown by in an instant. Every year, every day is a new challenge, and there is no time to think about what was originally laid in you. What if I'm an artist?

“Almost all issued professions are what I do in life”

— Jurisprudence, management activities and teaching more fall under my inclinations. This coincides with what you have to do in life, - Sergey Divin comments on the test results. - What did you take out for yourself? I am on the right track: there was jurisprudence, now it is managerial activity, and teaching is ahead :).

“In high school, such a test would be useful for me and for my parents,” the manager says. - The test itself is interesting from the point of view of identifying psychophysiological characteristics, but in terms of determining specialties, it is somewhat outdated. In my opinion, the qualifications of the early 90s are taken as a basis there. Now the "landscape of professions" has changed, and it is impossible to use stamps like "lawyers", "programmers". Within each of these terms, dozens of specializations have emerged that require different skills. For example, "business analysis" and "testing", "UX design" - all these terms hide the popular "programmer". In general, the questionnaire should be improved taking into account new professions.

Margarita Meshchanskaya, going to Grodno State University named after. Ya Kupala

Margarita Meshchanskaya, 11th grade of gymnasium No. 10, Grodno. Goes on gold medal, understands all subjects equally well, and it is difficult for her to single out any one. He will most likely choose a technical specialty, because he mainly likes mathematics and physics. In addition, the girl focuses on more money professions.

Today, her priority profile is "programmer-economist" and the specialty " Information Systems in Economics”, which can be obtained at the Grodno State University. I. Kupala. The specialty was advised by my mother, who once graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics.

Margarita is a professional volleyball player, she plays for the Grodno team "Neman-GrGU" and as part of the youth team of Belarus.

“I have very little time to prepare for centralized testing (because of sports. - TUT.BY), I go to bed late, get up early,” says Margarita.

Sport is already Margarita's profession. And what specialty will prompt testing?

“There will be an opportunity to choose a creative specialization”

The case of Margarita is very curious. For psychologists consulting at the Republican Center for Human Problems, offering her a profession turned out to be not an easy task. The girl's interests (sports, programming, mathematics) had to be combined with a predisposition to think figuratively. To this were added recommendations to work with people, but avoiding extreme conditions (which, in general, is almost incompatible with professional sports).

According to the test results, the ideal option for her is programming with a creative bias (but not economic. - TUT.BY).

“I just want to create something new in programming,” the girl comments. — It would be interesting to make websites. Where I enter, there is an opportunity to choose a specialization later.

Margarita agrees that she has good imaginative thinking, and she has already thought about the profession of an architect.

“But in Grodno architects are not so in demand,” she explains why she stopped thinking about this specialty.

As for sports, hard loads are, indeed, not a joy for her.

I have only one day off a week. Yes, I'm tired.

Marketing, journalism? “No, not mine,” says Margarita. And in order to make music, you need special education which the graduate does not have.

Career guidance testing Margarita Meshchanskaya has already passed at school. There was exactly like in the center, a questionnaire on interests. But psychophysiological features were not revealed. And this turned out to be useful for the applicant: to know not only what you want to do, but also what you can do.

Vyacheslav Artemov, enters BSU

Vyacheslav Artemov, 18 years old, school No. 161 in Minsk. Enters the Faculty of Law of Belarusian State University. He will go to study to be a lawyer because upon admission he will need to take his favorite subjects - for example, social studies. And you don’t have to take the CT in mathematics.

Relatives also advised so that Slava the best way passed the test. The demand for the profession in the labor market also had weight.

"I will develop perseverance"

Vyacheslav has an absolute contradiction between the chosen specialty and psychophysiological features. The young man is going to be a lawyer. And the test shows that the graduate has non-standard thinking. With non-standard logic, it is difficult to succeed in this profession, the psychologist notes. So Slava is more suitable for specialties where he can show his original perception of reality. In a good way, Vyacheslav should choose from the proposed professions. Moreover, the guy is just fascinated by history and philosophy.

The test results are very close to reality, says Vyacheslav.

I recognize myself in them. And just where I knew that I could fail, the test showed my weaknesses.

Despite all the recommendations to refuse to enter the law school, Slava is not going to change anything in her plans, she believes that philosophy can be studied on her own. At this stage, Vyacheslav considers it important to do not what is interesting, but what is more necessary in life.

I will develop perseverance, - he answers the question of whether it will not be boring to study.

Slava does not want to be a historian at school. But it turns out interesting fact: in case of non-admission to the Faculty of Law by Plan B, the applicant has just the Faculty of Philosophy. So we wish Slava (forgive me) to enter the philosophical one.

The applicant is going to use his non-standard thinking outside the profession - in creativity. As it turned out, it was not in vain that the test offered the graduate to take up literature. The student loves to write essays.

- Myself. Now few people write themselves. A lot of people "roll".

A year ago, Slava wrote his thoughts on the character of Sherlock Holmes on a website. So the professions of a screenwriter and criticism are close to him:

- In these areas it is possible to develop outside of some institutions. If a person wants to write, he will, even being an electrician.

Slava did not think about the professions of a draftsman, geologist, topographer, meteorologist. Such activities are interesting to him. But I don't want to dive into them.

About web design:

- About three years ago I dabbled - I tried to understand the programs. To be honest, it didn't grab me.

I found this test useful not so much in career guidance as in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of my brain.

If suddenly in the future Slava decides to change her profession, she will definitely look at the test results.

Marina Golovacheva enters the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Marina Golovacheva, 11th grade of the educational and pedagogical complex Kindergarten — secondary school the village of Staroe Selo, Minsk region. Enters the investigative-expert faculty of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Since childhood, the girl dreams of wearing a uniform. Considers himself fighting.

“I am always with the boys. There are seven boys and only two girls in my class. And for seven years I was the only one. Yes, we fought, - Marina smiles.

And recently, representatives of the Investigative Committee came to the school and campaigned. The director said that he could only recommend Marina for admission. This is how we decided.

By the way, even if Marina does not enter, she is going to get a job in the police or security from the age of 18.

"Let's go according to plan"

Marina's mother Lyudmila Nikolaevna commented on the test results.

- In the fifth grade, such a test is a godsend. I see that I could put some pressure on Marina with her studies, because the diagnostics showed good psychophysiological characteristics (for example, she memorized numbers well).

- Who knows, maybe she will work in a notary's office.

The family also thought about the work offered by the test at customs.

The girl and her mother agree that Marina needs breaks from work. Already now it is difficult for her to sit through the lesson - she needs to run, sing, dance, play sports ...

The applicant will take the test results for a medical examination and a psychophysiological examination, which must be passed for admission to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

* It costs 400,000 Belarusian rubles to pass career guidance testing at the Republican Center for Human Problems at the Belarusian State University.

She is the undisputed prima of modern Belarusian ballet. A tall, graceful beauty with bright eyes and a quiet voice. True balletomanes and enthusiastic fans are looking forward to her performances on the stage of the Belarusian Bolshoi Theater. Odette-Odile, Carmen, Giselle, Sylphide, Esmeralda, Zarema, Tamar, Rogneda - she has dozens of parties and roles. We met with Olga Gaiko immediately after a recent tour in France.

- Olga, a few words about your recent tour: what kind of performance, what kind of heroine?

The choreographer from St. Petersburg Nadezhda Kalinina presented the performance "Bolero" based on the biography of the ballerina Ida Rubinstein - a lively, dynamic, bright, emotional ballet, which turned out to be very close to me in terms of plasticity and energy. I haven't felt like this in a performance for a long time - in order to perform the part of the legendary Ida, I had to turn my soul inside out and reincarnate into a passionate, inspired woman in love with dance.

The performance features amazing music by various composers. The production is strong in terms of dramaturgy, so I literally lived through each of my ten performances. The audience, mostly French, received very well. And in Paris, and in other cities, we went out to bow three or four times.

- Theatergoers and balletomanes remember you in the cult ballets Spartacus, Romeo and Juliet, Til Ulenspiegel.

I really performed the part of Phrygia in Spartacus - I love these Greek and Roman themes, this atmosphere, plasticity, hairstyles. But she danced this part a little, Phrygia seemed to me not at all quiet and weak, but, on the contrary, heroic, with character, with a core to support her man. Just like Nele from Til, in whose image I tried to bring my own individuality.

One of my favorite roles was once Juliet - in our performance this image is very well revealed, the path from a girl to a woman, which is interesting to show in terms of acting and dramaturgy. Valentin Nikolaevich Elizariev taught me a deep understanding of the role and immersion in the image, helped to reveal my potential. There were other roles as well.

The turning point for me was the image of Abby in the ballet "Love under the Elms", staged by Yuri Puzakov. I had to overcome myself, creating this ambiguous and strong acting image. The heroine, of course, is cunning, but unhappy.

- On the Belarusian stage, you worked with cult modern choreographers ...

I thank fate for bringing me together with such amazing masters. With Nikita Alexandrovich Dolgushin, we prepared the ballets Esmeralda, La Sylphide, unfortunately, we did not have time to make Giselle. And Alexandra Tikhomirova, then an assistant to Nikita Alexandrovich, practiced with me every step, nuance, movement in Esmeralda.

I received tremendous inspiration from the very presence of the Master in the hall, a professional of the highest class, representing the old Leningrad school, from his presentation of the material, from his attitude towards soloists, ballerinas, from working with him - very intelligent, kind person. I ran to every rehearsal, flew, I was in awe of the fact that I have the opportunity to just look at the legend, at the great man.

During rehearsals with him, I never felt that I couldn’t do anything, there was no doubt about my individuality, because he was constantly trying to reveal each dancer, to convince us that we can do anything. I doubted very much whether I was suitable for the ballet "La Sylphide" in terms of height (I'm a bit tall), image, style. But I fell in love with this ballet, rehearsals inspired me every day, and I realized that I want and can try something new. Nikita Alexandrovich gave this confidence.

Working with Andris Liepa was also a real discovery for me, a breath of fresh air. Before meeting him, I always associated myself with a classical dancer, because I mostly danced the classics - gentle, airy, sublime. But at some point you want to try to reveal yourself in a new way, try something else. It was the work with Andris on the performances of "Scheherazade" and "Tamar" that helped me discover some other acting and plastic facets in myself.

The part of Zobeida, the wife of the Sultan and the beloved of the Golden Slave, in Sheherazade was very difficult at first, I did not feel plasticity, so a lot of inner work was needed. I reviewed a huge number of videos with different ballerinas, studied many theatrical sketches and texts ... And at some point I realized what my heroine should be like. I also realized that first of all I should get my individuality, and then color it, as required by the choreographer.

ballet "Fountain of Bakhchisarai"

- After the role of Zarema in the "Fountain of Bakhchisarai" oriental theme should be very familiar to you.

Oriental images are really close to me, but in the performances of the “Russian Seasons” era of the beginning of the last century, which Andris Liepa reconstructed on our stage, the plasticity is very specific. In these ballets, a classical dancer needs to liberate her body, shoulders, arms, neck, and hips.

Are you close to the Spanish heroine in the ballet Laurencia, which was staged on our stage by the world ballet star Nina Ananiashvili?

There is also a lot of passion in the Spanish theme. I am an emotional person, so expressive, temperamental Spanish dances are very close to me. As for Nina Ananiashvili, I grew up on her records. My mother was in love with her like a ballerina and always told me: “Look, Olya, what kind of hands she has, how she moves, how she dances!”

I can say that Nina was my idol, whom I looked up to. Therefore, when she came to our rehearsal room for the first time, I was completely delighted and did not immediately believe that I would have the happiness of working with a great ballerina.

- Legends of the Belarusian ballet Lyudmila Brzhozovskaya and Irina Savelyeva have also become your teachers.

With Lyudmila Genrikhovna, we have come a very long way in the theater. I would say that we grew up together: she is like a teacher, I am like her student. For me, she is the standard of a real woman, a real person, a very subtle, spiritual person. This is a person close to me.

Irina Nikolaevna Savelyeva taught classical dance at our choreographic school. She was a famous ballerina in her time, a representative of the amazing Leningrad ballet school. Together with me, Marina Vezhnovets and Irina Eromkina studied with Irina Nikolaevna. We are all very different, because our teacher was able to make individuality out of each.

She has shaped our lives and our careers. Teachers give not only professional knowledge. Irina Nikolaevna always wanted us to have the right human qualities: justice, honesty, perseverance. They achieved success due to a strong character, but not meanness. Today, Irina Nikolaevna no longer teaches, but we try to always be in contact with her, we come to visit, share our joys with her and not only.

Yes, I was surrounded by amazing masters, thanks to whom I took place on stage. Without false modesty, I don't feel like I let them down.

Is it true that the winner in ballet is the one who knows how to step over laziness, resentment, “I don’t want to” and achieve his own?

In the choreographic school, we looked into the mouth of the teacher - she was a goddess for us. And there was no talk of any grievances, there were no extra emotions. There was only one goal in my head: to become a ballerina. We went to this every day, absorbing every word. What grievances? Only gratitude.

You came to the theater and almost immediately became a soloist, starting to dance the leading roles, including the most difficult - Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.

I came to the theater in 1997, and today, from the height of my years on stage, I can say that I was given a chance to prove myself in advance, for which I am very grateful to both Valentin Nikolaevich Elizariev and Yuri Antonovich Troyan. You still need to grow up to this role. It was very difficult for me, to be honest. At 18, it’s too early both in terms of technique and emotions.

ballet "Scheherazade"

- Why can't every ballerina dance the Swan? What data is needed for this batch?

I can say that in our time Odette-Odile is danced by various ballerinas. But before there were quite strict canons. In order for the audience to believe and almost see the wings, the swan neck, the ballerina must have certain physical data, external texture: plastic, long, flexible arms, a thin swan neck. But, on the other hand, today every dancer can try to reveal herself by making her own Swan.

The image of Odette-Odile accompanies you throughout your creative career. Do you know everything about him? Who is closer to you: White Swan or Black?

Yes, this party is always there. But, despite the fact that I have been dancing it for many years, I still think over the image every time. Creative comprehension of a work is an endless process, and we grow up, improve, become wiser. To be honest, both characters are equally close to me. Sometimes I like Odile even more. She is a free woman: strong, bright, passionate, tempting.

A black tutu and feathers in the costume add to the image of magnetism, mystery, mystery. Dancing in contrast is always interesting. The medal has two sides: sometimes you don’t understand where you play, and where you are already real, where is this line that separates the image that you create and your individuality that you put into it and complement it.

You always want to perceive not flatly what is happening on the stage - white or black, but somehow color it, give depth, nuances, shades. Every year I am more and more convinced that it is necessary to immerse yourself in emotions in dance and strive to touch the thin strings of the soul, so that the viewer feels it, to be hooked.

- How do you understand that you touched, hooked the audience? Doesn't the "fourth wall" between the hall and the stage interfere?

I can feel it. It's very difficult to explain, but I'm sure there is a connection between the stage and the viewer.

There are 36 roles in your repertoire, according to the information on the theatrical website. Among them, the absolute majority of positive heroines, much less negative ones, and there are several contradictory characters.

I don't really remember how many roles I have. But there is a strong feeling that I didn’t finish something, that I have a lot to do. All roles are really very different. In each party, you have to reincarnate depending on the image, era, style, costume - and this is very interesting. Something to look for and get out of yourself.

Attitude towards the party is changing in different periods life. Sometimes you strive to express yourself in some complex, characteristic, passionate parts, and sometimes you want peace, positive heroines and emotions.

- Do you feel sorry for your heroines? What do negative roles give you?

Yes it's true. I pity them. Negative roles have always been interesting to me. Because in contrast you can test yourself in terms of acting, for this you try to make each role as convincing as possible, your own.

- Which of your today's heroines is close and understandable to you? Isolde, Carmen, Jadwiga, Dark Angel?

Carmen is just a woman, she is understandable. It seems to me that there are many such women in our time, and at all times. She is like the wind, changeable, ambiguous, both cold and hot, elusive. I love Isolde very much (ballet "Tristan and Isolde." - Note. ed.) and the part of the Beloved in the ballet " The little Prince”, because it is interesting to be not only some kind of fatal, passionate heroine, but also a lyrical, dramatic one.

I am also very close to Balanchine's style and the small role of the Dark Angel in his ballet Serenade. I love neoclassicism, this Balanchine style, this plasticity, when you dance just music, without a plot.

- What about comic roles?

I didn't have those roles. Yes, I do not feel the need for them. I always need to show nerve, drama. Although it might be interesting.

Have you ever turned down a role?

There were games in which I felt uncomfortable, and it was absolutely not mine. I went out, maybe once, and that was it. But this is a normal situation.

- Is it true that sometimes artists on stage feel more comfortable than in real life?

It is interesting that from my very first performances, back in school, as soon as I crossed the stage, I became a different person. I had no framework, much embarrassment, I opened up - both for myself and for the audience. Although I was quite shy in school.

- Shyness from the artist? ..

Maybe it depends on upbringing.

- You are workaholic?

I can say that if I had not been a workaholic and even to some extent a fanatic, I would not have come to my goal. Of course, everyone has moments when you are lazy, when you don’t feel like doing something. But without certain qualities of character, there would be no success.

- Does a woman sacrifice anything for the sake of the profession of a ballerina?

I have been asked this question many times. But I don't understand what is meant. Maybe from the outside it seems that we are sacrificing a lot, but what?

- Free time, for example ...

There are no victims here, there is a conscious choice of each person. If you choose the path of a leading ballerina - this is your choice, you go to it, you don't sacrifice anything, you like everything. So, you are concentrating on this, you have a goal, I would even say pathetically, - a mission, to tell something, to convey to people. If you want to get married, you get married. If you want, then combine it all.

You danced in theaters in France and Italy, Germany and Spain, Holland, China and other countries. Have you been invited to work abroad?

Yes, of course, there were opportunities and good offers. But I can't imagine myself outside the walls of this theatre. I am "sick" of this theater and Belarusian art. There was a couple of times the temptation to leave, but Minsk, Belarus outweighed.

- It seems that you are a fan of the profession, the theater.

Yes, this theater and this profession.

- How do you feel about criticism?

Over the years, things get easier. Naturally, I need criticism from people whom I respect, whom I trust unconditionally, who are my authority. These are my teachers, and people not from the profession. Of course it's my mom. But I have my own extensive professional experience and my own opinion.

Previously, criticism was perceived painfully. She was such a daring, emotional, maximalist: I can do everything, I can do everything. When you're young, you think you're just a genius. Not now. I hope for wisdom, for experience.

Who inspires you? Once, fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev, who made sketches of costumes for Laurencia, said that Olga Gaiko could play Maya Plisetskaya in the film ...

Maya Plisetskaya was a benchmark for me. Once I even saw her at Sheremetyevo, but I didn’t have the courage to approach her, now I regret it. I am inspired by bright personalities, personalities, strong characters with rod.

A few years ago, a commemorative coin dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Bolshoi Theater was issued with the image of the People's Artist of Belarus Olga Gaiko. What were the feelings?

For me, this is an honor, and these are not just pathetic words.

- How does your mother feel about your awards and regalia?

Absolutely calm. I know that she is proud of me, but we do not express outwardly strong emotions at home.

- How do you relax after the performance?

I sleep, I go to the cinema, I drink coffee. I love painting, I enjoy contemplating paintings - if possible, I visit museums on trips. I like reading, especially the classics. I love beautiful perfumes. On the stage, of course, perfume smells interfere with breathing, and they manifest themselves in a completely different way, but outside the theater I don’t like calm, floral, fresh smells, I like more oriental, slightly sweet ones.

- Are they in character?

I have oriental roots.

What flowers do you like? Administrators in the theater foyer tell stories about fans who come to Gaiko's performances with armfuls of roses.

It was like that, and it's very nice. I used to love roses. But now I have a different attitude to everything - I just love flowers.

- What clothes do you wear on a daily basis? Always on parade?

When you make up for the stage every other day, do your hair, "emotion", disturb your nervous system, then most often in the afternoon or in the morning you don’t want to paint and especially dress up. Of course, I try to appear in all my glory at festive events, but in everyday life everything is very simple: jeans, a sweater, a minimum of cosmetics.

I do not experience complexes about this. It’s just that you have to try on so many images that outside the theater you just want to be yourself.

- Nervousness, stress - is it part of the acting profession?

I think yes. Everything is connected with our inner state, with the subtle facets of the soul. You reincarnate, you experience - such a profession.

- Where are you going? What is your life path today?

This is the most complex issue which I can ask. Now I am again in search of truth, myself - it is difficult to answer unequivocally. I am trying to comprehend my life and professional experience, to enrich myself spiritually. And I rely only on what has been tested by time.

Interviewed by Olga Savitskaya

Photo: Slava Potalakh, Mikhail Nesterov, Vasily Maiseenok, from the archive of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater

06.10.2012 - 21:10

One of the heroes of the week is not an official, not a combine operator, and not the leader of a political party. But the heroine of the party in the ballet. And Carmen, and Juliet, and Esmeralda. And now also the People's Artist of Belarus. Ballerina Olga Gaiko is among those who received state awards from the President of the country at the beginning of the week.

At the age of five, her mother brought little Olya to the rhythmic gymnastics section so that she would be plastic and graceful. And already at nine, the gifted girl herself decided to devote herself to ballet.

After graduating from the choreographic college, Olga was almost immediately accepted into the corps de ballet of the Bolshoi and was given the part of Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.

Four years later, in 2001, Olga Gaiko became the winner of the prestigious international award "Debut". Since then, the ballerina's career has rapidly gone up. And today in the repertoire of the leading stage master of the Bolshoi there are only the main roles: proud Carmen, romantic Odette, charming Scheherazade and loving Esmeralda. Despite such a variety, all the images of Olga are her favorites.

Spotlights and the stage are the front side of the artist's work. Olga puts on chic shiny tutus only for the performance. For more than 20 years, every morning of the prima of the Bolshoi begins in the same way as for a schoolgirl ballerina - with a set of classical ballet exercises. Classes are held daily.

After an hour of warm-up - four hours of rehearsals. There is no time to relax - in three weeks the troupe must prepare the premiere of the neoclassical ballet "Serenade". Olga has one of the key roles. Therefore, the People's Artist, despite her experience and merits, carefully listens to the remarks of the famous French choreographer Nanette Glushak.

At two o'clock - the long-awaited lunch break. Contrary to popular belief about the strict diets of ballerinas, Olga loves to eat with taste.

Another weakness of the artist is shopping. Olga can go shopping for hours.

Before the performance, the ballerina carefully combs her hair and applies makeup. It is very bright, so that the audience of even the most distant rows of stalls could see the face of the prima.

Saturday evening and on the stage of the Bolshoi - the long-awaited premiere of the ballet "Serenade". In it, Olga Gaiko will appear in two new guises at once - the heroine of the play and now the People's Artist of Belarus. The judges will remain the same - the audience.

Related news

June 25 at the Bolshoi Theater will show the ballet "Anastasia"

News of Belarus. The Ballet Summer at the Bolshoi Marathon started simultaneously with the 2nd European Games, the Capital Details program on STV reported.

As planned, this will give the fans an opportunity to fill up spiritually after the sports heat of passion in the stands. Festival premieres are shown here all week. June 25 is the ballet Anastasia by Vyacheslav Kuznetsov directed by Yuri Troyan.

The plot is based on the fate of the Belarusian princess Anastasia Slutskaya. Leading ballet dancers of the Bolshoi Theater are involved in the production. The story is complex and confusing, and for the theatrical stage, this is just what is interesting.

Yuri Troyan, artistic director of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus:
We always try to show our new works, premiere performances at this festival. But the most important thing is that the viewer empathizes, worries. As an author, I see both the advantages and disadvantages of the play. But it seems to me that he found a way to the heart of the viewer. It is most important.

Vladimir Gridyushko, General Director of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus:
The program, as always, includes the presence of guest theaters. Mariinsky Theater together with the project of the People's Artist of Russia Igor Kolb Dance. Dance. Dance. And two evenings are devoted to us and the Belarusian audience by the theater "Kyiv modern ballet» .

The festival will end on Friday June 28 with a gala concert featuring world ballet stars. The prima and premieres of the world's leading theaters will take the stage.

• Read more

High. Thin. Huge eyes. A smile is like a bright flash. Passionate Carmen, proud Rogneda, exotic Scheherazade, and romantic Aurora live in this young woman. Where and how? .. Biography does not give answers to such questions. Olga Gaiko was born in Minsk. At the age of five, she entered the rhythmic gymnastics section, then the Rovesnik dance ensemble. After graduating from the choreographic school, she works at the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus, dancing in almost all of its productions.
No, not dancing - flying. She knows the laws of levitation, and the audience is afraid to breathe when Gaiko in twine hangs almost one and a half meters above the stage.
- And what is the thought beating at this time?
- There is no specific idea. There is a concentration of physical and emotional forces. You focus on the image and think about the accuracy of each movement, live on stage with strong sensations. The soul breaks out of the body, and you begin to feel the hall, it supports you. And gives strength to soar.
- On the first day of October, you received a medal and a certificate of a people's artist from the hands of the Head of State. Do you feel chosen?

Olga Gaiko is the youngest people's artist of the country.

- I dont think about it. I just feel responsible for what I do.
- Ballet people are a caste. They live in the theater, more precisely, the theater, they marry their own. The way of life is looped: home - work - home. This is true?
- Do not generalize. Everyone makes their own choice of what to live and how to live. I have always had a goal to which I aspired. And to achieve it, to succeed, you need dedication. Yes, the ballet schedule subjugates all my time, but this does not mean that I deny myself communication with good people, my friends are not from the ballet world.
- Are you getting up?
— At eight in the morning. But after a hard performance, I allow myself to get up later.
- How can you relieve nervous and mental stress after the performance?
“It’s better not to shoot, otherwise you’ll get used to it, and this is fraught with danger ... You need to be able to quickly switch to something else.
- Do you have a housekeeper?
— No, somehow we manage ourselves, my mother helps. Household duties in the family are distributed harmoniously. We always feel when we need to lend a shoulder to each other.
What do you love, what do you hate?
— Very often I think about it, reflect on the psychology of people. I came to the conclusion that everyone needs to work with themselves and not show the “unkempt” nature in all its glory ...
What I love? Family. This is the most important thing, the core in life. About my mother, Elena Vladimirovna Gaiko, I always speak with reverence. This is a woman who dedicated her life to her children, put her soul into us, put us on our feet. She lives for me and my brother. Perhaps in me she realized her unfulfilled dreams. Mom subtly feels plastic, music ...
- on tour in free time where are you going?
- Usually there is no free time there, we see the country from the bus window. But if I have a minute, I go to the museum. Impressed by the Prado. And to visit the Louvre, you need to come not on tour, but simply to Paris. I love painting very much. Impressionists. I also like to wander the streets, feel the atmosphere
cities…
Do books feed you?
- Yes. I mostly read books electronic version. Now I am re-reading Dostoevsky's The Idiot, rediscovering it for myself, it gives an understanding of the nature of people. Nature ... In any weather I go out of town. I walk through the forest for an hour, I breathe - I return renewed.
- What are your favorite flowers?
— Belarusian roses. They smell.
- Do domestic fans differ from foreigners?
- Yes. Our audience is open, grateful, but somewhat restrained in expressing emotions.
What is the biggest fear of a ballerina?
- Fear of being unclaimed. Fear of major injury.
- They say that you are all broken, with torn tendons, with myositis ...
- Truth. And I am. But we do not dramatize our sores, unless, of course, we are out of the stage due to an injury for a year. I got used to the pain, I don’t feel it, as a result, the disease goes into a chronic phase, which is already bad. Yet physical pain is part of our profession.
- Time ruins the ballerina?
- It helps me. The body as an instrument becomes more experienced, and the brain develops.
What about retirement at age 40?
- Yes, the ballet age is short, and therefore it is very important to get a public and state support, recognition.
— Are you at the machine every day?
- Each.
- And on vacation?
- Not. On vacation we relax. And then we catch up. We have a month and a half vacation. This summer I was in the Mediterranean.
I don't see a tan.
- I can't stand sunbathing. Sunburn is bad for my skin type.
- You have a bright appearance, you are temperamental. Have you been invited to act in films?
- Not. It looks like you need to take the first step. I would like to try my hand at series.
- Well, yes, you are a lyrical heroine ...
- It seems to you. I'm different.
- For example, when you are driving and you are cut off, you go out and say to a person such that he is ready to fall through the ground!
- That's right! (Laughs.)
- Let's debunk the myth that ballerinas eat one cabbage leaf.
- Let's. It came from Volochkova - about spinach leaves. In fact, she eats well. Personally, I like well-cooked meat, I prefer Italian cuisine, for example, I like pizza.
- Do you eat at night?
- It happens. During the performance, such an amount of energy is expended that the appetite is brutal.
— Excuse me, what is your height and weight?
- 174 and 53. This is normal. When you go on stage in tights and an open tutu, the stage itself adds several kilograms to the weight.
- Can you refuse to dance with a partner if he is new to the stage? Suddenly, performing support, he will drop ...
- In no case! We will work with him in the gym until we achieve a good result.
— Did the theaters of other countries enticed you?
- They called. Unsuccessfully. I have mutual love with the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus.
You can see it in my performance on stage.
- What would the People's Artist of Belarus Olga Gaiko wish five-year-old Olechka Gaiko, who is running to rhythmic gymnastics classes and does not yet know her future?
- More courage and self-confidence.
You need to believe in children and raise their self-esteem. Dear adults, speak kind words to them, give them praise in advance. The kids don't get hurt by this. They just grow wings.
- To float above the stage?
And for this too.

Pair of pigeons
“Ballet shoes are a characteristic. She gives an idea of ​​both the theater and the ballerina,” says Olga Gaiko
- You have a very small foot, judging by the pointe shoes ... By the way, how long do they live?
“I have been dancing in these for almost half a year now.
— Whose production?
— American, handmade. They are durable and washable. You see, soft plastic is inserted into the sock here. These pointe shoes are world class.
Shows satin pointe shoes that you want to stroke like doves.
- For work, I need not one pair, but several. Need shoes with different insoles...
“But such a miracle is worth ...
- 100-110 dollars a pair. The theater helps - takes on the financial burden.

Dance is her life. It seems that she could not choose another path, because she dreamed of the stage of the Bolshoi Theater since childhood. She didn’t just dream, but day after day she went to the goal - through the trials that fate presented her. She is often compared to the legendary Maya Plisetskaya, although she herself has never had any idols. Thousands of fans admire her and always follow her flight with a breath, not even imagining what is behind this airy lightness. When she talks about the scene, goosebumps run through her body. It seems that it is impossible to love dance more. She is the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus Olga GAIKO.

- How does the day start for the People's Artist of Belarus?

- It doesn’t matter if there is a performance that day or not, I get up at 8 in the morning. A sip of tea or coffee, a light breakfast - and I'm flying to a classical dance lesson. Despite the fact that I have been in the profession for about 30 years, it is very difficult for me to get up so early: after all, I am a night owl. It's funny, but I can practice at the ballet barre in class ... half asleep. Therefore, I try to quickly tone myself up so that the muscles work, and the body would not be relaxed. Sometimes I even persuade myself: “Olya, you have to!”. (Smiling.) But by 12 noon I'm already like a cucumber!

- Does anything change in this standard morning if there is a performance in the evening?

- Undoubtedly! From the very morning - a certain mood and inner concentration. All thoughts are about the performance, movements, emotions, spectators. I'm trying to put myself together in order to create a full-blooded image. On this day, of course, you can approach me, but I'm not sure that I react to others. Because I turn into a kind of lump. And I feel like I'm behind a closed door. I guess not only me. This applies to any artist. Such concentration is important for everyone, I want not to lose anything, not to miss anything, to collect everything - and throw it out already on the stage, in front of the public ...

But every performance is different.

- Yes, there is such an interesting moment. Sometimes you are dissatisfied with yourself, but the audience accepts you surprisingly warmly. And vice versa: it seems that you gave everything 100%, but the audience did not understand you. But I’ll say one thing for sure: the viewer feels everything, you can’t deceive him - you can’t fake it in front of him. In dance, sincerity, openness, emotions of the artist are important, because our main task is to fill the human soul with light and beauty.

- You often say that the desire to be a ballerina was born with you.

- Of course, the first impulse here is set by the parents. My mother, even if she is not connected with the world of art, always loved to dance, participated in amateur performances. At the age of 4, I was sent to rhythmic gymnastics, and then also to the dance ensemble "The Same Age". I loved movement, choreography, physical activity. And when at the age of 8 we had to make a choice between dancing and sports, we were advised to try to enroll in a choreographic school (now a gymnasium-college).

As soon as I got up to the ballet barre, I immediately realized who I want to be, what I need to achieve and what I need to do for this. I didn’t just dream of the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, but I understood: I would only dance the main parts as a leading soloist! I don’t know how to explain it, but I felt it all in my gut, moreover, I saw it. I remember these thoughts very well when I was 9 years old. Of course, sports instilled in me the qualities and character of a leader, and day after day I stubbornly walked towards my goal - to be the first. It was unacceptable for me to do something at half strength, at full speed, in the profession I gave all my best. I set myself a goal - to be a ballerina, and I went to her. There was no other way for me - only dance.

– Was it hard?

- Honestly, I don’t understand when they are shaking over children at a ballet school and saying: oh, how poor they are! .. If you love it, that’s fine! There were 10 girls in our class, and it was just a pleasure for us to sit at the school from morning to night - to study classics and folk dances, go to specialties. Yes, we were tired, but it couldn’t even cross my mind: that’s it, I’m leaving school! It was fatigue in a buzz! Yes, they put us in positions and arched our legs, but it was natural. It wasn't difficult for me. It's not hard for me even now. Yes, you get physically tired, but you get enormous compensation - from the role, dance, stage, audience ... Why even go to a choreographic school if you don't like ballet? If it's hard, you can always find something easier ...

Do you remember the first performance?

- In the second year of study, we were going to go with concerts to Germany. It was my very first tour, so, of course, I was worried. And I had to prepare a variation of the Doll Fairy. Until now, every day I thank my wonderful teacher - a teacher from God Irina Nikolaevna Savelyeva - for her magnificent St. Petersburg ballet school, which she gave to me and my classmates Marina Vezhnovets and Irina Eromkina.

For a girl of 10 years old, the variation of the Fairy of dolls is quite complicated. But everything turned out thanks to Irina Nikolaevna, she managed to convey and submit everything so well that there were no movements that I could not cope with. This is my first serious work, and I still remember the order of the dance.

Who would you like to be like in your profession?

- My classmates and I often went to the theater for performances in which Ekaterina Fadeeva danced. For us, she was a ballerina with capital letter. We gave her flowers, we admired her, standing backstage, we took her autographs. We really liked her. But, you know, the word "idol" always scares me, I never had them. I've always tried to make something out of myself. Yes, of course, there were reference points - strong personalities, professionals. I watched recordings of their performances, read their biographies. I remember in my childhood, when my mother and I admired Andris Liepa and Nina Ananiashvili, it never occurred to me that someday I would be able to touch them, hug them, work next to them. My tender love was Maya Plisetskaya. I draw inspiration from these people. I don’t copy, I don’t try to be like - thanks to them I set myself on a certain path.

- Surely, your mother can be attributed to people whom you trust, who are an authority for you?

- Mommy is my tuning fork! She is always very reserved in her praise. And it has always been that way, since childhood. Is she proud of me? I guess so. But we never talk to her about such topics. The fact that she has a daughter, a ballerina and a people's artist, she does not perceive as a miracle or something supernatural. Although others are trying to prove the opposite to her. (Smiling.) She knows how dedicated I am to my profession and that it has always been that way. When I came home after training and fell down, it was she who supported me - both physically and mentally. Perhaps only she knows how hard it can be for me ...

- Even when you entered the choreographic school, did you already dream of the stage of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus?

- For the last three years of school, I was eager to go to the theater with all my heart, I just thought: faster, faster, faster! Having come to the Bolshoi, she was in the corps de ballet for a couple of years, but it was a pure formality, because she quickly began to prepare solo parts. Of course, I will never forget the moment when I was offered to dance the third, so-called "black" act of "Swan Lake": I would not have coped with the whole performance at once. Now I understand that they gave me the part of Odile in advance, because I was 18 years old! I was worried - madly, but just as passionately wanted to dance. Just burned with this desire! I didn’t understand what level a ballerina should be in order to approach and touch this role ... But now I am very grateful that I got this chance.

- Have you had star disease?

– I love watching people, and I myself have experienced a lot, so I can say for sure that almost everyone goes through this period. I don’t know what kind of disease it is - stellar or lunar . (Smiling.) At a certain stage, you achieve something, you take off, you consider yourself practically a celestial being. But this does not last long, because life has its own sense of humor. As soon as you decide that now you will touch the clouds with your head, you fall, and you fall very painfully.

- You can often hear that ballerinas sacrifice a lot of their profession ...

– My profession is my life, dance is the air I breathe. I don't make any sacrifices on the altar of the ballet. I love what I do because ballet is my work and my inspiration.

- Is it difficult to be in the status of a people's artist?

- You know, dancing is much easier and easier when you are not burdened with any titles and statuses. When a burden of responsibility hangs on you, you understand: you simply have no right to let you down. But you are a living person - and anything can happen. But I never perceived the title as something global. When they say to me: “You are a people's artist!”, I answer: “So what? ..”. I am a fairly open and simple person. Although at some point it became difficult for me to carry this load, it began to put pressure on me. And then I realized: you just need to enjoy the profession and not prove anything to anyone. Yes, there are successful and less successful performances, but we are not machines, not robots. On stage, you can live only with emotions and feelings, technique should not be a priority. Ideally, if everything is harmoniously combined in you and this balance is maintained. But if the dancer the highest degree technical, but it blows cold, for me it's not an artist.

- One of the most unpleasant aspects of the profession of a dancer is injuries. And, unfortunately, you know this firsthand.

- When you live your profession, a serious injury is just a disaster. In my case, for a year and a half, I suffered from pain in my knee, they could not understand what was happening to me. Until one day there was a rupture of the ligaments. A complex operation followed, but the most difficult was the rehabilitation process. I deliberately kept my photos after the operation. To never forget how it happens when everything turns upside down inside you, breaks down, but you try to rebuild yourself and your thoughts, to understand how to live on without your favorite thing ... When you wake up after anesthesia and don’t understand if you can walk normally. And one can only dream about dancing or putting on pointe shoes ... At such a moment, priorities change. Everything that seemed important to you: career, success, your significance - turns into dust.

The theater is a huge mechanism, a conveyor. And the performances must go on. For which I am very grateful to the Bolshoi - for waiting for me here. They supported and said: calmly get into shape and come back.

– The operation was performed on you in February 2016, and in September you quietly began to go to theater lessons.

“After the operation, I spent a month at home. You know, while day after day you are tormented by your thoughts and crying into your pillow, there comes a moment when you start dreaming about the simplest things: go out and drink coffee with someone, take a walk around the city. This is a very strange state when you try to put yourself back together after breaking into pieces. Perhaps these forces to become a different person are given to you only from God.

I am grateful to life for those people whom it presents me, people who are imbued with me and my problems. The doctor Alexander Pipkin performed a real miracle, because I don’t understand how it is possible to perform knee surgery so skillfully so that I can go dancing again. And my rehabilitation specialist Svetlana Skakun worked with me every day - she helped me feel like a new one. Of course, close friends supported, came, called, but you can’t cry and say how bad you feel, and thus burden your relatives forever. In fact, in such a situation, you are left alone with the world and your problems. You learn to do everything from scratch, including opening up and trusting people.

Now for me every day is a miracle. After the operation, I couldn’t walk and dragged my leg, she didn’t obey me, and now I’m practicing at the ballet barre, dancing and jumping ... I went on stage - and there is no greater happiness for me! .. Yes, you can fly very high, but do not forget that there are falls. And these trials are necessary in order to realize oneself as a person, analyze one's actions, work on oneself, fight one's shortcomings and climb the spiritual ladder higher and higher.

- You were able to take the stage after such a rather long break.

- And it was great! I just flew to this stage, I most of all wanted to return there, because I knew: they were waiting for me! And I couldn't betray that trust. I went out and enjoyed every minute, every sound of music, working with a partner in a duet, the applause of the audience. Now I'm talking - and I have goosebumps ... Before, before the injury, I could say: "I'm tired, it's hard, I want to rest." Now I don’t understand: why should I rest? I enjoy everything! And I can sincerely say: I am a happy person. It is happiness to live and be in constant search for harmony between yourself and the world around you. But how much time and labor did it take me to figure it out!

Elena BALABANOVICH

Photo from the personal archive of Olga GAIKO