ALEXANDER SELEZNEV ALMATY CHOREOGRAPHIC SCHOOL

Biography

The history of the A. V. Seleznev Almaty choreographic school dates back to 1934. Based on the Decree of the CPC of the KazSSR dated 2.01.1934 No. 7 "On organization of musical and choreographic children's school of the pupils of orphanages" on the basis of orphanage No. 13 located at 37, Sibirskaya Street, the first musical and choreographic school in the republic was established. On September 1, 1934, 32 children, selected from the most capable pupils of orphanages, begin to study choreographic art. The first artistic director of the choreographic school was Alexander Alexandrov (Martirosyants). The first teachers who laid the foundations of choreographic art were the representatives of the Russian ballet school such as A. Aleksandrov, L. Molodyashin, M. Shatlovsky, M. Mroz, A. Gnetko, Z. Pluzhnikov, V. Nikolayev, D. Gatsina; concertmasters O. Manuilova, L. Shavrina, M. Goltseva.Since 1937, the further history of the development ofmusic and choreography school has been associated with the name of Alexander Vladimirovich Seleznev, who worked as a director-tutor, head of educational unit, and artistic director for more than 20 years. He had trained 17 graduations, having formed his own school of classical dance pedagogy.

On May 3, 1938, based on the Decree of the CPC of the Kazakh SSR No. 419 “On restructuring of educational institutions providing training of art personnel”, a choreographic technical school with 150 students, training period of 10 years was established in Alma-Ata. In 1939, the choreographic technical school moved to a new building located in the center of Alma-Ata at 90, Stalin Avenue (now Abylay Khan Ave., the building of the Kurmangazy KNC). In 1941, the choreographic school became part of the P. I. Tchaikovsky Musical and Choreographic Center, according to the Order No. 437 of the Department of Arts under the CPC of the KazSSR of September 2, 1941. The first graduation of the choreographic school took place in 1942, and almost all of the graduates went to the front. The Chairperson of the Commission was Galina Ulanova.

In 1951, the Kazakh State Choreographic School of the Ministry of Culture of the KazSSR was transformed into the independent educational institution based on the Order No. 206 of July 1, 1951. In 1959, KSCS was transferred under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the KazSSR. In 1975, ACS moved to a new building at 67, Masanchi Street. In 1988, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the KazSSR of February 2, 1988, the school was named in honor of Alexander Seleznev.

In 1934-1960, the Directors of the school were G. Zhasakbayev, A. M. Demchenko, I. V. Kruglykhin, G. T. Akhmetov, H. B. Bayanov, Zh. Erkimbekov, A. K. Tulekova.Artistic directors: A. V. Seleznev, I. K. Olzoyeva.

In the 1960s, Shara Zhienkulova played a significant role in the life of the school. In 1965, for training professional specialists in folk dance, a Folk Department with a 4-year training program in the specialty "Artist of the Folk Dance Ensemble" was organized, and teaching of the discipline "Kazakh dance" was introduced. In 1975-1986, the first Laureates of the All-Union and International competitions appeared: Natalya Chekhovskaya (People's Artist of Russia, Nadezhda Gracheva (People's Artist of Russia), Dmitry Tuboltsev (soloist of the Bolshoi Theater), Alla Burakanova. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the artistic directors of the ACS were Sh. Zhienkulova, B.G. Ayukhanov, K.M. Zhakipova, A.A. Asylmuratov, I. K. Olzoyeva, E. L. Golubenko, A.M. Ismailov, I.P. Koshkin, A.I. Kolyadenko, M.M. Mirgaripov, R.M. Kurpesheva.

In the last decade of the XX century, the Republican and International choreographic competitions were held for the first time. In 1990, the first tour abroad of the A.V. Seleznev ACS took place (Principality of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria). In 1991, the second tour to Europe (Principality of Liechtenstein, Switzerland) took place, 1996-1997 - tour to France and Belgium. In 1990, the First Performing Competition of Students for the A. V. Seleznev Prize was organized. In 1991 - the A.V. Seleznev Second International Competition took place. In 1992, on the basis of the school, the First Republican Kazakh dance competition, dedicated to the memory of Shara Zhienkulova was held.

In 1994, on the basis of the ACS, on the initiative of B. Jantayev, the Higher School of Choreography was established (now the Faculty of Choreography of the T. K. Zhurgenov KazNAA).

Competitions and Festivals were held on the basis of the school in different years. So, in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, the International Festival of Classical Dance “Prize of Traditions” was held at the ACS, and E. Kanapyanov was the General Director. In the framework of the International Festival the outstanding figures of ballet art such as Galina Ulanova, Yuri Grigorovich, Natalia Bessmertnova, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Yuri Vladimirov, Yuri Vasyuchenko, Nina Semizorova, Galina Stepanenko, Galina Shlyapina, Natalya Arkhipova, Yuri Vasyuchenko, Maria Bylova, Vadim Pisarev, Mikhail Bessmertnov, Maya Plisetskaya, Ekaterina Maksimova, Vladimir Vasiliev, Altynai Asylmuratova visited the A. V. Seleznev ACS.

In the period from 1966 to 2003, the school was headed by Sh. B. Zhienkulova, S. I. Kusherbayeva, E. D. Malbekov, B. M. Jantayev, U. A. Mirseidov.

In the last decade of the XX century, special attention was paid to the development of new areas of choreographic art. In 1989, a new discipline "Modern choreography" was introduced into the curriculum. In 1995-1997, Pascaline Noel Audegont worked at the school, who taught classes according to Martha Graham’s system. Under her direction, two modern one-act ballets "Down Look", "Winks" by P. Glass were staged. In 1998, the I International Festival of Contemporary Choreography "Dance Beehive" was organized and held. In 2008, by the order of the Minister of Education and Science of the RK “On educational and methodological associations of technical and vocational educational institutions”, specialty 0408000 - “Choreographic Art” is assigned to the Educational and methodological association of the RSME “A.V. Seleznev ACS”.

From the 1980s to the present, the artistic directors of the school were the leading masters of choreography: E. A. Ussin, V. A. Goncharov, N. L. Goncharova, E. D. Malbekov, L. A. Mambetova, G. A. Ashimova, M. Sh. Kadyrova, L. M. Li.

The brilliant achievements of the ballet school of Kazakhstan made it possible for the school to take the initiative to hold on its basis the I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII International competitions of the students of choreographic educational institutions "Orleu" ("Ascent"), which took place in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023.

Since 2011, the I, II, III, V International festivals "Orleu" have been held on the basis of the choreographic school. The opening of the Kazakhstan Theater of Young Ballet Dancers "Orleu" in 2009 became the pinnacle of the long-term activity of the school, its creative achievements.

In the period from 2003 to 2021, the school was headed by R. I. Ungarova, K. I. Murzakhanova, T. A. Andaspayev, G. N. Bazarbayeva, A. Zh. Kaliyeva, D. Dosbatyrov. From 2021 to the present, Acting Director of the A. V. Seleznev ACS is M. O. Tukeyev.

During the years of creative activity of the school, several generations of teachers were involved in the formation of national performing style of the Kazakh ballet who made a great contribution to the training and education of future ballet dancers: R. Elchibekova, I. Olzoyeva (Holder of the "Kurmet" Order), A. Gabitova, L. Taganov (Honored Artist of KazSSR), A. Asylmuratov (Honored Artist of the KazSSR), A. Tulekova, Zh. Tastanova, G. Seitkaliyeva, M. Akhmediyeva, V. Stepanova, I. Uchayeva, H. Bazarbayev, V. Burtsev, K. Zhakipova), (holder of the badge "Excellence in education", “Y. Altynsarin”) S. Nauryzbayeva (holder of the badge "Excellence in education", badge of honor “Y. Altynsarin”), R. Kurpesheva (holderof the “Kurmet” Order), E. Ussin, B. Valiyev, A. Jalilov (Honored Artist of the KazSSR), S. Tulusanova (Honored Artist of the KazSSR), L. Rudakova (Honored Artist of the KazSSR), K. Andosov, D. Nakipov, G. Sidorova, A. Ismailov (Honored Artist of the KazSSR), G. Gorskaya, T. Parpibayeva, S. Voitsekhovskaya, V. Lukomsky, O. Shubladze, A. Amangeldina, E. Malbekov (Honored Artist of the RK), T. Malbekova, R. Ungarova (Honored Artist of the RK), I. Akhmetshin, M. Muntin, B. Valiyev, F. Koygeldinova, M. Tiranov, A. Alisheva (Honored figure of the RK), B. Suleyeva, A. Tati (Honored figure of Kazakhstan), G. Saitova (Honored Artistofthe RK), O. Voevodina (Honored worker of education of the RK), S. Kosmanov (Honored worker of education of the RK, KR Madeniet kairatkeri), I. Gulyaeva (Honored worker of education of the RK), G. Aliyeva (Honored figure of Kazakhstan), N. Abdulina (Medal "Eren enbegi ushin"), A. Akbarova (Honored Artist of the RK), L. Makartseva (Holder of the "Kurmet" Order), Gulnara Gabbasova (KR Madeniet kayratkeri), Gulmira Gabbasova (Honored figureof Kazakhstan), R. Tulegenova (KR Madeniet kayratkeri), Z. Aubakirova, G. Don, F. Aliyeva, A. Sadykova (Laureateof the Prize of the Foundation of the First President of the RK), etc.

Preserving the traditions which were laid by the figures of Russian, Soviet and Kazakh choreography, the school continues to develop successfully. Today, a highly professional staff of choreographers work at the school.

Among them: A. Medvedev (Honored figure of the RK), R. Lukomskaya (KR Madeniet kayratkeri), G. Beisenova (Honored worker of education of the RK, medal "Eren enbegi ushin"), L. Li (Honored Artist of the RK, holder of the "Kurmet" Order), S.M. Medeubayeva (Honored worker of education of the RK, badge "Y. Altynsarin", medal "Eren enbegi ushin"), G. Ashimova (Honored worker of education of the RK, badge "Y. Altynsarin"), A. Burkitbayev (KR Madeniet kayratkerі), M.Tukeyeva (KR Madeniet kayratkerі), G. Tlesbayeva, N. Jumaliyev, M. Jumaliyeva, A. Ilyasova, G. Matayeva, G. Kapanova, M. Gavrilieva, A. Bektaliyev, B. Sarina, A. Omarova, K. Sarkytbayeva (Honored figure of the RK), S. Ismailova, V. Sosnovskaya, J. Sagimbay, J. Ussin, A. Dikanbayeva, D. Karapetyan, O. Kim, A. Lagai, J. Asylbekkyzy, A. Erzhanova.

Bibliography

• Қазақстан хореографиясының алтын бесігі: Училище тарихы/Бас редактор Қалиева А.Ж. – Алматы: “Литера”, 2016ж.-618б.; ил. қазақша, орысша
• Алматинское хореографическое училище имени А.Селезнева. Книга-Альбом / Главный редактор Д.К.Досбатыров. – Алматы, 2019 – 240с.