Maria Khoreva is an 18 years old super talented young Russian ballerina with the Mariinsky Ballet. Experts, referring to her unprecedented, unique skills and perfect technique, believe Maria is the best the world ballet is getting over years. A significant fact is that Maria Khoreva started her career at the Mariinsky Ballet with a soloist contract, which was only granted to Nureev and Nizhinsky before her.
For all of you who admire ballet and ballerinas, must read Women Fitness’ exclusive interview with Maria Khoreva.
Namita Nayyar:
At the young age of 18, you are considered to be the best ballerina that the world of ballet has ever seen. What attracted you towards ballet?
Maria Khoreva:
It was far from being a romantic story like for many other girls of young age when they had been charmed by a ballet scene on TV screen or theater stage and would set a goal to by all means become one day a ballet star. For me it was like a series of steps that led to ballet. At the age of three I started doing rhythmic gymnastics. And it was such an interesting journey of becoming more powerful through loses and fails and discovering my inner and outer strength. Then at the age of six my choreographer told me a secret that I’ve got light legs which is super valuable in ballet. That was how the idea of ballet arose. And then at the age of nine when there was time for me to go through audition for the Vaganova academy I just didn’t miss my chance and was invited.
Namita Nayyar:
What was your first day experience at the Vaganova Academy?
Maria Khoreva:
I was actually quite lost in this huge building with lots of stairways and studios! VBA always seemed “A Ballet Hogwarts” to me – these two are really similar in a way. I remember my first ballet class – half of the lesson we were just standing in one position facing the ballet barre and I thought it was so strange and boring… But I was of course really wrong, the excitement came in a few days after that.
Full Interview Continued On Next Page
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All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Apart from practicing ballet everyday, what other forms of exercise or cross-training you must do as a ballet dancer?
Maria Khoreva:
We have to develop strength in different groups of muscles otherwise the overuse of particular group can cause an injury. So every day before the work I do a light pilates workout for my abs, obliques, back and legs just to tone and warm-up. Also I love cardio or HIIT workouts that target different muscles than I use in ballet training and build endurance.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you need to follow a strict diet or eat everything in moderation? What are your favourite dinner meals?
Maria Khoreva:
There’s a myth that ballet dancers are not allowed to eat almost at all but that’s not true. We have to eat like professional athletes in order to be able to rehearse and perform effectively. My favorite dinner meal is a seasonal salad + salmon baked in the oven + steamed vegetables (carrot, green beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts). And I cannot imagine my life without sweets and I eat quite a lot of them. It sounds funny, but for me they lift up the mood of the day!
Namita Nayyar:
5 exercises that are a must for toning your leg muscles and to enhance balance.
Maria Khoreva:
- Hip raises lying on your back with both feet on the floor then with one foot straight up
- Side leg raises and pulses
- In a full plank position raising opposite hand and leg at the same time
- Reverse leg raises and pulses standing on your knees and forearms (starting with the slow motion and increasing the speed)
- Balancing on an unstable surface (it can be a special balancing board or just a stack of towels or pillows) – just standing on one leg and trying to maintain your balance is one of the most helpful exercises for strength and stability.
Namita Nayyar:
How would you define Women Fitness?
Maria Khoreva:
Women fitness is for harmony between us and the world around. It allows us to express ourselves the way we would like to and to fully exist with no restrictions. It is just one more step towards the general happiness we all aim at so much!
Namita Nayyar:
After a spectacular journey up till now, where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Maria Khoreva:
In the next years I want to move towards success with the Mariinsky theatre but it’s not my only goal. In the future I would like to explore the world of choreography, learn as much new as I can, discover my inner world and if possible create something unique.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you relax and rejuvenate after a long ballet session?
Maria Khoreva:
A steaming hot shower is an everyday must. I roll out my muscles using 2 different sizes of stiff massage balls and then I stretch them. Also laying with the legs up in the air for quite a long time until you start to feel them tingling really helps with blood circulation!
Namita Nayyar:
How is your preparation for the upcoming performances going? What are you most excited about?
Maria Khoreva:
Well, it’s basically an everyday work that I commit to. Every performance is long in the making but learning new pieces and creating a new character was, is and will always be the most magical process. The work itself inspires me so much that sometimes I can get lost in time (literally, hours can become minutes and vice versa).
Namita Nayyar:
For all the aspiring ballet dancers who look up to you, what would be your 5 tips to be a professional ballet dancer?
Maria Khoreva:
- Believe in yourself.
- Be patient about everything and by saying patient I mean be ready to wait for a long time.
- Always be motivated to do better, it is absolutely crucial.
- Find an inspiration in something (it may be not related to ballet).
- And know where you aim to, what is your goal, your dream, know this precisely and never let someone change it.
Namita Nayyar:
More than a year ago you had an injury which threw you away from dancing for several months. It took you several months more to recover and begin to exercise properly. What are your fitness tips for your juniors to avoid injury & to recover from an injury?
Maria Khoreva:
The first and the main tip is to listen to your body. It may sound too easy but it’s so important not to ignore it when something in your body is giving you a signal to stop and not push further. Second tip is to never underestimate the need of everyday relaxation and recovery. It is the same work as you do when exercising. I’ve made that mistake of being lazy and not taking a proper care of my muscles and it always made me struggle afterwards. As of the injury recovery – pay more attention to it though it can seem unnecessary. When the doctors say you have to sit still for a month it is frustrating. But during the time you’re not allowed to exercise concentrate on different methods of therapy that can help recover faster (creams, massages, compresses, physiotherapy, herbs, etc.)
Namita Nayyar:
You have an incredible following on your Instagram account @marachok. What do you love the most about it and what do you hate?
Maria Khoreva:
I don’t hate anything about that. It is just unbelievable that I have so many amazing people supporting me! I really love sharing my life, news and impressions with my followers, I don’t know why but it makes me feel happier. It is such a fantastic creative process that can’t be compared to anything!
Namita Nayyar:
Message for Women Fitness on our 19th Anniversary?
Maria Khoreva:
I think you are doing a great job of spreading love for fitness among people. 19 years – it’s already so much but everything’s just starting! Keep doing it as passionately as you are now for this is such a broad, interesting and useful aspect of our life!
Follow Maria’s journey on:
Special mention: Photos by Darian Volkova, Irina Yakovleva, Alexei Krivtsov.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness