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Dima Korotayev / Reuters, file
Russian ballerina Anastasia Volochkova, seen in 2003, claimed dancers would receive a call and be told they were "going to a party and a dinner ending in bed."
A former prima ballerina at Russia’s world-famous Bolshoi Theater has claimed in a television interview that dancers were essentially used as high-class prostitutes.
The allegation -- dismissed by the Moscow theater -- was made amid a power struggle for control of the company and in the aftermath of an acid attack in January on the Bolshoi’s artistic director that exposed rivalries reminiscent of the Hollywood movie "Black Swan."
Former Bolshoi prima ballerina Anastasia Volochkova alleged on Russia’s state-controlled NTV station that the Bolshoi was a "big brothel."
A Russian ballet star, who is famous for playing villains such as Ivan the Terrible has confessed to masterminding an acid attack on the Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director. Matthew Cain, of Channel Four Europe, reports.
"An administrator would call them to say they are going to a party and a dinner ending in bed," she said.
"When the girls asked the administrator what would happen if they refuse, the answer was: You will have problems in the Bolshoi then,” she added.
Volochkova acknowledged that she herself enjoyed the protection of a billionaire businessman and was fired in 2003 after they separated.
Venomous
Volochkova made the claims when she appeared on an NTV show Sunday with principal dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze, who is vying to take over from the Bolshoi’s General Director Anatoly Iksanov, who has been in the top job for 13 years.
Both are believed to have backing from senior government officials and Kremlin-connected business tycoons eager to extend their influence over a state theater that has been a symbol of national pride for centuries, and even features on the 100-ruble bill.
Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP, file
Bolshoi ballet dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze is locked in a battle for control of the Bolshoi with its General Director Anatoly Iksanov.
Iksanov accuses Tsiskaridze of creating an atmosphere of intrigue that set the scene for the Jan. 17 acid attack on the Bolshoi's artistic director.
Tsiskaridze rejects the claims and in turn points to the attack as evidence that the theater has descended into crime and violence under Iksanov's watch.
After weeks of increasingly venomous attacks from both sides, Tsiskaridze's star was seen as rising when he grabbed a high-profile platform for his case on NTV.
The exposure came even as Tsiskaridze has endorsed the grievances of the Bolshoi dancer accused of staging the attack on artistic director Sergei Filin, and defended the dancer in public. Tsiskaridze himself has not been accused of any involvement in the attack.
On NTV, Tsiskaridze poured scorn on Iksanov, accusing him of botching the Bolshoi's reconstruction, ruining its repertoire and treating dancers like slaves.
Asked bluntly whether he was ready to take the general director's job, Tsiskaridze answered proudly: "I am absolutely ready."
More than anything else, the NTV show signaled that Iksanov's job could be in jeopardy.
The station has often been used to broadcast documentary-style films about Kremlin foes that have often served as precursors for criminal investigations.
A biting attack on the general director would not have been possible without a blessing from the top ranks of the government.
Related:
Bolshoi's 'Ivan the Terrible' confesses to acid attack on Moscow ballet director
Bolshoi director leaves hospital, describes 'unbearable' pain of acid attack
Russia Bolshoi Ballet acid victim: I forgive my attacker
Leave a Comment:
Brothel? Sounds more like slavery. Not that I would know what a brothel is mind you. GMUS
Meanwhile in Russia.............
What are they putting in the water over there. They sure do make some beautiful women. ;-)
Mornin' stonepipe... "bro"... Yeah, what "is" a brothel? Is that "brother" in Russian?!
So what are the women in the US, chopped liver. GM ALL
GM you two, glad you could get up this early. Roseta Stone says it is pronounced Brotinski
how about recent congressional hearings regarding sexual assault inside the army and marines.
You not dance at Bolshio. Bolshio dances on you!
Exchange of sex for something of value? Imagine that, I'm sure it has been going on for several thousand years.
Mary,
You are not far from the truth. Every time I've gone to Russia, I've never seen women in sweats, overweight, or anything that is common here. They leave home ready to compete with each other.
marywhatever, look around you. The majority of women in the US are overweight or obese even at a young age.
Welcome to the real world is anybody surprised! Could be why homosexuals are in such hot demand in the fashion world!
You just have to wonder at what the billionaire got in return for his involvement?
the only thng that can stop a bad russian diplomat is a good russian diplomat.........or maybe a bj
Russian ballerina dancers...
Sorry, but I would definitely be one of their clients, lol
Mary: We are not chopped liver over here. We are strong and independent. And let's face it, for every overweight woman, the is an equally overweight man running around in camo and a greasy cap!
Their best show was the 'NUT CRACKER sweet'.. figures.
Was listening to the reports of women in the US military being raped. Being told to give in or have their careers ruined. Officers are doing this. A general last year was busted doing this. The Generals exposed last year not for rape but just plain old shenanigans with women in Tampa shows the officer corps ain't what it was like when they fought WWII. Many here have no idea what the officer code was like years ago. It seems now days that the officers are just another bunch who take all they can grab and will watch each others back about it should investigators come calling - which doesn't happen that often - since the investigators are lead by officers too! Bolshoi can't hold a candle to what's going on in our Military.
...and the military can't hold a candle to what's going on in high schools, between football players, coaches and teachers.
I'd hit that.
I agree with Creek Dog. The hottest girls on the pro tennis circuit are the russian girls. Even when you google porn. The russian girls are just as pretty if not hotter then the American girls.
How is this slavery? She was the one who slept with the "oligarch" men. She profited from it by being a star. You can't sell your soul to the Devil for riches and fame, and then claim he forced you to do it after you cash the check.
I just want to know, what exactly did these women expect?
They are ballerinas. Ultimately they have limited to zero use in a society except for entertainment purposes. And we've advanced way beyond watching people dance on stage for entertainment these days. They also have a limited shelf life, mostly hovering around the physic and as long as their looks last. Eventually landing a rich patron/husband is what most of these girls can hope for at the end of their careers.
Not saying they aren't skilled, nor not dedicated to their field, nor not beautiful. They and their profession is just dated. So it had to branch out to survive, prostitution is a logical extension and honestly not new for the field of people in the 'performing arts'. Not saying it's the most socially accepted but lets not kid ourselves.
Guess they can try going to college, learning something of more use and getting a real job.
Wow, no surprise that Pigotry pops in with a worthless comment trying to change the subject to something that has nothing to do with the article! Slow days ahead for her now that the gun ban has been knocked down!
marywhat and pbalice,
yes. there are many wonderful american women, and many who are quite appealing to the men pb references. but, it is probably best to avoid a competition in this regard.
Wow! CNIHT, you are full of S - - T!!! Go their yourself and try to make it, then you will have grounds to talk! How many languages do you speak? one? They know at least 3 or 4, better educated then you will ever be and looks like you do not have much brain capacity to learn beyond your limitations based on your statements! I could tell you a lot but it would only touch a tip of the iceberg!
"Dated" like gymnasts? like most other sports or any culture profession? (which is BTW very lacking in US) Just an FYI in Russia women and girls are used as sex objects pretty much across the board: in sports "if you do not sleep with your coach or his friend(s) you will not be on a team no matter how talented you are", you can't get a good job unless you sleep with the boss or you have another man who is a big friend with the boss and you are his "doll". AND men are not shy about vocalizing it! It is a patriarchal society and there are no laws to truly protect women!
Also, most of the ballerinas, gymnasts, figure-skaters etc make best coaches and teaches in US and other countries. Most women there are extremely talented, beautiful and highly educated, but there are no choices: you either have a powerful man who protects you or you have to "sleep your way to the top" otherwise you have to wonder where the next meal comes from. Do you want your daughter to be pregnant and then forced into abortion just because during the first trimester women get more energy without drugs and can perform higher in sports AND it is all timed for the major competition.... or you are out, out off the sport, money and future? I have consulted my friends and cried with them; I was telling my team girls (13-15) to close their ears and leave when older guys would come in a try to lure them into sex, but it doesn't stop there!!! So, Cniht, shut up and no longer embarrass yourself with the lack of your knowledge pertaining to a different culture!
The reason why Russian women "leave the house ready to compete with each other" is because there's a significant gender imbalance in Russia. They're still recovering from Soviet rule when many men died either from fighting or being worked to death. Women significantly outnumber men, so they must always appear attractive if they have any hope of marrying. They really are competing with each other.
kofybean at #1.18. Oh yes they can. And I bet they will succeed.
Since oligarchs control a large part of Russian society, it is not inconceivable that they would want to try to get whatever they want. Brothel means "whore house". What is being claimed is that certain powerful interests were trying to use their control over the ballerina's jobs to blackmail them into being escorts and for sex. Prima ballerina Anastasia Volochkova says she was protected from this by her oligarch boy friend until the relationship ended in 2003 and then she was fired. Bolshoi dancer Pavel Dmitrichecko admitted that he arranged the acid attack on Bolshoi artistic director Sergei Filin. He said he did it as an act of revenge for his partner, ballerina Anzhelika Vorontsova, being "squeezed out" of major roles including the lead in Swan Lake (a role that is thought to make the career of a prima ballerina). But some doubt this explanation, since the loss of a role by a partner is difficult to see as a justification, however twisted, for such an emotional and horrific act as throwing acid in someone's face. A more understandable provocation for this act would be if his partner were being blackmailed into being a party escort and required to have sex in order to maintain her career, as prima ballerina Volochkova says was occurring. A very sad state of affairs for one of the premier artistic institutions in the history of human civilization. Unfortunately, it is not unlike what happens on a sometimes smaller and more subtle scale in the rest of our current society. The "Black Swan" movie is mentioned in the article and by some as mirroring the intrigues of a modern ballet company. "The Red Shoes" film should also be mentioned, since it is a masterpiece in the history of cinematography and follows a story that opens ballet to "the common man".
Egos that are out of control...
Brothel? Sounds more like heaven! It's all in ones perspective.
Really, being told you have to sleep with whoever or lose your job is your idea of heaven? Seriously?
Like I said earlier, if she cashed the check, how is that exploitative? You can't sell your soul to the Devil for riches and fame, and then claim he forced you to do it after you cash the check. She slept with the men in exchange for her stardom, and now wants to rewrite history as if she had no accountability in the matter?
I doubt that condition of employment was presented up front.
To move up, up, up you've gotta go down, down, down.
A recent biography of Stalin clearly documented the routine requirement of actresses, dancers and all attractive notable females to be consorts of high communist officials. Rejection of their overtures meant potential exile to the Gulag, a penalty frequently imposed. Since the new oligarchs are just the same communists officials and secret service who took over key industries in their own accounts, it should come as no shock that previous patterns of indecency are being continued.
I believe The Who expressed this about 40 years ago, the more things change...
Yea ,and Russia will still be around after the liberals destroy and loot America! Food for thought!Keep your women under control OR ELSE!
Ban all dancers and russians. BERMA SHAVE
Maybe we should ban all idiots that have racist overtones and who stereotype women as you do, let alone fill up posts with spam for companies that no longer exist, say, idiots like you, Virgle Merritt? Also, we should be rescuing these young people from these monsters that wish to waste such talent and let them have normal lives and careers.
truth,
Can't you take sarc?!
Also, we need to rescue "ourselves" over here before we can rescue anyone else.
Personally, if I "had" to rescue her, I'd clear a nice spot in my house for her to be comfortable. MMMhhhmmm... Num, Num, Num, Num.....
truth,
By "we should be rescuing them", you mean somebody else, like our military, right? I'm pretty sure that "we" doesn't include you. Besides, we need you to stay on that soapbox and keep pointing out anybody who might have the potential to be a racist.
we dont have hookers that look like her.i am now all for the russian ballet.
Being paid to bed is one thing,...being "forced" is slavery. Is an option of saying "no thank you" to these so called dinner invitations possible?
Slavery is alive and well. It just has different identity tags in different neighborhoods.
If you and your neighbors don't wake up/sober up, you'll know the concept first hand. ©2013
Saying "no" is an option, just like saying "yes" is an option. She has a mouth that opens and speaks on her command. I don't see how this is slavery when she profits from doing it, but claims she had no choice in her stardom.
Wow, she looks scary. Why do woman pluck or shave their eyebrows until they are gone; only to draw them back on? Sounds to me that she is just trying to help this other guy take over the company. Also, if you really didn't want to sleep with them; you could have said NO.
So they can paint them on in different ways due to the roles she plays.
You know, "change" of characters...
The story reads...
Mom25,
"Also, if you really didn't want to sleep with them; you could have said NO."
I'm with Creekdog, I don't think it's really an option, I believe your life is not the same as what they experience over there.
Many of us have "First World Problems".
I agree with Creekdog and Mario:
There is no saying no here. SAD SAD SAD!
Yep, I don't think they ask you what you want to do, they tell you what you want to do. And you do it.
Okay so maybe that explains why she paints her eyebrows back in but what about the rest of the everyday women?
... imagine the kinds of things a ballerina coud do ...
hmmm...
ouch....
oh my , oh myyyy...
bobbeckel,
you're sooooo dumb, only you voted for you.
asdfa
What? If you can not type a normal post, then you are honestly no better than Virgle Merritt with your spamtard message. Please translate that into English or do us the courtesy of removing your post on here and never making another one again. Thank you.
Geez, lighten up, Francis!
The Russian oligarchs are unattractive pigs who could not otherwise get their own girlfriends, so they enslave these dancers. Russians are disgusting.
You really don't think this happens on Broadway, on The Strip & in Hollywood too?
Like rich unattractive Americans don't have trophy wives or mistresses. Americans are disgusting.
@NYC
REALLY ? How many actresses,dancers, singers, performers....etc etc the list is endless, have F*cked their way to stardom ,wealth and fame?
So keeping an open mind for you is out of the question huh ?
Nothing like generalizing !!! bigot !!!!
slowly pull your head out of your ass ;-)
Fat, rich, uncultured people are disgusting, no matter what nationality.
Exactly Mark, like the "casting calls" here are any different.
What ? A Russian Brothel ? State control ? I just wont accept it !
The Russian mafia here in Miami has brothels...why wouldn't Russian Theater ?
For more funny Russian moments go to you-tube and search "Russian drivers", "Russian car accidents"
you wont believe your eyes ! They desperatly NEED driving schools too !
OK, I can see the situation for the female dancers, but how about the men???? Who are they dancing for after the show?
They will be dancing with the devil soon. And they will get what they deserve.
the real world
The dancers must know what they are getting into. If they want to dance that bad - they will perform. If not, find a new job. Also, you can't be involved with this type of situation and go along with it to then bitch about it later.
Unrealistic. Unworldly. Please return for re-programming. On the way, go by your educational institutions and demand a full refund for not performing their duty.
Is this anything like the casting couch in Hollywood?
They have sexual harassment in Russia too? Let's see, beautiful, ambitious women and rich, powerful guys. Hard to believe this could be going on.
I BELIEVE that 100 percent.. USA is the only county where money cannot buy you out of trouble.. no one is above the law here.. we left China a long time ago, and before it is BAD like this lady has said.. Corruption and Murder runs rampant... you can go to the police in China they just escort you out the door, if you bother them they will just murder you.. But that was before maybe better now.. that is why US of A is the best COUNTRY at this time in the world!! People that is on welfare and complaining about the government don't know how good they have it here..
Unrealistic. Delusional.
Just watch the trial of a Hollywood starlet, you see how empty your words are.
Money buys more in the US than any other country. The wealthy dodge laws with money and power every day of the week and twice on weekend days. (See Enron, Wall Street, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack, the banking industry, etc.) The fairy tale of life in America does not reflect reality in the least. If anything, the US is more corrupt for its ability to successfully hide how it really works. ©2013
After all those years you learn it wasn't your dancing they were trying to condition after all.
@Marywhatever
I wouldn't say that the women in the U.S. are chopped liver, but I do think they eat it by the pound.
All men who commit crimes on woman will pay a heavy price in the after life. Act like animals now, and you will pay later.
I am not sure what the story is here......" Hot limber female dancers end up on their back in bed"???? Noooooo who wodda thunk it
Women in the U.S.! You can take em all.GOODBYE!
Sounds like straight out of the movie SuckerPunch
http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/imgx/1/3/8/3/4/2/2/1/orig-13834221.jpg
Ohh she is out again to get some publicity...That woman can not live a day without making something provocative to bring attention to herself....That picture is from 2003..She looks like a transvestite now , like bull on steroids... Never liked her....