Meeting with Dancer: Leda Šeparović
I've known Leda since my school Years, more precisely the John Cranks School, and we share many years of friendship—even a flat together in Saint Petersburg !
I am very happy to welcome her today. She is an incredible being, open-minded, with a very joyful heart and a positive mindset.
I always believe that a generous heart makes a great artist.
So please, let’s meet Leda Šeparović, a croatian ballet dancer !
1) How did it happen for you to become a professional ballet dancer ?
As a child, at the age of 9, my mom started searching for something I could do outside of school as something extra. We decided on ballet on the recommendation of a Doctor Because I Had very hyperextended legs, and it was known that ballet helps them to be stronger, So there wouldn’t be some problems at an older age. Then I just started really enjoying it, So I stayed.
2) Which memories and impressions did you keep from your ballet school years (good and bad) ? What did it teach you ? Describe this period of your life in three words.
I have mostly good memories, to be honest. Of course, it was strict and hard, but I was never too sensitive. I made good friends and just enjoyed myself. It taught me to be disciplined, have a routine, work hard and take my obligations seriously. Since my ballet school was separated from my the general educational school, I was only a bit sad that I had to miss hanging out with friends, some birthday celebrations and similar things because we had training every day. Later on, at the age of 17, I went to Stuttgart to finish my ballet education, and there I really felt that this was serious and really my future career.
3) You have been working for different companies (which ones?). Can you notice the differences between them ?
Yes, I worked at the Stuttgart Ballet, then at the Mikhailovsky theatre, and currently I am with the Croatian National Theatre in my homeland. There is a big difference between Mikhailovsky and the other two. In Russia, we had many more performances. I had around 5–6 performances every week. If I had 4, it would feel like holidays. Because it’s not that big a company, but we had many shows, there is not so much time to really work on so much quality at the end of the day because you are trying to simply survive that tempo. In the European companies, you have fewer shows, so you have more free time because we don’t finish at 22:00 or even later every day. However, that’s why you have many more rehearsals for each ballet and more time to prepare and work on your qualities. Also, ballet class we take each morning is seen as a warm-up for the day in Russia, but in Europe, it is very important to improve, girls must wear pointe shoes, and there is more technique incorporated. In some ways, it’s also a must because sometimes the repertoire can be contemporary, so it’s important for keeping classical shape, where else in Russia you do it every day in your repertoire.
4) What is your favorite ballet in each of them you danced ?
My favorite ballet would probably be La Bayadère because it’s so challenging, but you have this great feeling of accomplishment after. The music is so beautiful. I also love the Nutcracker because it always brings me back to my childhood, when I first started dancing as a little mouse and children in the first act. Then I really enjoyed dancing Hamlet by Leo Mujic. It was a very hard process, but it really opened another side of my possibilities that I hadn't had a chance to discover until now.
5) What is, for you, the best part of being a ballet dancer ?
I think the best part of being a ballet dancer is that I really love it. It doesn’t feel like a “job”. I think many of us feel that way. Even though it’s really hard sometimes, it’s still something we really love to do.
6) What is the most difficult aspect you face as a dancer in your daily life ?
The most difficult aspect would probably be that you are really challenging yourself every day. Every day, you are trying to improve your pirouettes, jumps, and even facial expressions. There is always this “not there yet, it has to be better.”
7) Dancers can hardly have a normal life, or do you think they can ? Do you consider ballet a sacrifice ? I think dancers can have a normal life. I think it’s dangerous not to have it. We finish our careers at a quite young age. What then, once you stop? You have to somehow figure yourself out from the very beginning. I think balance is really important. I work a lot every day, but when I can, I find time to go out with friends and spend quality time in any way I can.
I wouldn’t call ballet a sacrifice because it’s something I choose every day and I love it.
8) How was it for you working in Russia at the Mikhailovsky Theater ?
The first year at the Mikhailovsky Theater was extremely challenging because it’s THE year when you have to constantly learn new repertoire and have a maximum of two rehearsals before dancing on stage. Later on, it becomes easier because it’s already in your body, more or less. Overall, I enjoyed it and also had the most beautiful and kind group of people around me, which made me really strong and gave me a lot of experience.
9) Did you face failure ? Do you think failures are something necessary in the growing process ?
I don’t know if I would call it exactly failures, but rather, it’s not how I imagined it to be. It’s probably necessary sometimes, it pushes you forward if you have the right mindset.
10) Why do you think ballet (art) is useful for our society ? If yes, why ?
Ballet and art in general are very useful for our society. There’s beauty, inspiration and some kind of light in this world. How would the world look like without art? It would be dull and dark. Each to its own, if not exactly ballet, probably everybody has their own little thing that brings them away from worries and negativity. I hope we give that to our audience.
Thank you, Leda, for finding time for us and sharing your experiences about your art and profession on our Platform.
You can follow Leda on Instagram under the username @leda_sep
We wish Leda all the best in her future career and her new start in a European Company !
