Todes biography. Alla Dukhova, ballet "Todes": biography of the director, composition of the ensemble, history

Alla Vladimirovna, this year you are celebrating two anniversaries at once - personal and professional: you have a round anniversary, and the TODES team is turning 30 years old. Which of these events is more significant to you?

I just can’t believe that TODES is in his fourth decade. It seems like it all started yesterday. Imagine: we started with 14 people, and now the troupe has 150 professional dancers who are in demand not only in our country, but also abroad. In addition, we have the largest network of dance schools in the world - with 111 branches in different countries There are 20 thousand students of all ages, and it is impossible to count how many of them there will be during the 18 years of the school’s existence. There is no analogue anywhere. When it was time for our first cast to leave the stage, I asked myself the question: what prospect awaits them? Who needs a retired dancer? No one. It's good if he has the acumen and is able to do something else. But these are exceptions. This means we need to take care of his future. Since then, having completed the stage dance career, our students become school directors, teachers, tutors and choreographers. Another pride of mine is our own theater, which opened two years ago. The most cherished dream has come true. And this is the most great gift for the anniversary. In comparison with such achievements, a personal birthday simply fades.

- Where did you come from with this crazy energy? From what family?

- (Laughing.) Oh, I wish the school psychologists who tested students at the Riga school where I studied could hear you! They wrote me down as a phlegmatic person. Then everyone said: “Our Allochka is phlegmatic.” But the psychologists were wrong. I am not at all phlegmatic. I just have excellent stress tolerance. IN difficult situations I internally gather myself and “turn to stone”: I cannot be penetrated. But as a child, I really was surprisingly calm and obedient. The only thing was that I danced constantly, especially in front of the mirror. Realizing that I was obsessed with dancing, my mother took me to the ensemble folk dance"Ivushka."

My parents, Galina Vladimirovna and Vladimir Solomonovich, were very creative people and worked as teachers. By assignment, they taught in the Komi-Permyak district, in the village of Kosa, and about a year after my birth they moved to Riga.

Every summer my parents and I went to a tent camp where we spent all our holidays. Dad organized competitions there for children and adults: athletics, rope climbing, fishing. And my mother gathered all the kids and prepared concerts with us. Naturally, everyone adored my parents. Alas, they are no longer alive...

- Did you decide on a profession immediately after school?

No, at first I wanted to become a circus performer. A circus came to Riga for a long tour, and Taya Kornilova, the daughter of hereditary trainers, who herself worked in the arena with a small elephant, began to study with me in the graduating class. We became friends with her. Seeing me at the concert, she suggested: “Let’s go to our Elephants and Dancers attraction.” I came to the circus, her mother, who was in charge of the attraction, tested me and said: “We’ll take it!” Naturally, we discussed everything with my parents: they seemed to agree at first, but then began to actively dissuade me. I resisted. However, they still turned out to be right. Immediately after graduating from school, I went on tour with the circus to Chisinau, where for two months I was introduced to the program: I learned to easily climb on an elephant and perform tricks on its back, after which we went to Minsk. I successfully completed the first performance, but on the second... I broke my leg - at the ankle. The fracture was very difficult, it took almost a year to recover.

In the summer, I got a part-time job at a pioneer camp, teaching dance classes. The director of the House of Culture in Jurmala noticed me and invited me to work. There I quickly put together a group of girlfriends. I studied illegally imported videotapes with recordings of dancers’ performances from Europe and the States and somehow transformed them. Six months later, our girl group became the laureate of the city dance competition of young talents in Riga. After that, we were invited to perform at the most fashionable disco in Riga - at the Popov plant's cultural center. It was impossible to get there at that time; scalpers were selling tickets at ten times the price.

One day we went to the first breaker festival in Palanga. There we met some guys from Leningrad, it was spectacular breakdancers. Their team had an unusual name - TODES. We decided to combine two groups into one, performing modern choreography of all styles. The name was retained - it is bright, catchy, sonorous. This term refers to one of the elements of figure skating - an extremely difficult trick. And then someone else said that with German language this word translates as "death spiral". (Laughing.) I don’t know how it is there in Germany, but our ballet, on the contrary, is very life-affirming. In short, as soon as the two groups merged into one, it immediately became clear that there should also be one artistic director. Called general meeting, and... everyone voted for me.

- It’s scary to even think about some kind of novel. You have to go on dates, preen your feathers, put on makeup, adapt to someone...No, no, no!Photo: Nikolay Denisov

How did an amateur dance group get promoted and get into the stellar orbit of pop celebrities?

As a united team of 14 people, we made a 40-minute solo program, and they took us to the North Ossetian Philharmonic. We traveled all over the Caucasus, but then due to a conflict with the director we were fired. And we, ownerless, went to Moscow. At two or three concerts they performed through someone else’s intermediary, and that’s all - silence. A period of distress has arrived. Money - zero. Sometimes they were left completely without food for several days. The hungry went into the supermarket and, I confess, carried bread - our men put the buns in their pockets and took them out. It’s a shame, of course, but what can you do - hunger drove me. But for some reason it was fun for us fools. Now I remember with horror.

First, we settled in a dorm in Lyubertsy, and then we rented two one-room apartments in Moscow and lived in them - 12 people in each. They slept on mattresses, and when leaving, they rolled them up and put them in a pile. Cleanliness was maintained to perfection, duties were assigned: some were responsible for the toilet, some for the stove, some for the dust. In the evenings we cooked something simple and everyone sat down to eat together. Let's light a candle, chat, laugh, discuss plans - and on the side. It was great, fun.

Gradually, creative life began to improve. My girlfriend’s dad, Alexander Aronovich Berman, administrator of the Riga Philharmonic, sent us on a big tour, where we came into the attention of a woman who invited us to work with her. Of course we agreed to this tempting offer. I remember at the first rehearsal we were simply stunned. It seemed that Sofia Mikhailovna was much more shorter, and then she comes out in heels, tall, stately, elegant, takes the microphone and starts singing “Lavender” - then it was a hit. But we, I confess, did not like this song: we, young people, had other musical priorities. But as soon as we heard her, as they say, live, it became clear why this singer has such an army of fans. It was something amazing, magnetic, and it gave me chills. We all immediately fell in love with her, irrevocably and completely. And they loved “Lavender” - as, indeed, all Rotaru’s songs.

Everyone warned us: we need to keep our eyes open with Rotaru, they say, her character, to put it mildly, is not sugar. And I will say this: she has a wonderful character. She’s just a hard worker, no matter what you look for, and, naturally, she’s very demanding - both of herself and of those around her. You can't spoil her: sometimes a plate can fly towards a careless musician or sound engineer. But these are creative, working moments, no one was offended. But in essence, Sofia Mikhailovna turned out to be fair and kind. And incredibly easy to communicate. We had a tradition: before a rehearsal or concert, I always went to her dressing room, and we chatted heart to heart - about nothing and everything.

We performed together for about five years, and then we started working with Valerochka Leontyev. He is also an absolutely brilliant person and also has an incredible capacity for work. He’s also intelligent and well-read: you won’t see him in his spare time without a book. God, how he communicates with people! I learned from him. Actually, I already treated everyone with respect; Dinka and I were raised decently by our parents in this regard: if we allowed ourselves any insolence or spoke in the wrong tone, they would hit us right on the lips - literally for our intonation. And yet Valera is unique in this sense. I remember this episode. I once told him: “Valera, what admires me about you, besides your talent, is the way you communicate: absolutely the same way with everyone - you treat everyone with such respect, even reverence. This is amazing! He replied: “That’s the only way it’s necessary. At least for selfish reasons: you don’t know how the fate of this or that person will turn out - maybe today he cleans the stage, and tomorrow he will become president. Or your impresario. Could this be? Maybe. This is the first... No, no, that's wrong, this is the second. And the first and most important thing: if you want people to treat you with love, treat them the same way. To all". That's it - everything is very simple: how you want to be treated, treat others the same way. It seemed like he didn’t say anything new, but from his lips this worldly wisdom sounded somehow special - parting words and meaningful. Subsequently, I tried to communicate in this way with all the people around me.

- And they say that as a leader you are very tough...

But this is only in a team, during work. And even then when I’m in the heat of the moment. But, firstly, I’m not tough, but loud. Although I used to often raise my voice, but now I have become wiser - I don’t spoil my nerves. And secondly, I try to be fair. If I understand that I need to be punished, I punish. A fine or reprimand. For what? For being late, for inattention, for shoddy work. There is no other way. If I had been a wimp, we wouldn't have achieved anything. Another thing is that I always try to take into account the character of a person, his psychological characteristics, life situation- I look for my own approach to everyone.

It seems that TODES's first major solo concert coincided with Kristina Orbakaite's first major performance. I wonder who, let’s say, pulled who?

We met a long time ago - much earlier than the creation of TODES. Alla Borisovna came to Riga with concerts, Christie was with her. These tours were organized by the same chief administrator of the Riga Philharmonic. And his daughter, Tanka, dragged Kristya home to watch the tapes on VCR. A lot of us gathered there. Christina later told me: “Can you imagine, I have never been allowed to hang out for the night in my life. And then suddenly my mother gave the go-ahead.” So it was a significant moment for her - going out for an overnight stay! She was about fifteen years old. Then we saw Kristya at Pugacheva’s “Christmas Meetings,” where she instructed our team to provide backup dancers for Kristina’s performance. This is where our friendship with Krista began. I have been convinced more than once that she is a very kind and sympathetic person. So, when TODES was supposed to perform a solo program for the first time, I asked: “Christy, can you help us?” She says: “Come on. And what you need?" I explained: “We only have enough rooms for one and a half sections, could you perform with us to make the concert complete?” Christina, like us, was just beginning to take her first independent steps on the big stage and had not yet performed in such a large format. But she still agreed to support us. I remember being terribly nervous before the performance. But the concert turned out great and was a huge success. We filmed it, and Christy then brought the recording to her mother. Alla Borisovna reviewed it several times and analyzed how we worked. Naturally, she was primarily interested in Christina. Then she reproached me: “Why did you offend my daughter? She sings so many numbers, but it’s unclear where they put her. Wrong positioning of the artist.” I explained: “Alla Borisovna, what arrangement are we talking about?! We asked Kristya to help, and she simply helped us out. We didn’t even formulate the program, let alone think about such subtleties...”

From Alla Borisovna I learned how to properly structure a program, arrange people in a concert, and simply the laws of the genre. She has a brilliant director's instinct - at the level of intuition. He always clearly knows when to play which song, at what point to address the audience, what to say, with what intonation, where and how to bow. She feels it to the smallest nuance.

- I have a whole guard at home: sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter. They don't leave me alone. And this is good. Photo: Nikolay Denisov

- Alla Vladimirovna, how does your busy dance life combine with your family life?

Difficult. I got married in Riga at the age of 22. Seryozha was a DJ at that fashionable disco that I talked about. We lived married for several years, and then my husband decided to leave for America - for good: this was his dream. It so happened that this opportunity presented itself to him when I was pregnant. He offered to emigrate together, but I didn’t consider this option for myself for a second. “What are you talking about?! - she said. - How can you give up everything? Here are friends, family, favorite work, and in general the whole life. Never and never!” We divorced, he flew away.

- Wasn’t it scary to be a single mother?

To be honest, I didn’t decide to have a baby right away. I seriously thought about the situation. I understood that I would be left alone, without help. Dad had already died by this time, and mom wasn’t feeling well. How to cope, how to combine caring for a child with work? Here my sister Dina and her husband Arkady played a decisive role - he works construction business. They said: “Hello, give birth! Don’t think about problems, we will help!” Important words for me, key ones. Moreover, they did not yet have their own children. I stayed up all night thinking about all this. In the morning I said to myself: “That’s it, I’m giving birth!” And, I remember it very well, suddenly inside me it was like - wow! - as if the one who was sitting there breathed out a sigh of relief. (With a smile.) Subsequently it turned out to be Vovka, who is now 22 years old.

- Didn’t the appearance of a child and responsibility for an ever-expanding team come into conflict?

Somehow I got out of it. I traveled from Riga to Moscow and back. At first, I literally popped out to work for two or three days and immediately returned. Then she began to linger longer. I was lucky: I gave birth at a good time - in the summer, when we had a break from work and I was able to breastfeed for three months. And then the milk disappeared. By that time, Dina had also already given birth to a daughter, Polina, and Vovka stayed with them. It was good for him - under the supervision of his relatives, loving people, and around Fresh air, pine trees. And we could already afford a nanny. In general, my soul was calm. And now I rarely visit my sister, I usually come to her for New Year and in summer. Dina heads the Riga branch of our Dance School. She herself was in the first line-up of TODES, and now she has five children, and four of them dance. Whether my nephews will become professional dancers or not is the question. It's whatever they want. But they have been going to practice for many years.

But my Volodka was not interested in dancing. He graduated from the Faculty of Directing in the USA, at the New York Film Academy, received a bachelor's degree, but decided to return home and complete his master's degree here. Intends to try himself as a theater director. He also plans to teach at the university - he was invited. In addition, he is a musician, writes good music. Already married - to his classmate Anya. It seemed to me that the guys started family life too early, although they, the young ones, of course, knew better. Two years ago they gave me a granddaughter - Sofia. This is an unimaginable miracle!

And my youngest son, Kostik, is 14 years old. He is currently most interested in prehistoric animals. But Kotka also loves to dance, goes to dance school with pleasure, does not miss the performances of our theater, and watches it many times. His dad works as a technical director on our team. Although Anton and I separated a long time ago, we continue to be friends. He often comes to us, Kotka loves him, we all communicate wonderfully. But family life In the usual sense, we didn’t succeed.

- So, if you devote yourself to work as selflessly as you do, personal happiness is impossible?

It's probably still possible, you just have to try hard. This requires strength. And there are not enough of them. For children - yes, but for everything else - no. In addition, everything needs to coincide on both sides: mutual understanding, support, sensitivity. To close person He understood you in everything, didn’t pull you when you were like a raw nerve inside. He should feel that at this moment it is better to just leave him alone, let him come to his senses, and not bother him with questions or pestering. Everything has to grow together, and this is very difficult. On the other hand, why on earth should he adapt to you, and not you to him? I tried my best, but sometimes I didn’t have enough mental strength: I was too exhausted at work. Of course this is not normal. So I blame myself first of all. I just didn't have enough resources.

- Now your personal space is still not filled with anyone?

Wow not filled! There is a whole guard at home: sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, not to mention the “guardsmen” at work. This is a huge number of people, and everyone keeps pestering us - about work, about personal issues, about health, and about all sorts of nonsense. I explode: “Are you going to leave me alone or not?!” (With a smile.) No, they don’t leave. Of course, I get involved in their problems. But actually it's great. They are all my children. And by and large, who else do I need besides them? It’s scary to even think about some kind of novel. You have to go on dates, preen your feathers, put on makeup, adapt to someone... No, no, no! What dates, have you lost your mind? God forbid! I feel great as it is. (After a pause.) But maybe I’m wrong. Of course, I’m wrong, you shouldn’t listen to my nonsense, much less act like me. My position is wrong. Everything should be the other way around: all women should have husbands - reliable helpers, caring and attentive. This is clear.

With sons Konstantin and Vladimir, daughter-in-law Anna and granddaughter Sofia. Photo: Nikolay Denisov

However, for most people you are still a role model. There is a feeling of pride - ah yes Dukhov?

You know, when I arrive in big cities any country in the world, I go out on stage at the end of a concert, listen to a quarter-hour thunderous ovation, see a packed hall literally roaring with delight, from which no one, not a single person, is in a hurry to go to the wardrobe, I truly experience incomparable feelings. They cannot be described. And our schools are fantastic. They really teach you how to dance there. And we also take the guys to summer camps, to festivals where they compete with each other. All genres dance modern choreography- V different styles, with sports stunts. The energy is colossal - sparks are flying. This is TODES, you can’t confuse it with anyone! Children are full of energy - perky, lean, physically strong. What stress, what complexes, what street vacillations and dangerous company?! I look at this huge number of guys different ages, I absorb the energy and power of youth, and... tears come. At such moments I catch myself thinking: what great fellows we are! Not “I”, but “we”. Because we did it! This is where my pride and my happiness lie.

Family: sons - Vladimir (22 years old), Konstantin (14 years old); granddaughter - Sofia (2 years old)

Education: graduated from the directing department of RATI

Career: choreographer, founder of the dance group “Experiment”; founder and artistic director of the ballet, a network of dance schools and the TODES Dance Theater

On November 29, 1966, Alla Dukhova, choreographer, founder of the show ballet “Todes” was born.

Private bussiness

Alla Vladimirovna Dukhova (49 years old) was born in the village of Kosa, which is now part of Perm region. Her father was a physical education teacher, her mother taught Russian at school.

A year later, the family moved to Riga, where Alla’s grandparents lived. In Latvia, the father of the future choreographer worked at a moped factory, and his mother did housework.

Alla studied at a music school, and at the age of 11 she joined the folk dance ensemble “Ivushka”. In the tenth grade, I tried to work in the circus, but soon got injured and never entered the arena again. She said: “When I was in tenth grade, I came to Riga to work circus program"Elephants and Dancers" I became friends with the manager's daughter, and I was invited to join the ballet of this attraction. But the circus career did not work out. They introduced me to the program for a month, I went to the performance, and the next day I broke my leg. The fracture was complex, and all this had to be left behind.” For a year after the injury, she worked as a freight forwarder at a moped factory and as a janitor.

In the early 1980s, she created the women’s dance group “Experiment” at the Palace of Culture, danced in a group with younger sister Dina. Participants of the “Experiment” were among the first in the USSR to perform breakdancing.

At one of the festivals in Lithuania, the girls met the Leningrad breakers “Todes”.

In March 1987, the teams united into one team called “Todes”. Dukhova was chosen as the creative director of the ballet, and for the next three years she continued to dance in Todes. She recalled: “One producer noticed us and offered to work professionally, combining two groups: our girlish modern jazz and boyish break. I was collectively chosen artistic director, because I staged programs and looked more mature than everyone else, although I was not even twenty.”

In 1987-88, the group members moved to Moscow. Until 1992, “Todes” performed at concerts of Sofia Rotaru. Then the team worked with Valery Leontyev for five years. “And when the group turned 10 years old,” says Dukhova, “thanks to the president of the Artes cultural foundation, Alexander Dostman, we made a solo program in concert hall"Russia". This was shown on television, and we were invited to work independently. Since then, we have been touring to sold-out audiences across the country and around the world.” At the same time, dancers began to participate in performances of many pop singers— Kristina Orbakaite, Alexander Buinov, Valery Meladze, Larisa Dolina and others.

By 1997, the second (not the main) composition of Todes had grown to 150 people. In 1998, Dukhova opened the first dance school “Todes” in Moscow. The following schools appeared in Riga and St. Petersburg, then in others Russian cities. By the spring of 2014, 98 branches of the dance school were opened, with 35 thousand students studying (but already in August 2014, Dukhova spoke of only 89 schools).

In March 2014, Alla Dukhova’s Dance Theater “Todes” opened in Moscow. By November 2015, the theater's repertoire consisted of four performances.

Alla Dukhova was officially married only once - to a programmer named Sergei. The couple separated after the husband left for the USA. From him, Dukhova has an eldest son, Vladimir. The second child Konstantin was born from common-law husband Brass Anton Kis - lighting designer, then technical director in the ballet "Todes".

Dukhova's eldest son is studying to become a director in the USA.

What is she famous for?

Alla Dukhova

Co-founder and director of the most famous pop dance group in the country, “Todes”. A successful manager who, in the wake of interest in Todes, created an extensive network of about a hundred dance schools in Russia and neighboring countries. Founder of the Todes Theater in Moscow.

Ballet "Todes" participated in the largest Russian productions, including the closing ceremony of the celebration of the 850th anniversary of Moscow in 1997, “Christmas Meetings” by Alla Pugacheva, and television “New Year’s Lights”.

What you need to know

Alla Dukhova's ballet is successful business, the band’s tours are scheduled for several years in advance. At the same time, the troupe does not participate in world dance competitions, but for each new production spends only a month.

In one of Dukhov’s interviews, when asked “what are the names of festivals dedicated to modern choreography?” and completely answered: “I, to my shame and disgrace, don’t even know.”

Direct speech:

About raising a child without a husband (“Arguments and Facts ", June 2004):“Was it difficult for me to raise my first child alone? No. And I urge everyone not to be afraid of this. If you have male friends or relatives, you need to involve them in educational moments, that’s all. I was lucky, my sister’s husband Arkady replaced Vovka’s father, because we all lived in the same house in Riga. And we still live. I travel between Riga and Moscow. Then, I have many friends. They came, played on the computer with him, talked. A single mother is a relic of the Soviet Union. It's funny to call a woman that. If she has a child, she is no longer alone.”

About business and dancing (“New news ", April 2014):“I don’t think we’re doing business. We're just dancing, practicing good deed. And then, what kind of businessmen are we? And our prices for classes are not exorbitant, and there are always free groups in every branch. And how many children have we literally pulled out from the streets... We teach children to dance not in order to make them professionals, we just want them to move beautifully and feel the music. By the way, adults also study with us.”

About attitude towards dancers (Forbes Woman , June 2014):“Well, when I was young I was a beast. Can you imagine what street breaks are? How to convince them to learn classical ballet at the barre to become versatile dancers? I said that they have a choice - to stay underground or work professionally and be in demand in our country. They believed me, but it was all very difficult. I had a strict system: a step to the right, a step to the left - a fine. You won't be spoiled. Now I have become wiser, softer, I don’t pay attention to anything. But in general, I am a strict leader. True, in reality I rarely take harsh measures.”

7 facts about Alla Dukhova

• Does not have a higher choreographic education.
• The name of the Dukhova team comes from the element todes (from German Todesspirale - “spiral of death”) - this is the name in figure skating for an exercise in which a girl reclining describes a spiral around her partner. Dukhova said: “This was the name of the St. Petersburg people. They didn't know what it meant, just a sound word. In fact, this is an element of figure skating. But we wanted a new name. It was time to print posters, and the director of the Philharmonic got angry: “You haven’t been able to make a decision for a month! They agree with me too.” The Beatles and Queen will never agree! You will be “Todes”, and that’s it.” So with him light hand the name remains."
• The choreographer's younger sister Dina was at the forefront of creating the ballet "Todes". “Now she, the mother of five children, runs the Riga studio of our ballet, and has taken responsibility for one of the dance schools,” said Dukhova.
• Both children of Alla Dukhova were born in the same maternity hospital. Nurses who worked in the same maternity hospital became nannies for them.
• "Todes" performed twice with Michael Jackson. “We were invited to take part in charity concerts“Michael Jackson and Friends” (Michael And Friends Concert), in which a huge number of world stars took part,” noted Dukhova. — We performed in Seoul and Munich and danced with Michael Jackson on the same stage. And then we flew with him on the same plane, met his ballet and are still friends with them and correspond with them.”
• Alla Dukhova is studying Nordic walking with sticks.
• The participants of the first “Todes” are still working as a team. Dukhova: “They all work for us. Otherwise, why did we open the school? Only those who don’t want to work but want to get big money leave us.”

The life of Alla Dukhova, director of the Todes ballet, is equally divided between Riga and Moscow. Alla works in Moscow, and goes to Riga to visit her husband and children: 8-year-old Volodya and 7-month-old Kostya. "I love both of these cities equally - because in each of them I lead absolutely different lives", she says. Alla Dukhova told 7 Days magazine that she recently bought an apartment in Moscow, but has not yet gotten around to landscaping it. And in Riga she lives in a luxurious mansion in the most expensive area - Mezaparks. In a house with an area of ​​1000 square meters two floors, 15 spacious rooms, a swimming pool, solarium, sauna.

ON THIS TOPIC

Two families live in the house. Alla's sister Dina and her husband Arkady have four children. Therefore, there is noise and turmoil in the house all the time. And she brought families together... a mouse. When Alla gave birth to her first son. There's a rodent in her apartment. Alla was terrified of the beast, so she moved in with her sister for a while. This is how the idea of ​​a hostel in a common house was born.

Alla Dukhova does not get to see Kostya's father, Anton, as often as she would like. Dukhova's chosen one is a former DJ, now working in a show ballet as a lighting designer. Both are constantly on tour.

“Of course, I miss Anton,” says Alla, “but you have to look for your advantages in everything. For example, I think that because we rarely see each other, every meeting happens as if for the first time. Anton recently said: “Well, we have The romance is still going on, and my son is already six months old!”

Alla is in no hurry to legally formalize her relationship with Anton: “What is the use of the fact that I had an official husband and there was a stamp in my passport? This did not keep us from getting a divorce...” Alla’s husband, a computer specialist Sergei, left for America even before the birth of his son Vladimir.

The Dukhovaya House is one of the most open. Guests gather there almost every day. When she goes on tour to Latvia, she is always visited by Alla Pugacheva, Philip Kirkorov, Kristina Orbakaite and many other stars.

Alla Dukhova is a choreographer, founder of the dance group Todes, which from a choreographic group over 30 years of existence has turned into a real brand.

Today, the brainchild of the Todes Wind Ballet is not only a dance group whose name is known all over the world, but also a network of dance schools, which includes 80 branches, and the Alla Dukhova TODES Dance Theater, which opened in Moscow in 2014.

Childhood and youth

Alla Vladimirovna Dukhova was born in the village of Kosa, Komi-Permyatsky Autonomous Okrug in November 1966. But a year later the Dukhov family moved to Riga. There the children's and teenage years Alla. The first meeting with the world of choreography took place in the capital of Latvia.

Dukhova was musical girl. Parents noticed this early and sent their daughter to Rizhskaya music school. One day, my mother noticed that little Alla, after music lessons, quietly entered the choreography class next door and for a long time, as if spellbound, watched the children’s classes. Upon arriving home, the girl accurately reproduced what she saw in front of the mirror.

When Mom asked Alla what she wanted to do more, her daughter immediately gave an unequivocal answer: dancing and choreography. Mom took her daughter to a local folk dance ensemble called “Ivushka,” where at that time the teachers were Laizane, Shurkin and Dubovitsky. They became Dukhova’s main mentors in professional choreography and teachers for her entire future life.

Ballet "Todes"

Alla dreamed of learning to dance well, as well as creating choreographic numbers and full-fledged performances. At the age of 16, she gathered a team of like-minded people. Then it consisted only of girls and was called “Experiment”. This experiment was successful and gained considerable popularity. Which is not strange, since Dukhova took as the basis for her dance performances the choreography of Western European and American schools, which was under an unspoken ban at the beginning of the Soviet 80s as too frank.

Alla collected her experience bit by bit from cassettes with performances of Western dance groups, and watched street breakers.

Once “Experiment” Dukhov, speaking at dance competition in Palanga, crossed paths with the Leningrad youth breakdancing group, which bore the sonorous and memorable name “Todes”. The choreographer liked the risky tricks in the dances of “Todes”, and the guys from the Leningrad group admired the sharp and automatic movements of the girls from the Riga “Experiment”.

This sympathy led to the fact that the teams merged into one, taking the name men's. It organically intertwined choreography and breaker movements. It was something completely new and unlike anything else. In 1987, Alla was collectively elected as the creative director of the new ballet, because it was becoming more and more difficult to combine both production and organizational work.

During a tour of the North Caucasus, Todes' performances were an unprecedented sell-out. The guys were advised to try to perform in the capital. They thought that they were already quite ripe for its conquest, and went to Moscow. It wasn't easy for them at first. The guys lived in the Lyubertsy hostel, looked for venues for performances themselves and faced many difficult organizational issues. But on their path and on the path of Dukhova, they met Alexander Birman, who worked at the Riga Philharmonic.

He helped the ballet get to Chelyabinsk, where they were touring at that time popular singers, and other “overexposed” pop stars. The dancers performed between the singers' numbers and immediately received a sea of ​​applause.

After the Chelyabinsk tour, Sofia Rotaru invited the Dukhova ballet to perform with her. Their collaboration lasted 5 years. Then “Todes”, which had already become popular, decided to go and develop in its own way.

The 5th anniversary of the team was celebrated first solo concert"Todesa." It was organized and financed by philanthropist and entrepreneur Igor Popov. After this concert, the team began to regularly receive offers joint performances from, and other pop stars.

, – with whom the Dukhov ballet has performed. The team conquered the most famous music festivals from " New wave» to the «Slavic Bazaar». But the greatest victory of Alla and her “Todes” took place on the international stage. The dancers performed at the Music Awards in Monte Carlo together with and. The Brass troupe danced twice in Michael Jackson's ballet - during his performances in Munich and Seoul.

In 2014 there was an important event in the life of Alla Dukhova - the opening of the TODES Dance Theater in the capital of Russia. To the repertoire theater group included the performances “Dance Love!”, “Magic Planet TODES”, Attention, “WE”, “And I’ll Dream About This...”. To create the show, modern lighting equipment is used, 3D scenery and original costumes are used, which makes each production unique.

Dancing school

Since 1992, the Todes ballet group has been constantly expanding. In 1997, the second cast of the Dukhova ballet grew to 150 dancers and celebrated its 10th anniversary. From the same year, Alla began renting premises in Lefortovo, where she opened her first ballet dance school, “Todes”.

Soon 2 more appeared - in St. Petersburg and Riga. Over the next 10 years, the network of schools expanded throughout Russia, the CIS countries and even appeared in Malta. The most talented dancers, graduates of Dukhova schools, now demonstrate their skills on world stages.

In 2011, the “base” of the Dukhova ballet from Lefortovo moved to Paveletskaya embankment. Over the 24 years of the ballet's existence, several generations of dancers have changed. One thing has remained unchanged: “Todes” still attracts full houses of fans around the world. The ballet's tours continue continuously.

Now this school, located in Moscow, is attended by the children of friends and colleagues in the artistic workshop of Dukhova - Philip Kirkorov, and others. Alla does not strive to make every child a dance floor star; in her opinion, it is much more important to instill a love of dance and learn to move freely.

Creative biography the choreographer has another bright page - talented woman launches its own clothing line, Todes Wear, for Everyday life and sports and dancing. The choreographer also presented a collection of perfumes intended for children. Care products are distinguished by the fact that they are created only from environmentally friendly ingredients.

Personal life

Dukhova’s personal life is eventful, but the choreographer herself says little about them. The dancer got married for the first time at an early age - at 22 years old. Discord in the family began after the husband thought about immigrating to the United States. Alla at that time was pregnant with her first son, Vladimir, and did not want to leave her homeland. The birth of a child did not stop his father from making a decision - the couple divorced.

After her second marriage, which also ended in separation, Dukhova’s husband was Anton Kis, the permanent lighting designer for the ballet “Todes”. From her third husband, Alla gave birth to a son, Konstantin. And if the elder Vladimir became a theater director, receiving a bachelor's degree from the New York Film Academy, the younger one became interested in sports and dancing. Despite his large build, the young man has amazing flexibility, which his mother noticed long ago. The guy often takes part in productions of Todes.

The choreographer had to sacrifice his personal life for the sake of his profession for the third time: Alla broke up with Anton. Now all the choreographer’s attention is directed to his sons and granddaughter Sofia, whom Vladimir gave her. In an interview, the choreographer notes that he does not consider himself a feminist, but wishes every woman to be under the protection of a reliable and caring husband. The divorce did not prevent Anton and Alla from maintaining friendly relations; the ex-spouses continue to communicate.

The choreographer lives in 2 houses. In Riga, together with her sister’s family, Dukhova built a 15-room mansion, and in Moscow, in the early 2000s, she purchased an apartment on Zvenigorodskaya Street. This is a spacious apartment, partially designed in antique style.

Alla Dukhova now

2018 turned out to be eventful in creative life choreographer. This includes holding a TODES DANCE BATTLE and participating in the awards ceremony of the VI Real MusicBox awards, and the performance of the Todes studio in Turin at the lighting ceremony of the Winter Universiade 2019.

Now Dukhova continues to develop the Todes school network. Its branches continue to open throughout the country, and the strongest participate in the annual “Todes Fest” show.

In 2018, gala concerts of school participants were held in Kazan, Voronezh, Sochi, and Moscow. Reports on the work done, photos of festival participants appeared on the pages of the official website of the Todes ballet and personal "Instagram" Alla Vladimirovna. It was announced there new performance theater "See you in a Fairy Tale", the premiere of which started at the beginning of 2019.

Early years, childhood and family of Alla Dukhova

It was in Latvia that the future celebrity began to show an extraordinary passion for dancing. Starting from the age of eleven, Alla was engaged in a variety of dance studios and choreographic ensembles. She was praised by teachers and recognized figures in the art of dance. Her success increased, and therefore quite soon the young dancer began performing with groups of older ages.

When Alla was in tenth grade, a circus came to Riga on tour. The dancer came to the first performances as a spectator, however, by a happy coincidence, she later managed to get backstage. The decisive role in this case was played by the acquaintance with the daughter of the main trainer.

After a short conversation, Alla Dukhova managed to catch the eye of the circus director, and therefore quite unexpectedly managed to get a job at one of the circus attractions. Alla Dukhova gladly accepted the offer to collaborate with the circus troupe, and therefore very soon set off with the team on a new tour.

Subsequently, the circus settled in Moldova. A huge number of people always came to the performances of the group in Chisinau. Alla Dukhova participated in almost all performances, and therefore very soon managed to become a real star of the local circus troupe. Her career was moving upward, but one day all previous successes were erased by a serious ankle injury. The doctors' verdict was disappointing - it was necessary to end my career in the circus.

Anniversary of Alla Dukhova

At this moment, a dark streak came in the life of the young dancer. Our today's heroine began working as a janitor, and subsequently found a job as a freight forwarder at a moped production plant. At that time, the girl was depressed, and therefore rarely came out of her state of depression. However, at one fine moment, the same dancing helped to escape from difficult thoughts.

Even before she came of age, the girl began teaching in a nursery. dance group one of the Soviet pioneer camps. Working in a new capacity gave her great pleasure, and therefore Alla Dukhova always gave her one hundred percent in her classes.

The diligence and work of the young teacher was appreciated by the figures Soviet art, who once invited a girl to work in one of the Houses of Culture. Here our today's heroine created her first dance ensemble, “Experiment,” in which she began performing together with her sister Dina. The main direction for the dance group was breakdancing, which had just appeared in the Soviet Union.

Amazing the audience with your unusual dances, Alla and her sister often became winners of prestigious grand prix at various festivals and competitions. Her first successes began to bring the girl considerable profit. The Experiment group performed in various parts of the Baltic states and other regions of the USSR, and therefore at one point her favorite hobby became a stable source of income for Alla.

The formation of the ballet “Todes” and the subsequent success of Alla Dukhova

Despite this, the choreographic skills of the guys from St. Petersburg made a huge impression on Alla Dukhova and her sister Dina, and therefore very soon the dance groups began performing together.

Alla Dukhova's ballet "Todes" - Super DIM defile

On March 8, 1987, the Experiment group and street breakers from St. Petersburg performed on the same stage for the first time. On the same day, a new name for the group, “Todes”, appeared for the first time on signs and posters, formed as a result of the merger of the names of two groups. From the first days of the existence of the new team, Alla Dukhova became its leader and ideological inspirer. After the team went on their first tour, our today's heroine also took on managerial responsibilities for the first time.

Alla remains today as the permanent leader of the cult group. Over the twenty-five years of its existence, “Todes” has reached unprecedented heights and has become a special phenomenon on the Russian and Latvian stage. IN different periods Since then, the Dukhova dance ensemble has performed with many Russian and world pop stars.

So, in particular, choreographic group appeared on stage together with Philip Kirkorov, Tatyana Bulanova, Sofia Rotaru, as well as Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin and many other music stars. Currently, the groups of many pop artists are completely formed exclusively from former students of Alla Dukhova.

Some members of the Todes group today themselves act as music artists. Singer Angina, Vlad Sokolovsky - all this is still far from full list names

Alla Dukhova today

Currently, our today's heroine continues to lead the ensemble, as well as several dance schools in Russia and other countries of the world. In addition, the talented woman produces her own clothing line.

Personal life of Alla Dukhova