Sergei Upkin 

1. What inspired you to become a ballet teacher? 

Two things what is inspiring me to be a ballet teacher. The first , all experience
baggage I have I want to give to new generation of ballet dancers. The second,  I
exited to learn from new generation ballet dancers and find new things in
classical(and not only in classical) pedagogy theory and in practice.  From all this I
study!!! 

2.  What qualities do you look for when selecting students for your master
class? 

I look for good looking boys and girls. I look they have to have turn out legs and
enough good streched feet. I look they understand arm’s work (their coordination
together with leg’s movements and all body). I want to see their individuality when
they dance classical or contemporary dance. 

3. How do you help students stay motivated and push themselves? 

It is always different! Sometimes I do it with my own example. I will show and

explain them how it has to be danced when even you are feeling tired.  Sometimes I
ask someone from group to show us combination or variation and ask other to do
something better or slower(faster), more exactly... 

Sometimes I ask people individually to be better in some details and be happy in the
moments what they did already very well.  

4. What do you think are the most important characteristics of a successful

ballet dancer? 
 

Smart work and most of time very hard work. This work has to be both in the studio
and out. 

Every successful ballet dancer has to be lucky. To get in a stream in the right
moment. 

5. What do you think sets your master classes apart from other ballet classes? 

First of all we managed to bring for our participants two different schools-
Balanchine and Vaganova. We have teachers from both schools. During the classes
and rehearsing variations from these styles (Balanchine and Vaganova ) participants
learn the difference.  

Second, our guest choreographer and choreographers from Estonia give possibility
for our participants  to prepare choreography  specially for them during of
International Ballet Summer Workshop Estonia.  

Third,all ballet workshop is situated in the historical building of Estonian Opera

House . In the end of intensive workshop all participants can dance on the stage of
Estonian National Opera (the main stage of the country ) .