Timur Sikoev Biography

The exciting jigita "Narts" is the first and to this day the only state horse theater of Russia. At their speeches, you unconditionally fall in love with the proud and stately horses, which the troupe itself puts in the ranks of its actors, and worries for their health, more than for their own. Incredible complexity, the elements on horseback on horses make the audience watch the performance with the sinking of the heart.

However, not many people know how much work is worth creating a beautiful picture. Timur Sikoev shared the artistic director of the Narts Horse Theater with the correspondent of the newspaper “Word” by the history of the theater, and talked about what the theater lives today. The first impression is a little about the history of the equestrian theater. It was founded in the year, its creator is the Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Anatoly Dzivaev.

As Timur Sikoev said, our national history, in particular, the Nart epic, served as an inspiration for the name Nart. This theater is the first and only state horse theater of Russia. From the day of founding in its walls, stories such as the “outcast angel”, “school of jesters”, “Hamlet” were put. For many residents of our republic, Narts have long become national heroes, because for many years they glorify Ossetia throughout Russia.

For the first time, having received the task to write about the equestrian theater, with enthusiasm I took this proposal, because from childhood I admire horses and people who can saddle them. The road to the theater itself was not easy, since, like a fairy tale, this place was hidden in the depths of the forest, even an experienced taxi driver had to cut circles in search of the treasured destination.

However, all the inconvenience were forgotten as soon as the gates of the theater opened and the clatter of hooves was heard from afar. Having walked further, I saw beautiful horses, whose manes fluttered in the wind. For the first time in my life I saw them so close, I could not even imagine how tall and stately they were. Surely from the outside looked like a child whom his parents first brought to the circus.

The first question concerned horses, for an outside observer, this process seems quite complicated. According to the artistic director of the theater, horses are completely low creatures, if they are correctly brought up, but they require increased attention. When we only take the guys to work, we teach them to properly take care of horses. To clean, feed, drink, clean the place of horses in time, it is important to bathe the horse, cool his legs after work.

We have veterinary services that carefully monitor the health of our animals, we need to treat them in a timely manner, give them a break when necessary. The animal itself will not say that it is bad and something hurts, so we must notice it in time, understand that something is wrong with the horse. It is important to ensure that they eat the right hay, oats, you need various top dressing in the form of carrots, fruits, bran.

In general, the horses are completely non -oriented creatures, they are incredibly patient, attentive and understanding. In our work, the rider and horse are responsible for each other's lives. The point of contact is very important when the actor and horse begin to understand each other and feel. In fact, horses are very sensitive animals, they feel when the artist sits in him in a nervous state and, accordingly, at that moment the horse will be troubled, ”said Sikoev.

Horses, too, artists, preparing for this material, went to the official website of the equestrian theater. Amazing for me was the fact that in the column “Theater artists” were also presented by horses that were going on the stage of this theater. Awareness followed surprise, because, indeed, without horses, the equestrian theater would not be called "horse", respectively, and the right to be called artists, horses were also deserved.

When asked: do you consider your horses artists, the artistic director of the theater confidently agreed. Working with horses is historically our business, in equestrian sports were circus dynasties of the Kantemirovs, Tuganovs, Plievs, all of them were at the origins of the origin of jigita on horses. Ossetian dzhigitovka is called because we have our own handwriting, our own manner and style.

Today, in many regions of Russia and even abroad, the experience of the Ossetian jigitovka was adopted and used to this day, ”Sikoev shared. To date, the theater has ten horses, among which there are representatives of different breeds: Kabardian, Karachai trotches and one horse of the Spanish breed, the same dimensions of which struck me in the first minutes of my stay in the theater.

What are their nicknames: Talisman, Art, Farn, Estet and Boomer ... Preparing horses for the performance begins about three years old before they begin to train, he must physically stronger. To the question - is there a difference between a thoroughbred horse and the unborn, Timur Sikoev held an analogy with a man. Some of them are very explosive, while others are more calm.

But in any case, it all depends on the person who works with them, because the animal needs special attention.It is necessary to properly position the horse to yourself, to calm it in time, in our work it is important that the psyche of the horse is calm and balanced, ”the theater artistic director shared. Having passed the stable fans, met with the artists of the Narts Theater, who kneaded before training with horses.

As it turned out, the actors need to train every day, their entire working day is painted by the clock, relatively speaking - at ten o'clock they have equestrian training, then dance lessons, later work with weapons and acrobatics. The whole working day for the artists is completely filled. It is understandable, because they have to act on horseback, performing various complex elements, and making the slightest mistake, there is a high probability of injury.

However, as the theater artistic director said, all actors knowingly know what awaits them in the horse theater and with understanding everything is treated. During the performance of some tricks, the actor releases a bridle and performs some action. Here the horse is already jumping completely freely, nothing restrains it. And it is worth some of the spectators to turn on the outbreak on the camera or make a noise effect, the horse can be frightened and jerked to the side, and his rider, at this time performing a trick, can fall and injure.

However, all the guys who are crossing the threshold of our theater knowingly know what they may encounter. The work, of course, is very difficult, you can compare with professional sports, every day of training, you need to be in shape, constantly improve, ”Sikoev explained. The reader may have a question - how people are taken to the horse theater where they are trained.

When recruiting new actors, preference is given to people with choreographic or acting education. These can be graduates of the Faculty of Acting and Choreographic Department. It is also important for the artistic director to see burning eyes and, of course, a respect for animals, in particular, to horses. Since this work is inextricably linked with horses, the lives of horses and their riders depend on each other.

However, not many who come to the theater withstand the trial period, but only true fans of their business remain. Of course, there are those who at the household level know how to work with these animals, but here they learn a completely different level of art. In this matter, there are many subtleties, physical preparation, perseverance, character, I repeat, work with horses is very dangerous and traumatic.

In addition, it is important for the artist to own his body, be able to dance, perform acrobatic elements, create an image necessary in the play. Today we have brand new guys who want to enter our troupe, they are given a trial period, they are engaged in horses three times a week, we can say that natural selection passes. All our work is the team work of fans who love their job and do not pay attention to any problems.

For example, in winter it is cold even with a heater in the hall. And if the audience sit in fur coats, then the artists have to change clothes in a cold comor and run to perform in the snow in thin suits. Even I, watching them, wonder: for the sake of what are you doing this? And the answer is very simple - this is a love of your work, the devotion of the profession gives the strength not to think about difficulties, ”the theater Hudrous continued.

The tours of the Nart theater recently visited the tour in Moscow, where she successfully presented the capital's viewer with her performance “Dedication to the Seven” in memory of its artists who died during the gathering of the Kolka glacier. As we were told in the theater, they have long been hatched the idea of ​​making this idea by a constant part of their repertoire, because the memory of the actors is alive to this day.

The audience accepted them incredibly cordially, which could not bribe. After all, the love of the viewer at home cannot be compared with the recognition of third -party observers. As Sikoev said, the troupe has no doubt that in the small homeland they love them as they are, so the assessment of the audience during the tour is more objective. It is understandable, because in addition to the artists of the theater, their faithful horses and they, according to the theater artistic director, are difficult to endure the crossings on the trip.

For about two days, the horses go standing in a limited space so that their legs do not flow, the artists of the theater are forced to make stops at which horses could take a walk and stretch - everything is like that of people. Having gazed at tomorrow at the Konnaya Nart theater, I understood one simple, but at the same time an important thing - it is impossible to exist the theater without collective work of people, all the soul of devoted to their work.

After all, all its participants are interconnected, the artistic director cannot put new productions without interested actors. Sikoev also agreed with this thought, telling that seeing the guys with burning eyes in front of him, he himself had a second wind, I would like to create and put new ideas. By the way of new productions, the horse theater for the New Year plans to present the viewer with the production based on the Nart epic.

According to the theater, artists would be happy to put new and larger performances, but this is prevented by a small site of theater and insufficient technical supply. At the time of my visit, it rained heavy, and due to the fact that a large platform on which several riders could be practiced at once, is open in the open air, the rehearsal had to be postponed. According to Timur Sikoev, today the theater is 34 years old, so it must be perfectly rebuilt and leave the future generation so that the Narts horse theater can continue to delight the viewer.

Photo from the archive of the theater "Narts".