We Are Tomodachi Japan and Russia Edition 2017

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14“Our countries, although very different, share a love for art.” Svetlana Zakharova, prima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet, remembers the enthusiastic audiences flocking to her first performance in Japan in 1996 as “one of the biggest discoveries of my life. I encountered Japan as a country advanced not only in technology, but also in artistic perception.” Now, when visiting Japan for her own work, Zakharova makes time to take in concerts and ballet performances by the world’s leading artists. “Japanese people love art; they understand art. Visiting Kyoto, this impressed me in a different way. Japan’s former capital preserves thousands of years of history and tradition. My country shares this deep appreciation for treasures and lore of the past.” Zakharova also finds Russian and Japanese people’s quest for perfection a point in common. “Seeking to give our best performance, we never stop trying to improve ourselves.”As Zakharova has worked regularly with a major theater, artists, and choreographers in Japan, keeping good relationships with them personally is important for her. In addition, she takes part in various activities to bring people in Japan and Russia closer through ballet. With the enthusiastic support of President Vladimir Putin, Russia has decided to implement “Russian Seasons” cultural events in countries around the world, Japan being selected as the first venue. The project offers more than 200 events introducing art Graceful Ballerina Bridges Japan and RussiaSeries: Friends of JapanSvetlana Zakharova in Spartacus. © Damir Yusupov.Svetlana ZakharovaPrima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet. Born in Lutsk, Ukrainian SSR, USSR. Zakharova started ballet at the age of 10. She has won many international prizes and performs at famous theaters around the world. When in Japan, Zakharova likes to travel by Shinkansen bullet train and go to onsen, Japanese hot springs, with her friends.