#INTERVIEW: Everything Is Possible
Tatevik Mkrtoumian is an artist — a professional ballerina, soloist, living in Belgium. Tatevik started ballet when she was 5 years old in Russia. At this age she already took part and won prestigious prizes at various Russian ballet competitions. With both parents being professional ballet dancers, Tatevik inherited the passion for ballet. After moving to Belgium at the age of 7 she was the first girl to be accepted into the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp without audition. Once she graduated, she was invited to the biggest Estonian Theatre, theatre Vanemuine. After just a few weeks she got her first solo part and danced there for 5 years as a professional ballerina. She toured with the company to Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium and many other countries.
When Tatevik returned to Belgium, she founded the Ballet Workout school, wrote the book Ballet Workout that is the first and only book about ballet in Belgium and founded the Ballet Workout App using her Ballet Workout Method. In her classes you will make your childhood dream to feel like a ballerina come true.
Tanja Beljanski: This was not the first time for you to come to Dubai to give ballet workshops. What is your experience so far here? Are the people interested?
Tatevik Mkrtoumian: During my visit in 2021 I gave private classes to successful business people and had several meetings with the management of Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera and EMAAR. It immediately became clear that the residents of such a thriving city as Dubai actually have a big hunger for culture and art. Since the Ballet Workout method was welcomed by many, we decided to take the jump and bring the Ballet Workout to Dubai. Such initiative deserves a great location, therefore we were grateful that we could partner with Burj Khalifa to bring ballet to the highest building in the world. Bringing Ballet Workout to Dubai is not just a one-off experience, we’re considering opening a Ballet Workout school in Dubai, allowing residents to follow classes multiple times a week. We have so many ideas that we would like to realize, this is just the start.
TB: Who is Ballet Workout for?
TM: Ballet Workout is for every woman from 16-70 years who wants to feel graceful, beautiful and feminine while getting in great shape. No prior experience is necessary. The big difference when you compare Ballet Workout to fitness, yoga or pilates is the classical music and the elegance of each exercise. We never “pump” the muscles but try to elongate them and as a result you will get a strong and lean body. The Ballet Workout Method focuses on the benefits that each woman can experience by doing ballet exercises rather than focussing on doing technically complicated movements. You feel completely different when you exercise ballet. I am a second generation professional dancer. My mother Olga is our choreographer and teacher for children. She makes sure that the children fall in love with this art and achieve beautiful results while enjoying the dance.
TB: Is it really possible to learn ballet at an adult age?
TM: To become a professional ballerina you have to start at a young age and practice classical ballet daily in a professional school for many hours and years. That is why I created the Ballet Workout Method that teaches you the important basics and focuses on the benefits of ballet that every woman can experience and use. With my method you get a clear explanation of how to execute every step, what it’s for and how it benefits you. You get coached by a professional ballerina. This way everyone can be part of the art and enjoy it themselves! You learn the basics, improve your posture, become flexible, get better coordination, learn to control your muscles, dance choreography and even perform on stage! If you desire we can even teach you how to do the split in 14 days!
“Bringing Ballet Workout to Dubai is not just
a one-off experience, we’re considering
opening a Ballet Workout school in Dubai,
allowing residents to follow classes
multiple times a week.”
TB: If someone has never done ballet before and is not in shape, can she or he still join the class?
TM: Of course! We have people of all ages, sizes and past fitness experiences in my classes. You don’t need to be talented, fit, flexible or very young. It’s suitable for a teenage girl who want to learn ballet but equally suitable for a young lady who wants to feel elegant or master a new skill , a mother who wants to get back in shape or take some time for herself or a grandmother who wants to make a childhood dream come true. In Antwerp, Belgium we even organize a yearly show, allowing everyone to perform and feel like a real ballerina in a professional ballet costume on the stage of the opera in front of hundreds of people.
TB: What are the benefits of doing ballet workout?
TM: I’m so glad you ask this question because there are plenty of benefits. Ballet is the best activity you can do for your body and mind. My students often tell me that already after only a few classes they get compliments about their new way of moving and improved posture. The first noticeable thing that changes is the posture, my students walk with their shoulders more open and back straightened. This also changes the way people perceive you, see you as more open, more attractive, confident and worthy. By doing Ballet Workout you will become more flexible, get leaner and stronger muscles, get better coordination, condition, balance and improved rhythm. It’s also a great way to relax from daily to do lists and focus purely on your body, music and steps. You learn about classical ballet, French terms, composers and ballets. It fills your life with new knowledge and colorful emotions.
“Ballet fills your life with new
knowledge and colorful emotions.”
TB: Ballet Workout application is very easy to use; there are a lot of good exercises, tips, and even diet info. Tell us more about it.
TM: The Ballet Workout App is my first baby. I have put my heart and soul into it. It took me years to perfect the concept and execute it. I refined every detail to make the online experience feel like it’s a real class. The app has over 350 exercises that have been accompanied by a professional ballet pianist so that you would feel like you are in a real ballet studio even if you are at home exercising on a carpet. I’m blessed to have a partner who works for Match Group (company behind the Tinder app) and who takes care of the technical part of the application, by designing it himself and managing the developers. He is a true professional in his field and the latest update we recently released took the app completely to the next level. I definitely recommend everyone who can’t make it to the my classes to download the app. With the app you will always have a professional ballerina in your pocket.
TB: Ballet Workout Belgium is on youtube and instagram. What can we see there?
TM: I see Instagram & YouTube as a good way to get to know me, my method and style of teaching. I love Youtube myself because of how much valuable content you can find on it if you look for the right channels. By visiting my channel you will discover a lot of free classes, tips and videos of our shows.
TB: You have also written a book.
TM: Correct, I have written a book about my Ballet Workout method that was published in Dutch by one of the leading Belgian publishers. To be honest, I could never think that I would write a book in Dutch since it’s actually my 5th language I learned after Armenian, Russian, English and French.
TB: You are very determined. Seems like you are on a mission :-) What would that be?
TM: I want to make ballet accessible for everyone no matter their age, gender, background or professional career, so everyone can enjoy the immense list of health benefits and joy this amazing form of art brings
All images: Courtesy of Ballet Workout Belgium
YouTube: Ballet Workout
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