Interview with WBC 2018 Gold Medalist: Natasha Furman
Interview Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2019
At the 2018 World Ballet Competition Finals, Natasha Furman was a stand-out competitor whom received the Gold Medal in the Introductory Category. She shared with us how she trained for the event and what she's been up to since, enjoy our chat!
1. Tell us about your preparation for the competition. How often did you rehearse and have private lessons?
My preparation for the competition was having private classes five days a week with my mom, who is a former professional ballerina and my teacher, working on my two variations.
Pictured: Natasha with her mom and ballet coach, Katya Strelnikova
2. Did you rent or have your costumes made?
I had my costumes custom made for me. I love my tutus! Always can’t wait till competition to wear those tutus! ❤️
3. Were you nervous before competing?
I am usually a little nervous but mostly excited before competing, but when I go on stage I forget everything that happened before! All I think about is dancing with happiness and joy! Also, I think about all the people sitting there in the audience and enjoying my performance, and I feel that energy coming through my body that gives me even more power to dance through the end! ❤️
Pictured: Natasha performing the Variation from Paquita at the World Ballet Competition 2018 Finals, Photo by Michael Cairns
4. Do you think the WBC's individual onstage rehearsal before each round benefited your performances?
I think it helps a lot! First it helps you to get the right feeling of the stage before performing! Also you can really mark the stage and do your dance using the stage! Overall I think it’s awesome! ❤️
5. What do you think of the instantaneous scoring system and the online broadcast?
I ABSOLUTELY ADORED IT!!!! FIRST EXPRESSIONS ARE AWESOME! I was SHOCKED when I got a score of 9.175!!!!!!! Love the Kiss and Cry area!❤️ When you sit in the Kiss and Cry area it’s like time stops, but suddenly you get your score and when I got my score I started to cry from glee and happiness! ❤️ The broadcast all around the world was amazing! My great grandparents live in Russia and could still see me dancing even though at that time in Russia it was 2:00AM!! I wish we could get the videos from the Kiss and Cry area. ❤️
Pictured: Natasha receiving her score in the World Ballet Competition's Kiss & Cry Segment
6. What did you think of the Master Class Workshop and the daily warm-up classes?
Both were AMAZING! They were so interesting! And it’s really interesting when you have the opportunity to work with another teacher! Especially the judges! I tried my best! I made sure every step I did was perfect! Also, the master classes give you extra training for your performance! ❤️
Pictured: Natasha training in the ballet studio
7. What advice would you give to upcoming competitors?
Some advice I would give to the upcoming competitors is to not be nervous and calm down! Forget everything that happened before and enjoy the dance! ❤️
8. What do you think separates WBC from other ballet competitions?
The scoring system for sure! I’ve never seen in any other competitions where you get your scores right away. It’s just the perfect feeling because when you are on a different competition you have to wait 3 days for sure! And that just feels like FOREVER! The sudden feeling of the glee in me was perfect! Also our reactions were LIVE! That was AWESOME I’ve never ever seen your reactions LIVE except for the Olympics! It makes you feel like you actually in the Olympics!❤️
Pictured: Natasha performing the Bluebird Variation at the World Ballet Competition 2018 Finals, Photo by Michael Cairns
9. Were you able to sight-see in Orlando?
No, I was trying to rest as much as I can before my performance but the day after my performance I had to fly back home, so I didn’t really have a chance to sight see in Orlando! I know it’s a really beautiful city! ❤️
10. What have you been up to since competing at the WBC?
First I went to Master Ballet Academy's Summer Intensive. I’ve been to a Russian TV show called “Blue Bird” («Синяя Птица»), also prepared new variations and choreographed my contemporary piece for the new dance season. Obviously before all that had to have a fun Summer duh! Who wouldn’t!!!!!
Pictured: Natasha at Master Ballet Academy's Summer Intensive with Ballet Mistress, Irina Wozniak
Interested to compete in the World Ballet Competition?
Details on the Competitor Application can be found by clicking here