One Man’s Passion to Help Mongolia’s World Class Dancers

Performances by the Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet have dazzled audiences for many years. Recent ballet productions have even been compared to performances by the Bolshoi and the Royal Ballet. One thing is clear; here in Ulaanbaatar we have some amazingly talented performers.

The Mongolian State Ballet’s last performance of Swan Lake on the 18th of March, easily goes down as the most memorable and deeply moving productions of Swan Lake I’ve seen. In this production, Prince Siegfried fights the wicked Rothbart and the spell over the swans is broken. The prince and his swan maiden are reunited and everybody lives “happily ever after.”The Mongolian Ballet has never adopted the tragic ending to Swan Lake, for here the ballet is still under Soviet–era influence where joyous endings are always preferable to sad ones.

One man who makes happy endings possible for the lives of many of the dancers is Roy Dongen. One cannot help but admire this Dutch born entrepreneur who arrived in UB many years ago. Apart from once being Mongolia’s Honorary Consul Designate in Holland, Roy is also a successful businessman and former political campaign manager.

He explains that in Ulaanbaatar we have world class dancers who go about their business under difficult and trying conditions. One of Roy’s many successful projects over recent years has been establishing The Mongol Saikhan Foundationwhich literally translates to “beautiful Mongolia foundation” together with former ballet dancer Baatarsaikhan Baaran. One of the aims of this NGO (which is the first organization everto been awarded the Golden Seal of the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is to work together with the inspiring theatre director Sergelen Bold, to improve the conditions for the performers of the Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet and bring it in line with the twenty first century.

PWC’s Managing Partner in Ulaanbaatar and ballet supporter, Carolyn Clarke says that, “Roy is a vital presence bringing passion and creativity to the Opera House and encouraging those new to Mongolian ballet and opera to share his enthusiasm.”

I ask Roy about his job at the Mongol Saikhan Foundation, but am quickly corrected, “Oh, but it is not a
job –it’s a passion.”

The iconic, salmon colored Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet was built by the Russians in 1932 and although still majestic and grand, much of it remains in its original condition. Roy explains that “after the Russians left twenty years ago, it was left in the most appalling condition. There were massive splinters on the stage and one could expect serious injury if a performer were to fall. Back then the dancers were probably making only $20 USD per month, so at least things have improved somewhat since then. The stage has been sanded and repaired, but many more renovations and repairs are needed.”

I follow Roy around the elegant, brightly lit foyer of the theatre where he is greeted by warm and appreciative smiles. It seems everyone wants to corner him for a chat and a handshake. These days, he is as much a part of the Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet as the performers and staff are.

His foundation has even set up a coffee and fine wine table in the entrance where audience members can purchase a beverage at intermission. The friendly staff who serve there are all volunteers. The proceeds of sale go towards one of The Mongol Saikhan Foundation’s most important causes.

The area which dancers and staff feel is in most desperate need of reconstruction are the showers and toilets used by the dancers before and after each performance. Upon close inspection, the bathroom facilities could be described as sub-standard, some would even say disgraceful. There is one small toilette and one shower room with a single nozzle for the entire cast of ballerinas. The same goes for the males. One must keep in mind that a single production performed by the Mongolian Ballet can typically be made up of about seventy dancers, many of whom live in the ger districts.

Roy wants to see that drastic improvements are made as soon as possible. “The only difference between a Mongolian ballerina and their European or American counterparts, are the conditions under which they perform,” says Roy whosefoundation also organizes and raises money for the annual Christmas party and awards night.

Unfortunately, the life of a Mongolian ballerina is not all it’s cracked up to be. Ballerinas reach their prime at about thirty years of age and by the age of thirty five, they’re nearing retirement. In their lifetime,a Mongolian ballerina may only make slightly more than the average waitress at a UB café. This makes it very difficult to attract would-be ballerinas. In the opera, at least by the time you reach thirty, your career is just beginning.

“This is why,” explains Roy,“we need to make the working conditions here at the theatre as good as they can possibly be. We want to encourage young and talented dancers to join the ballet, but how can this be done when the conditions of the Opera and Ballet Theatre are so run down?”

You will often find males leaving Mongolia for overseas roles. One Mongolian danseur Odsuren Dagva, whom Roy has personally sponsored, is makingover 3,000 Euros a month performing as solo dancer of the Gera ballet in Germany.There are also a handful of danseurs who have ended up in Germany, Japan and well known danseur Altankhuyag Dugaraa, is now in the famous Boston Ballet. “In fact,” says Roy proudly, “he was recently the first Mongolian danseur to play the lead role in la Scala in Milan, Italy. That’s pretty impressive.”

Roy explains,“it is more uncommon for the ballerinas to head overseas for by the time they hit twenty five, they are usually mothers and do not tend to leave their children. For the males it has been easier to leave their mark on the world stage.”

One thing is certain, in order to encourage and better look after Mongolia’s talented dancers, we need to get the showers, toilets and bathrooms at the Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet modernized. Decent facilities are a must for dancers in other leading opera and ballet theatres around the world. The working conditions for Mongolian ballerinas and danseurs should no different. Please take a look at the “What’s on” section on page 12 for details.

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