Elena Pampoulova

Born: Plovdiv (Bulgaria), 1984
Education: National School of Dance Art, Sofia; Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Moscow
Experience: Sofia National Opera and Ballet; Introdans (since August 2010)

Her mother – a journalist who worked in Moscow – and her father – a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who worked in Beijing, Chicago, London and Moscow – live in Sofia. She herself lives in Arnhem but she thinks Berlin would be great, too. Elena Pampoulova comes from an international family, that much is clear. This dancer who grew up bilingual – Russian and Bulgarian – is the first in her family ‘on points’. “My mother says I already had too much energy as a small child. I was constantly organising performances, together with other children. And I always sat in the splits on top of the sofa, while the rest of my family sat in front of me.”

Growing up in Plovdiv

She grows up in Plovdiv in Bulgaria, where she takes ballet lessons at an early age. “I’ve still got photos of my first appearance on stage, which I hardly remember as I was so young.” Shortly after this time her family moves to Moscow where she once again takes lessons “at an amateur school”. When she’s fourteen her parents return to Bulgaria, this time to the capital Sofia. It was here that Elena first attends a professional dance school: the National School of Dance Art. “I loved it! Only then did I really begin to understand something of what dance is about and why I enjoyed movement so much. I became ever more enthusiastic and fanatical – I worked night and day to improve. Nowadays I don’t have to worry about my techniques at all: the training in technique was so good that I could focus on my artistic improvement.”

Moving to Moscow

A few years later her parents move back to Moscow again. Elena – who moves with them once more – takes the opportunity to audition at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. “They viewed me as a foreigner but they allowed me to follow the full programme. Maybe because I speak fluent Russian! But luckily I did a good audition and so ultimately I completed my training there. Then I returned to Bulgaria alone, where I felt more at home. I got a contract at the National Opera and Ballet and then worked there for eight years. It was a wonderful time – I danced a lot and was often given solos. As I learned tai chi and martial arts they asked me to create a choreography for Turandot. And I sang as well!”

But something still isn’t quite right. Or actually a few things. She’s feeling that her potential isn’t being used properly. “More and more I felt that I wasn’t getting the best out of myself. I felt the need to improve my artistic and movement potential. Sometimes I worked as a street artist, juggling with fire, and I filmed music videos and doing fashion shows, which helped me with the difficult financial situation. I don’t believe in regretting things afterwards. So I got moving.”

First encounter with contemporary dance

The first time she gets to know a more contemporary dance style is when Elena was cast along with other dancers to participate in the NDT programme Kylián for the Balkans. There she finds a new artistic freedom. And when Introdans visits Sofia as part of a tour in 2006, Elena is one of the dancers cast for Gilles, a choreography by Ton Wiggers. Due to circumstances she ultimately doesn’t dance in the premiere but the seed has been sown. The Netherlands become her new destination. “At Introdans I found the artistic freedom and diversity of styles to explore and to grow. Here I have been transformed into the dancer I want to be, in roles that take me to extremes: dancing with blind people in De Ontmoeting, working with children, dancing roles that range from a sweet princess on points to a cold-hearted woman. I still remain achievement-oriented, disciplined and self-critical: that’s how I’ve been trained. But now I also know how important it is to enjoy one’s work, too!”

And the same goes for the time outside her work. Elena is an enthusiastic visitor to underground parties, together with her friends. “I love to visit concerts and underground events. I guess I have that from my father, who has boxes full of CDs and is always involved in music. Probably one day I’ll get into it more seriously and study the subject. That would suit me. Right now I’m one hundred percent focused on dance, but I have a life after dance, too. I think it would be great to do something different in arts. Just like my gran, in Moscow. She was seventy-five when – out of the blue – she took up painting. With the energy of a twenty-year-old! She has already visited me once in Arnhem and attended a premiere. She’s proud of her granddaughter. And I’m even prouder of my gran!”