Simeon Atanasov has performed as Romeo, Nick Carraway, The Nutcracker and can’t imagine making a career anywhere else but here
The path to the Bulgarian stage sometimes starts in Dobrich and goes through Kansas and Chicago: this is Simeon Atanasov’s career route; he’s the youngest ballet dancer in the Sofia Opera and Ballet’s troupe. At 24, he’s one of the rising stars in the ensemble and has performed as Romeo, Nick Carraway, The Nutcracker and impressed with a rare touch for comedy as the annoying wooer William Collins in “Pride and Prejudice” the previous month.
As Collins, Atanasov established himself as one of the audience’s favorites with his acting talent and his complex acrobatic performances: a clear reflection of his elementary dance education in Dobrich when he studied more contemporary ballet artforms. He began dancing when he was just four, initially only because his cousins also did dancing; however, it quickly became apparent this wouldn’t just be an after-class hobby, Atanasov shared for “Ploshtad Slaveikov”. He didn’t get discouraged even when his peers mocked him; the latter can be especially cruel to boys who have dedicated themselves to dancing at this age.
And so, Atanasov found himself in Sofia at the National dance and arts school. He actually spent four of his high school years alone in the USA, with a scholarship by a Bulgarian talent foundation. His American dream first began in Kansas City; then, due to various administrative obstacles, he continued his path in Chicago. Then, came Covid…
Atanasov in the role of a doomed Romeo. Photo: Sofia Opera and Ballet
During that time, the ballet dancer was studying at the Joffrey Ballet School and was invited to become a part of their last preparatory course with an opportunity to be approved for a USA dance company’s troupe. However, the conditions were too limiting: the ballet dancers performed with masks on, they had to only move within their own designated places and not perform in front of an audience… this demotivated Atanasov and he chose to return to Bulgaria. In 2020, he became a part of the Sofia Opera ensemble.
Looking back at the years he spent in the USA, today he is happy for having received this opportunity but he can’t imagine going back there.
“My career is going well here, I’ve established myself and besides, our Sofia repertoire is mostly classical. You don’t see this in many places and I like this a lot”, he shares.
He also doesn’t believe the Chicago audience can offer him more than the Sofia audience can: he doesn’t even mind when viewers spontaneously burst into applause while the music is still playing.
“I’ve felt the viewers’ warmth everywhere but I can’t say they’ve supported us here and not in the USA. If people suddenly start clapping (this has happened to me during performances) I don’t get distracted at all: quite the opposite, it motivates me and gives me strength”, he assures.
The future of ballet perhaps lies in the renewal of traditions: the young audience of the Sofia Opera and Ballet can only be attracted with a varied and innovative repertoire, Atanasov believes. According to him, his peers like choreographer Leo Muic’s approach and this was clearly seen in the audience’s demographic of Muic’s “Pride and Prejudice”, “Anna Karenina” and “The Great Gatsby” performances which have an advantage over classic ballet ones where the action is faster-paced and “ten things are told in five seconds”.
Atanasov as the pushy Willian Collins in “Pride and Prejudice”. Photo: The Sofia Opera and Ballet
Atanasov himself, however, prefers the classic repertoire and advises viewers not to avoid it:
“Just as we break the mold while performing Leo Muic and other contemporary artists’ choreographies, the audience should do the same and come see a performance it believes it would not like. You might just be surprised”.
Only after the curtains are drawn can a ballet dancer draw a conclusion for the price of this much too demanding artform: the body pain, the psychological and physical fatigue, the constant shortage of time for oneself…
“Of course, a higher pay would never hurt”, he adds with a smile.
Atanasov stars in almost all titles in the Sofia Opera repertoire. What roles does he wish to perform in the future?
“All the main roles, of course”, he answers quickly.
Meanwhile, Atanasov has also dedicated himself to teaching and prepares his students for the July “Sara Nora Prima” contest which he won himself in 2023; he’s also a pedagogue at ballerina Asya Eneva’s studio.