Many wonderful people were born in '52: myself:, Liam Neeson, Jeff Goldblum, Delroy Lindo, Isabella Rossellini, Dan Aykroyd, Robin Williams. Now I can add another name to the list: Marin Boieru. For ballet lovers, both locally and internationally, this name is synonymous with athleticism and artistry. For me, Marin Boieru is the embodiment of modesty, grace, and charm, and I was delighted to meet him.
Boieru is a Ballet Master at Carolina Ballet. When I asked him what that means, he smiles and says, "I know, Ballet Master. Wow! It sounds like something really important!" Then we both laugh, and he continues, "Well, for me, I teach group classes, I rehearse with the individual dancers, and choreograph some of the pieces."
Boieru also still dances, although mostly character roles such as Herr Drosselmeyer in Nutcracker, the circus master in Petruscha or the friar in Romeo and Juliet. For the upcoming 2008-09 season, Boieru will perform the part of Dr. Coppelius in Coppelia. Where he personally feels he contributes the most to the organization is by mentoring younger dancers. The Company is indeed honored to have such a master among them.
Boieru's personal history reads like a best-selling novel… He was born in Romania. At nine years of age, he was singled out from his elementary school as having dance potential; he was sent to a boarding school for the next nine years. Although choosing ballet as his future meant several grueling hours a day of strict dance training while maintaining his studies and riding a train for seven hours to visit his home (where he was allowed to visit only twice a year), Boieru explains, "If you finish that school, then you become an artist, a wonderful job. You're a higher class. It opens a lot of doors for you."
Ballet was a way out for Boieru, whose father was a trucker and mother a factory worker. At that time, Romania was still under the rule of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. It was unfortunate that the way out was not with gymnastics -which was his first love - instead of ballet. However, Boieru did learn to love ballet, and the ballet world loved him as well.
He began dancing with the Bucharest Opera and by age 21 was a principal dancer. He won a national championship that enabled him to compete at the prestigious Varna International Ballet Competition. This award afforded him the opportunity to meet new dancers and tour with other professional groups. Success was on its way, and Boieru finally believed that dancing was his life.
Apparently, his home country of Romania did not agree. At the peak of his ballet career, he was drafted and served 18 months in his country's army. Showing no ill will towards his country, Boieru says, "When I left the army, I was in great shape. It was fairly easy for me to start dancing again, I just needed to practice the moves, steps and jumps."
In possession of a temporary visa, Boieru went to dance in Paris, performing as a principal dancer with Roland Petit's Ballet National de Marseille. French critics loved him, calling him "the bomb Boieru," another referred to him as "reminding him of Baryshnikov because of the feeling of poetic intensity."
From there he danced for three years with Maurice Bejart's Ballet of the 20th Century in Brussels. Then on to the United States. Boieru was auditioning for a place with Baryshnikov's American Ballet Theatre (ABT) when he passed in front of the eyes of Robert Weiss. Weiss says of the encounter, "When I saw him, I said, 'Well, that's amazing.' He was one of those guys who could do all of the major male tricks and jumps." Baryshnikov was unable to come through with an offer because ABT was on hiatus. Boieru instead joined Weiss and the Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia.
While there, he met and married American ballerina Debra Austin. And the working relationship with Weiss and his wife Melissa Podcasy grew and developed. "Emotionally, he's very easy to work with," says Podcasy, "because he knows what ballet he's in and he likes to get into the sub-text, not just the steps."
Boieru, however fond of Weiss could not turn down the opportunity to dance with another Balanchine protégé, Edward Villella. So in 1990 he joined the Miami City Ballet.
In 1991, after the overthrow of Ceausescu's government, The Bucharest Opera invited Boieru back to perform the lead in Giselle - the first time in more than a decade that his mother (and other countrymen) was able to see her son perform live. It was a resounding success, and, in 2002, Romania honored Boieru with the Presidential star of Romania.
When Robert Weiss moved to North Carolina to launch Carolina Ballet in 1998, he contacted Boieru and invited him to come to Raleigh as the ballet master, with Austin signing on as ballet mistress. Remembering the wonderful working relationship he had with Weiss and Podcasy, he agreed to join them. Weiss also had in mind for Boieru to dance a few lead roles. Blessed with a predominately injury-free career, Boieru was indeed able to dance again, even performing a very demanding solo and pas de deux in George Balanchine's Rubies at the age of 47.
At 55, Boieru is a man who understands his limits but is content to live within them. The day that I observed the group class, Boieru was at the barre beside Melissa Podcasy, both of them going through the exercises instructed by Ms. Austin. It was a vigorous workout; Podcasy bows out when they get to the high-impact jumping (she has had a full hip replacement); Boieru stays with the class and performs most of the jumps and turns, although not with the same vigor as the younger dancers. Both the men and women admire Boieru and applaud his effort.
You can tell that Boieru thoroughly enjoys the workout, and is smiling and joking with the other dancers. "Ballet is the best exercise you can have," Boieru explains. "And it helps keep my cholesterol down."
He teaches class twice a week and participates himself regularly. Where he finds the most joy, however, is choreographing scenes. Working with one or two dancers at a time, he breaks it down step-by-step, nuance-by-nuance.
"I still have the fire, the desire to dance," says Boieru, "If I can share my knowledge with someone else, to help them, then that is my fulfillment."
Marin and Debbie have two girls, Olivia and Bianca. Olivia just received the "Spotlight in Education" recognition award for outstanding student achievement at Davis Drive Middle School. Proud Papa Marin's eyes fill up and shine with joy as he talks about his daughters and their achievements. Without saying so, Marin sent the message loud and clear that his children provide him with personal happiness. And that is the best kind of fulfillment there is.
