Young dancer incorporates flips into routines
Alex Bersten, a contemporary dancer in Russia, goes through a routine. • Submitted Photos
By Tom Victoria
Alex Bersten employs his athleticism in dance, expanding his repertoire to include acrobatics.
The 16-year-old Russian already was doing the contemporary styles hip hop, jazz rock, whacking and locking. Now, he is adding gymnastic flips to his moves.
Alex explained his passion for the art.
"I get excitement and pleasure from dancing," he said.
Alex said dance moves vary in being enjoyable to do as well as degree of difficulty.
"The most pleasant thing is a wave and the most difficult movement is almost any element in breakdancing in power move.
Alex enjoys dance as he can express emotion through his movements.
Alex speaks to a group.
“To be a good dancer, you need to have patience, know discipline and be patient,” he said. “And the transfer of emotions comes with experience.”
Alex dances daily with acrobatic practices every other day.
He has been dancing for five years.
“When I was 9 years old, I watched a clip of a Russian band where the band members danced and wanted to do the same,” he said. “I started dancing for fun. Then, I wanted to develop and went to the TODES studio. I tried to break through, but all the battles are held only within the TODES framework and it is impossible to go outside the studio. Once a girl and I were sitting in a coffee shop. And she said that a famous choreographer was recruiting teams and that there was a chance to participate in the Russian and world championships. I immediately left TODES and moved to the Berserk dance studio and studied professionally there.”
Alex and his fellow dancers perform a number.
Alex is now with the studio Streetmasters to accommodate his gymnastic move set.
As a performing artist, he conveys emotions through his dance.
"It is quite difficult to transfer energy to the hall, but it comes with experience," Alex said. "But most of all, I like to transfer joy or fear to the hall."
Dance does not come without strain to the body.
"I have two torn ligaments in my leg," Alex said. "And I feel discomfort even now although it has been a month-and-a-half. Previously, there were sprains and dislocations of vertebrae."
Alex plies his athleticism in sport as well.
“I did a lot of things - martial arts, swimming, strength exercises,” he said. “Now, I sometimes play volleyball.”
Alex’s time isn’t spent solely on physical feats.
“My friend and I write music and record tracks,” he said. “I play any genres and compositions that I know on the piano and I write lyrical, rap and pop music."
Alex believes there’s a way to stay motivated no matter what happens.
“Sometimes, it's worth taking a break,” he said. “But I believe that if you came to classes to achieve results and pleasure, and you do not get pleasure from spending time there, then you should consider switching. To maintain motivation, there must be a goal. For example, if I learn a new choreography, train for 7 hours a day and do everything that the choreographer says, then I will get into the championships of Russia. But to take a prize on it, you need to work hard.”
He echoed that method for aspiring dancers.
“I advise you to set an exact goal, what you would like to achieve and go for it,” Alex said. “And choose a studio from which beginners come out as professionals.”
The link to Alex's Instagram account is: https://www.instagram.com/alex_bersten__/
Alex a side flip.
Alex does a somersault.
Alex and a fellow dancer do back flips.
Alex practices a back flip.