Crown of the Russian Ballet on our doorstep
South Africa will experience the sheer beauty of the Russian Ballet when the internationally-celebrated Crown of the Russian Ballet Company arrives in the country, in May.
Described as one of the most highly-respected companies in Russia, Crown of the Russian Ballet has the distinction of being the very first production to play in the newly-revamped Theatre of Marcellus, at Emperors Palace, from May 9 to 11.
Crown of the Russian Ballet was founded by the current artistic director and lead ballerina, Anna Alexidze, and current chief choreographer and principal dancer, Anatoly Emelianov, in 1997.
Driven to explore and expand their creative and professional horizons, they set to work developing a new ballet repertoire of innovative classical and contemporary works.
Seventeen years later they enjoy the reputation of being one of the most respected touring companies.
Their work includes classical masterpieces, as well as modern dance.
The 2014 South African Touring programme is titled Masterpieces of French Music in Ballet and opens with Bizet’s Carmen, a passionate one-act ballet.
The second half includes Saint-Saëns’ emotionally charged Dying Swan. This piece will forever be associated with the legendary Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, and promises to touch the soul.
The Pas de Quatre by Pugni is a fine showcase of the Romantic age of ballet.
The choreography includes adagio, petite and grand allegro, fast footwork and lyrical arm movements.
Jaques Brel’s Ne Me Quitte Pas (better known by Rod Mc Kuen’s English lyric If You Go Away), showcases chief choreographer Anatoly Emelianov’s innovative contemporary work.
Other works featured in the second half are Ravel’s fiery Bolero and the famous Pas de Deux, from Le Corsaire by Adolphe Adam.
In honour of their contribution to the furthering of Russian culture, both Anna Alexidze and Anatoly Emelianov were awarded the prestigious Knight of the Second Order of Dyagilev in 2007.
Mikhail Lavrovsky, former Bolshoi ballet dancer and currently ballet Master-Repetiteur at the Bolshoi Theatre, said of choreographer Emelianov: “…he is indeed talented with his modern vision of art and his contemporary way of thinking. It is very good that his ballet is built on the classical basis, but at the same time is free of dogma and is non-traditional.
“Interesting are the thoughts of this young man, thinking in a modern way about love, human credo … The Crown of Russian Ballet is a non-traditional one and has its own unique art face.”
