By Serge Taran
Petr Ilyich Chaykovsky is a famous Russian composer, loved in the United States. His 1875 “Swan Lake” ballet, based on both Russian folklore and German legend, is among only a handful of ballets recognized by most Americans.
For third year in row, the Russian Grand Ballet brings to Texas this “ballet of all ballets” as a part of their North American tour.
The Russian Grand Ballet will present the so-called “St. Petersburg version”, which features choreography, originally set by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov in the late 19th century. Contemporary adaptations of the play are by award-winning ballet master/choreographer Andrey Litvinov.
The October 2017 tour of the Russian Grand Ballet to Texas is different from all previous years. The Ballet has gained the respect and recognition it deserves from both Dallas and Houston audience; and this year it will reach new audiences in Mcallen, Midland, and El Paso too.
Texas theatergoers will see the stars of the best choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev. An international flavor is added by the finest ballet dancers from Ukraine, Armenia, and Russia.
“Swan Lake” is a combination of pure romanticism, a fairy tale about love and deception. At the same time, it is a play, full of technical and dramatic challenges. Constantine Pinchuk, Artistic Director of Russian Grand Ballet, shared, “Dancing the lead in ‘Swan Lake’ is like climbing Mount Everest, or playing the role of Hamlet on a stage. The principal dances are the Black Swan and the White Swan dances. Both birds change from swan to human, fall in love, and get tricked and jilted.”
The Jewel of the “Swan Lake” version by the Russian Grand Ballet is a rarely seen “Waltz of the Black Swans.”
The Swan Queen is danced by Prima ballerina Olga Kifyak. Praising the technical virtuosity of Prima, The Boston Globe states, “Olga Kifyak’s “32 fouettés is unexceptionable.”
Russian Grand Ballet Presents Swan Lake in Texas:
October 17th, 2017 at 7.30 p.m. and October 19th, 2017at 7.30 p.m. at Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Rd, Stafford, TX 77477 (Tickets)
October 18th, 2017 at 7.30 p.m. at McAllen Performing Arts Center, 801 Convention Center Blvd., McAllen, TX 78501 (Tickets)
October 20th, 2017 at 8 p.m. at Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts, 2352 Performance Dr, Richardson, TX 75082 (Tickets)
October 21st, 2017 at 7.30 p.m. at Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, 1310 N. FM 1788, Midland, TX 79707 (Tickets)
October 22nd, 2017 at 6 p.m. at The Plaza Theater Performing Arts Center, 125 Pioneer Plz, El Paso, TX 79901 (Tickets)
Russian Grand Ballet America Tour
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