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| Nariman Bekzhanov and Lina Seveliova |
The Imperial
Russian Ballet Company,
Canberra
Theatre 22nd August.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
The Imperial Russian Ballet Company is a large company of classical ballet dancers drawn from
top ballet schools around the Soviet Union. The company was formed in 1994 by former
Bolshoi Ballet soloist Gediminas Taranda who continues to be the troupe’s
Artistic Director. The company undertakes
extensive International tours presenting well-known ballet classics.
On their
last visit to Canberra, The Imperial Russian Ballet Company presented “Swan
Lake”. This time, as the first city visited on an extensive three-month Australian tour, Canberra had the
privilege the Australian premiere performance of their production of "Sleeping Beauty" , and attracted by the opportunity of seeing a large troupe of Russian dancers perform this
classic, the company was greeted with a full house.
In many ways
it’s an impressive production. The elegant painted backdrops are very grand,
and the pretty fairy tale costumes (despite some unfortunate wigs) are
befitting the familiar story of the Princess Aurora, who at her 16th
Birthday party, pricks her finger and falls into a sleep which lasts 100 years
until she is awoken by a kiss from a handsome prince.
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| Lina Seveliova and members of The Imperial Russian Ballet Company |
The
choreography is attributed to Petipa (revised by G.Taranda). One can only guess
at how much of the original Petipa remains. However it looks authentic enough,
particularly in the set-pieces such as the graceful Garland Dance in Act 1 and
the various fairy-tale character pas de deux in Act 11, even though much of it
appears very simple by today’s standards. In any event it was beautifully and
respectfully danced by the company with all the hallmarks of the Russian style, careful foot
placement, graceful arms and well-arched backs, much in evidence.
The
story-telling is fairly perfunctory so a program is necessary to follow the
action. There’s little attempt by the dancers at characterisation, with much
walking around and meaningless gesticulating, particularly from the men.
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| Anna Pashkova (Lilac Fairy) and members of The Imperial Russian Ballet |
With her
sparkling smile, long limbed Lina Seveliova, is a lovely Princess Aurora. Anna Pashkova is appropriately regal as the
Lilac Fairy and the rest of the soloists dance pleasingly, but only Nariman Bekzhanov
as Prince Desire, manages to bring any real sizzle or excitement to the
proceedings.
Perhaps it
was because it was the first performance of the tour. Perhaps the dancers had
yet to become accustomed to the recorded music, which seemed to catch some
flat-footed, or perhaps they were just under-rehearsed. Whatever the reason, this
opening night performance seemed curiously muted and lacking in confidence.
However, for some, watching this distinctly old-fashioned production was very much akin to a pleasant visit to a museum, strongly reminiscent of a Borovansky Ballet performance more than 50 years ago, or even watching archival
film of the Ballet Russes, and perhaps the more precious for that. But, a lot has
happened in the presentation of ballet in the last 50 years and on the evidence
of this production, Russia seems to have been passed by.