From Russia with love: classic ballet in Beijing

BY APD writer Haohan Yang

BEIJING, Dec.03 (APD) - The classic ballet “from Russia with love” was staged at the Tianqiao theatre on Sunday in Beijing.

"Pirates" / Photo by Robert Y

"Pirates" / Photo by Robert Y

Led by Moscow theatre chief dancer Svetlana Zakharova, along with 11 dancers coming from Russia, this classic ballet consists of 11 parts，including "Swan Lake" "Don Quixote" "Romeo and Juliet" "Pirates" "The Death of the Swan" "The Flames of Paris", "The Nutcracker", "Spartacus" and "The classical Grand pas de deux".

"The Death of the Swan" / Photo by Robert Y

"The Death of the Swan" / Photo by Robert Y

“I think ‘The Death of the Swan’ is the most classic ballet in the world,” Svetlana Zakharova said, “so I choose it for tonight’s show because I believe the Asian audience would love this one.”

In the splendid show on Sunday evening, Zakharova, together with another ballet dancer Dennis Rodkin, performed “Pirates” in the first half, who cooperated tacitly and harmoniously with Rodkin. In the second half, Zakharova used her body language to describe a swan’s inner world when facing death.

“This show is worth every penny,” Ms. Li, an audience member said, “I am very impressed by the performance tonight, this is not just a ballet performance, this is an act of art.”

“From Russia with love” is part of the ongoing China International ballet Season, which will last for two months until 14 January 2018. In the following one month and a half, more ballet performances will be held in the Tianqiao theatre.

"The Nutcracker" / Photo by Robert Y

"Spartacus" /

Photo by Robert Y

"Swan Lake" / Photo by Robert Y

"Don Quixote" / Photo by Robert Y

Zakharova was born in Ukraine in 1979; she entered Kiev Choreographic School. In Kiev, she trained with Valery Sulegina. Having finished six years at the Kiev School, Zakharova took part in a young dancers’ competition Vaganova-Prix in St. Petersburg. Her phenomenal physique (extraordinary flexibility, big step, stability, stable rotation) were noted at once. She won second prize and received an invitation to join the graduating course at Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In 1996, Zakharova graduated from the Vaganova Academy, ennobling the first graduation by Elena Evteyeva, former distinguished ballerina of the Mariynsky Theatre. That same year she was accepted in the theatre’s company and in the following season was promoted to principal dancer.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)