Taisiya and Fadei are two teenagers who share a dream of becoming ballet dancers. Due to the war, they left their hometown of Kharkiv to pursue professional training in Kyiv and Vienna. Navigating the challenges of displacement and the pursuit of their art, the two reflect on the invisible scars that war leaves on a young person and the sheltering role of art in their journey.
BalletBoyz are back with two new works. Set to contrasting scores by Charlotte Harding and Keaton Henson, Them/Us is an inventive double bill asking where we see ourselves in relation to the “other,” and explores the fine balance between them and us.
Before pretty Bianca is allowed to marry, her prickly sister Katharina is first to walk down the aisle. The daredevil Petruchio takes on the recalcitrant and realizes that beneath the surface a sensitive but also strong woman is emerging. He, in turn, is able to shed his cocky mask with her. Thus, an initially stormy struggle ultimately turns into a harmonious partnership. John Cranko transformed Shakespeare's comedy into a lively ballet that focuses on the generally human: Only when the two come to trust each other can they reveal their true nature and meet as equals.
Steven McRae, principal dancer with the world-renowned Royal Ballet, is 33 years old and at the pinnacle of his career when he severely damages his Achilles tendon in the middle of a show attended by 2,500 spectators. This is the story of his amazing rehabilitation and the nerve-racking days leading up to his triumphant return to the stage.
The Bolshoi Ballet perform Prokofiev’s classic ballet, “Romeo and Juliet”, based on the tragic love story about two young star-crossed lovers, featuring the original choreography of Leonid Lavrovsky revised by Yuri Grigoovich.
Cecilia, a newbie dancer, finds happiness in her dance. As time passes, she becomes increasingly famous and receives a lot of appreciation. One time, someone expresses hatred towards her, forcing her to take action so that she doesn't sink into despair.
Whirlwinds, burning forests, erased cities – the centuries-old artworks housed in the Louvre strongly resonate with our present time. Forêt follows a new generation of Rosas dancers moving amidst these artworks, bridging past and present. Choreographed by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Némo Flouret in 2022, the performance was designed for the Louvre’s Grande Galerie and its famed 'red rooms,' home to Italian masterpieces and 19th-century French Romantic art. Evi Cats captured this performance, with a camera that moves almost imperceptibly between the dancers and the audience, alternating between intimate close-ups and wide shots of the imposing scenery.
Misty Copeland was promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre in 2015, becoming the first Black American ballerina to do so in the elite classical company's 75-year history. Misty sheds light on beating all odds through a difficult upbringing and learning ballet at 13 years old. She also expresses the importance of giving back to the communities she hopes to inspire. Friends and colleagues also share their admiration for the prominent dancer and advocate.
Choreographer Jirí Bubenícek's Carmen celebrates the incredible inspiration of Bizet's timeless music in a completely new two-act ballet that also includes music by Albéniz, Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Falla, orchestrated and adapted by Gabriele Bonolis. The production emphasizes aspects of the original drama, heightening the erotic atmosphere of the cigar factory and Carmen's wild spirit, and including a spectacular on-stage horse. The sensational choreography closely depicts the storyline of Prosper Mérimée's original novella in a production that was hailed by critics as a triumph. The Corpo di Ballo of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma shines in this production, with Principal Dancers including Rebecca Bianchi in the role of Carmen, Amar Ramasar as Don Jose, and Alessio Rezza dancing the part of Lucas.
Manon, a winsome girl with dangerously innocent allure, gives in to the temptation of wealth and becomes calculating and corrupt. For her brother Lescaut she is a bargaining chip, for old Monsieur G. M. she is an object of desire, for the student Des Grieux she is pure and simple love. MacMillan’s exhilarating and engaging ballet gives new life to the character created by Prévost and popularized through opera, delineating the allure and tragedy of the protagonist and crafting splendid male roles. Fifty years after its debut, it has lost none of its dramatic and theatrical power.
Reconting the triumph of thwarted love thanks to cunning, Frederick Ashton’s virtuoso rendition of Dauberval's 18th Century classic "La Fille mal gardée" is a masterpiece. Its lasting popularity is not merely due to the perfect fluidity of the choreography, but also to the irresistible charm of the characters, brought to life with humour and subtlety. Be it in the farmyard or the cornfield, the hearts of Lise and Colas search for - and eventually find - each other, and in the manner of a musical, their delightful story will carry you away with its whimsy and smiles.
"In order to preserve all our achievements for posterity it is necessary to resort to the aid of the motion picture, which will be a great contribution to the immortalization of our art. The years are passing by, and we hope that our achievements, registered on film, will aid future generations to learn and perfect themselves. In the not too distant future our first experience in this field will be shown to a wide public: pictures of the methodology of classical ballet at the Moscow and Leningrad Ballet Schools. This film will be a scientific aid in outlying districts as well." - Agrippina Vaganova
Product Description ••••• A complete 1978 performance of this classic ballet stars the magnificent Nadezhda Pavlova and Vyacheslav Gordeev; the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra is conducted by Alexander Kopilov. DVD Bonus: Scenes from Don Quixote filmed at the Bolshoi in 1964 and starring the legendary dancers Maya Plisetskaya and Maris Liepa; Bolshoi Orchestra conducted by Youri Fayer.
William Shakespeare's tragedy about the feuding Montagues and Capulets, whose children find each other and overcome the deep-seated hatred, has inspired countless artists. John Cranko also took up this timeless material in 1962 and created one of his most popular ballets. Sergei Prokofiev's descriptive music - in combination with Jürgen Rose's opulent sets and costumes – forms the perfect back drop which allows the scenes to unfold just as if they had sprung directly from an Italian Renaissance painting.
Inspired by the choreography of Marius Petipa and set to Minkus’ spirited score, Rudolf Nureyev’s spectacular ballet is no less than a festival of dance, joyously shining the limelight on the soloists and Corps de Ballet in a wide variety of ensembles and pas de deux. Based on Cervantes’ 17th-century story, the ballet recounts the adventures of the titular dreamer and his neighbour Sancho Panza as they ride across the Spanish countryside. When they encounter two lovers - Kitri and Basilio – Don Quixote is determined to help keep them together, and after battling windmills and crossing paths with Cupid, Dulcinea and the Queen of the Dryads, it’s he who delivers the happy dénouement. The shimmering costumes and colourful sets sublimate a vivacious and delightfully entertaining work.