The greatest love story of all time
Russian ballet company stages Shakespeare’s favourite play to classic score
Romeo and Juliet, the greatest love story of all time is set to come alive through beautiful music and dance straight from Moscow as the renowned Imperial Russian Ballet Company stage a performance not to be missed by lovers of classic dance.
This Russian ballet company was established in 1994 by a soloist of Igor Moiseyev’s Folk Dance Company under the initiative of the famous Russian ballerina, Maya Plisetskaya. Although the overall choreographic style of the company is classical, it does at times indulge in modern dance. The repertoire includes several famous masterpieces including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Don Quixote, along with several modern choreographies. Having previously visited Cyprus for a performance of Bolero, the company has since performed in Brazil, Spain, Finland, Japan, Uruguay, Austria, Germany, Israel and the US. Four years on, it’s a real treat to see this talented dance group back again.
The upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet tells the tragic tale that we all know well revolving around star crossed lovers, the hostility between the two feuding families, and the extent to which they go to keep their love a secret. The Imperial Russian Company’s exquisite dancing, lavish costumes and stage setting dramatise the heartbreaking tale of love and eventual death. Expect to see wonderful costumes inspired by the Italian romantic period coupled with breathtaking moves.
Put to music by the legendary Sergei Prokofiev, the dance brings great history and tradition with it. Prokofiev was a Ukrainian born Russian composer who eventually came to be admired as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. He put together the music for this ballet between 1935-1936, and it was first presented at the Kirov in Leningrad in 1940. Over half a century later, this music still touches the hearts of thousands across the globe.
Choreographed by Leonid Lavrovsky, the show combines Russian folk elements with Italian Romaneasca dance fitting perfectly to this romantic tale. The choreography of Lavrovsky focuses on incredibly rapid footwork, that goes light on any great sense of impending doom or disaster. The two young lovers, played by Lubov Sergienko and Kiril Radev are beautiful young dancers who fill the stage with energy and passion.
Despite the very long history of this production, Romeo and Juliet arrives on our shores with entirely new artistic design. “I have used an absolutely new concept for Romeo and Juliet that is very different to our other performances,” explained Gediminas Taranda, artistic director of The Imperial Russian Ballet Company.
“This is Italian Romantic style in all its glory with great costume and decoration”.
This new take on Romeo and Juliet premiered one year ago in Moscow to much critical acclaim and applause from the dance loving public. The company then went on to perform the dance in a number of countries worldwide, moving from Thailand to New Zealand, and ending up back in Europe.
Perhaps what makes the show unique is the high level of quality and professionalism that the dancers bring with them. “This is the only private dance company in Moscow with mainly Russian dancers,” said Taranta. “It’s made up of the very best students from Russian schools throughout the length and breath of the country including Moscow, St Petersburg and Perm. I must admit that searching for the right students is intense and tiring, but I’m rewarded when I see them perform their magic on stage”.
“In this performance they bring an absolute love story to life though the universal language of dance,” he added.
“Travelling around the world, it feels great that everyone can understand the story as it unfolds on stage through movement and music. Our dancers love Cyprus and we really enjoy coming here to perform so we will give it everything we have”. As the Montagues and Capulets unveil good and evil, love and death, prepare to be swept away by one of the most beautiful plays of William Shakespeare dressed with the music of the famous Prokofiev and the dance moves of the world’s most talented.
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare classic put to music by Prokofiev. By The Imperial Russian Ballet Company.
July 25 Larnaca Pattichion Amphitheatre. 9pm. Tel: 24-665795
July 26 Limassol Municipal Garden Theatre. 9pm. Tel: 25-878744
July 27 Skali Aglandjia, Nicosia. 9pm. Tel: 77772717
