STATE ST PETERSBURG MALE BALLET

Presentation pirouettes between imitation and parody. (Review by Lynne Goodman)

The presentation of the State St Petersburg Male Ballet in the Playhouse Drama recently was something of a curiosity. It never seemed to quite strike its balance as it pirouetted between imitation and parody.

Think men dancing classic female roles and you are likely to conjure up images of stunning performances in ‘drag’ - or on the other hand, brawny macho send ups. But for all its pedigree, the State St Petersburg Male Ballet seemed to hover between the two extremes.

The seven-strong cast of male soloists certainly showed the extension and strong pointe work needed to match their Sylphides dresses, tutus and feathers in classic pas de deux and adagios by the likes of Petipa (Esmerelda), Saint-Leon and Fokine (the Dying Swan). But they did not all have the high levels of skill and virtuosity to be totally convincing.

Director and main dancer Valery Mikhailovsky is clearly a significant player in the St Petersburg dance world and founded the company in 1992 as a first in the history of Russian ballet. A Kiev-trained soloist and choreographer, he performed with intense sensitivity in two original works: Dedication, to the music of Handel and Elle Amore - With Love to Spectators. Other performers appeared in variations on classic works from the opening act of The Nutcracker to the Habanera from Carmen - none with great impact.

In fact, they were at their best in a joyous satire of Swan Lake’s Dance of the Cygnets with a quartet performing similar if not identical steps to the original. Connected at the waist by their faintly outrageous costumes, they added just the right edge of facial and physical comedy to cock a snoot at this pristine little pas de quatre. That in itself made the show worth while for this reviewer.

And the choice of music was specially stimulating - modernised, up-tempo versions of Tchaikowsky’s Nutcracker, for instance, gave a new gloss to a suite that has become clichéd from over-exposure.

Perhaps the whole concept of men performing female roles is something of a contradiction in terms as male dancers have to be extremely strong and cannot possibly project the grace of a ballerina - which brings to mind Samuel Johnson’s quote about the dog walking on its hind legs: It is not well done but one is surprised to see it done at all. – Lynne Goodman