ROYAL MOSCOW BALLET

Royal Moscow Ballet will be returning to South Africa in March 2017 with a programme paying tribute to great Russia composers Sergei Rachmaninov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Aleksander Borodin, which comes to Durban for two shows only on March 11.

In a country starved of professional ballet, the regular visits from dancers of the Royal Moscow Ballet are always a treat. The company arrives in the country for a six city tour in March covering Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Gaborone Botswana.

This time they bring a ballet programme celebrating some of the most celebrated Russian composers who wrote for ballet and opera. Highlights of their programme include Paganini (a one act ballet) scored by Sergei Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; scenes from ballets scored by Pyotr Tchaikovski: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker and Aleksander Borodin’s The Polovtsian dance from the opera The Prince Igor.

The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting an all-Russian programme the week before the ballet to get audiences familiar with some of the music being presented – also in the Playhouse Opera.

Royal Moscow Ballet has toured successfully around the globe presenting more than a thousand performances. The company, which consists of graduates of the best Russian choreography, ballet and dance schools, premiered as the Royal Moscow Ballet on August 12, 2002. The founders are Anatoly Emelianov and Anna Aleksidze.

In 2017, the Royal Moscow Ballet will celebrate its 15th anniversary. The company has created more than 20 modern and 15 classical ballets. The ballets were created by choreographers / founders Anatoly and Aleksidze.

The Royal Moscow Ballet has visited countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya – the first visit of a Russian ballet company to East Africa, The dancers performed on specially-built stages near Victoria Falls. To the sound of classical music and the flowing Zambezi wate, the classic ballet Don Quixote was presented. For the first time in the history of Zambia, the company received a long-standing ovation from the audience which included the president of the country and the ambassador to Russia. (After the performance, dancers leapt into Victoria Falls to cool off!)

In honour of their contribution to the furthering of Russian culture both Anna Alexidze and Anatoly Emelianov were awarded the prestigious Knight of the Second Order of Dyagilev in 2007.

Royal Moscow Ballet is presented by Edouard Miasnikov Agency whose objective remains to widen cultural exchange and sharing between Russia and South Africa: www.russianartists.co.za

The Royal Moscow Ballet performances take place on March 11 at 14h00 and 19h00 in the Playhouse Opera. Booking is through www.computicket.com / 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite Checkers Money Market Counters.