2008 Woodie Awards
Russian ballet group to present "Carmen" at Young Auditorium
Jessica McCoy
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
|
According to Columbia Artists Management, "Carmen" is a four-part ballet typically set in Spain in the 1830s. It is named after one of the main characters, Carmen, a beautiful gypsy.
She begins to court a soldier named Don Jose despite his relationship with another woman named Micaela. After much hesitation, Don Jose surrenders to Carmen's advances and leaves with the gypsies. Conflict and jealousy arise, and eventually Don Jose returns home with Micaela. Later he revisits the gypsies and finds Carmen in love with another man, Escamillo. In a fit of raging jealousy Don Jose murders Carmen.
"Carmen" will be presented Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Young Auditorium. Marketing Specialist Leslie LaMuro saw the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre perform Romeo and Juliet two years ago.
"It was a wonderful production with a modern style, a modern twist, but I noted the Russian technical expertise that everyone knows from ballet," she said. "They are technically flawless. Their toes are pointed exactly to the right angle; they are so technically incredible. It is a fresh interpretation of balletic work." The St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre was founded as the first Theatre of Ballet in Russia in 1966.
The current artistic director is Yuri Petukhov, a dancer who has competed in international competitions in Russian and overseas. Petukhov secured first place for best choreography once and first place as a ballet master three times in competitions.
The eight principal performers include Vaganova Ballet Academy graduates Maria Iakchanova, Vera Ziganova, Nicolai Semenov, Anastasia Shmakova and Elena Onegina; Byelorussion Choreographic School graduate Lioudmila Minostseva; Ufa Choreographic School graduate Azamat Nabi; and Saratov Choreographic School graduate Viktor Demidov. The last of the eight members, Demidov, became a member of the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre in 1996. He performs all of the major male roles in the company's productions.
Tickets for the Friday evening performance can be purchased at the box office or online at www.uww.edu/youngauditorium. Ticket prices range from $27-33.
Be the first to comment on this story