Amelia

NEWS from Princeton University: "Ballet and Politics in Russia, A Conversation with Svetlana Lunkina, Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater Ballet.” Organized by the Lewis Center for the Arts, the Department of Music, the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, and the Program in Russian and Eurasian Studies. Event Date: Monday, March 11, 2013 - 4:30pm http://slavic.princeton.edu/news-and-events/“ballet-and-politics-russia-conversation-svetlana-lunkina-prima-ballerina-bolshoi Hopefully, there will be some reporting in the press following this event.

Marissa, on 05 Mar 2013 - 20:17, said: “...That makes me wonder if she was involved or if he committed the attack for her. That's assuming he's guilty of course. It's hard to believe that someone could do something as vicious as throwing acid in someone's face over creative or personal differences.” This is exactly what silly and cruel people sometimes do over personal differences. The Russian psychologists who were interviewed a few weeks ago also suggested that this kind of crime is usually committed over personal matters. I wonder whether the journalists and TV commentators who went beyond impartial reporting and were pointing fingers at a prominent dancer (making such good sales and ratings for their ‘production’) will apologise to him now. However hard it was for Tsiskaridze, hopefully, he is strong enough to withstand the heavy-handed attacks by some journalists. I hope we will not start debating now ‘if SHE was involved’. She is just 22. I really pray for her that her name is not sloshed by the media unnecessarily as the name of her teacher.

After the “Evening with Sergei Polunin” The Bakhrushin Theatre Museum in Moscow displayed some photos taken during that event: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.150125748480323.1073741825.105638719595693&type=1

There is more information about the unfortunate circumstances of Ivan Vasiliev’s cancelled debut: “Vasiliev, made-up and ready to take on the role for the first time, as well as making his first appearance at Milan’s famed opera house, was limbering up on stage half an hour before the curtain. Landing after a jump he felt pain in his back, and after quick consultations with specialists, it was decided that he couldn’t go on. Coviello, who had danced his unique scheduled perform­ance that afternoon, and was hanging around to see Vasiliev in the role, was hurriedly ushered into make-up to prepare in the 25 minutes remaining before the start.” http://www.gramilano.com/2013/03/ivan-vasilievs-injury-gives-unknown-claudio-coviello-a-chance-to-shine/?fb_source=pubv1

Worrying news from Milan: Ivan Vasiliev has cancelled his debut in Le Notre Dame de Paris just before the start of the performance because of back pain: http://www.gramilano.com/2013/03/ivan-vasiliev-is-forced-to-cancel-debut-at-the-last-minute/ I hope nothing is serious, he will not suffer too much and will be fit very soon.

Alexei LOPAREVICH.

Thank you, Marine, for your link about the Schaufuss’ site: https://twitter.com/SchaufussBallet Although it opened for me with the line: ‘Sorry, that page doesn’t exist!’, I trust that you have seen the official twitter before. It might be that The Independent’s critic confused 'Hamlet' with another Polunin-Schaufuss collaboration - ‘Midnight Express’. Where Polunin’s other performances are concerned they look to be plentiful. There was a special event at the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum in Moscow earlier this week where Sergei met his admirers. He told them about his plan to make a big tour of some Russian cities, then he will dance in Japan and London. Apart from ‘Mayerling’ at Stanislavsky in March he hopes to dance in ‘La Sylphide’ and ‘The Snow Maiden’, which are in the theatre’s repertoire. In October, there will be Polunin’s gala there: he will dance ‘Marguerite & Armand’ with Zakharova and ‘Le jeune homme et la mort’ plus something else. Also ‘Spartacus’ is planned for him with Novosibirsk Ballet and Zelensky as Crassus. Zelensky who was present there said that in his career he didn’t have a choreographer who made ballets for him and he is now looking for a suitable choreographer who can create a ballet for Polunin. Edited for typo.

So, it was announced by Jenny Gilbert in "The Independent" that Polunin will dance Hamlet: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/ios-dance-preview-of-2012-all-the-best-dancers-know-their-lefts-from-their-rites-8439679.html I went to Bloomsbury Theatre today and tried to get some confirmation about casting before buying my ticket. Polunin's name is mentioned neither on Bloomsbury Theatre's website nor in the leaflet: http://www.thebloomsbury.com/event/run/1758 The box office hasn't been given the casting list yet. Since the tickets cost £25 (cons. £20), it is probably better to wait till the casting is announced.

A review from ‘Gramilano’ Newspaper with photos and video: Triumph in Milan for Natalia Osipova and Roberto Bolle in ‘Le Notre-Dame de Paris’ http://gramilano.com/2013/02/triumph-in-milan-for-natalia-osipova-and-roberto-bolle-in-notre-dame-de-paris/

These quotes from both papers mention Polunin in 'Coppelia' in London this July: “ … he relishes learning new ballets such as Roland Petit's version of Coppélia, which the Stanislavsky will bring to London in July.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/9824446/Ballets-prodigal-son-interview-with-Sergei-Polunin.html “… while Zelensky is bringing the Stanislavsky Ballet to the Coliseum with Coppélia in July, again with Polunin in the leading male role.” The Times, February 12 2013

Why do we need ballet? Why would children sacrifice their childhood in order to become ballet dancers? Russian ballet critic Maya Krylova takes a look behind the scenes and explores the long, hard road for aspiring ballet dancers. http://rbth.ru/society/2013/02/14/agony_and_ecstasy_on_the_road_to_ballet_stardom_22869.html Edited for typo.

I also have read this interview but Sergei emerged there for me in a more positive way. His words about “too many principal roles”, “ambition to be a multi-millionaire” and cocaine should be read in context. He explained: “I had so many roles to prepare: in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, La Fille mal gardée, La Sylphide and The Dream. How was I going to do all that and make it good? I wanted it to be special, to make it big every time.” This showed to me his serious attitude to work. His disappointment with being unable to earn more (supposedly by guesting) after becoming a Principal can also be understood. International ballet stars command serious fees now and he as a highly talented dancer can also aspire to this while he is still young. A dancer’s very short career can be made even shorter by an injury. God forbid it to happen to him. He said that he wants to be rich in order to help people — “only with power and money can you do that”. Well, we don’t know yet how he will do it but the idea itself is not bad at all. When asked about experimenting with cocaine he said: “Quite definitely behind me”. And about “Someone taking him aside and quietly filling him in about real life” he reassured us that Zelensky “has been teaching me to get that energy from within myself and not to put my energy into clubbing” and “Igor put me back on my feet.” He looks more matured to me now and I will give credit to him for this interview. And he maintained this credibility by his excellent dancing last Tuesday. What concerns me now is that his name has disappeared from the list of dancers in Nijinsky Gala at Coliseum on 10 March. His partner Kristina Shapran’s name is still listed there. http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/productions/production-page.php?&itemid=2350

Ian Macmillan: My message gives a link to information. It can be compared to if one gives a link to information on some performance - opening the link does not give access to the performance itself, it will be necessary to buy a ticket. The same happens here: to see the full article one needs to subscribe or to go to a library. It is a matter of choice. Therefore, I thought that information about a substantial article may be of interest to some Members.

The Times Sergei Polunin: ‘I want to be a multimillionaire star of dance - I mean it’ Published at 12:01AM, February 12 2013 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/stage/dance/article3684958.ece

Thank you, Annamk, found with your help. Yes, 3 leading soloists - Nikulina, Stashkevich and Lopatin, and a first soloist Smirnova are listed as Principals, May be for the reason that they will dance title roles? Still… Let’s hope that Lantratov’s name was omitted accidently.

I couldn't see any names of those coming on VH website now at all.

Since we are anticipating Osipova's performances at Coliseum in March-April here is a review about her debut in Le Notre Dame de Paris in La Scala: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/dc39818a-743f-11e2-80a7-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Flife-arts_theatre-dance%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct#axzz2Kckpccao

The ballets “Multiplicity” and “Forms of Silence and Emptiness” by Nacho Duato can be seen now on Mikhailovsky Theatre’s website. Click on the third video: http://mikhailovsky.ru/events/live/archive/#multiplicity

Xander Parish debuted as Albert in Mariinsky. The photos of his curtain calls with Osmolkina can be seen here: http://forum.balletfriends.ru/viewtopic.php?t=5075&start=315

MACLEANS.CO published a long and quite comprehensive interview with Svetlana Lunkina: http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/08/star-in-the-wings/ “The question is left begging: who will be smart enough to get her on stage first?” It is so obvious how she longs to dance. What a waste of her sublime talent at the time when she is in her prime. MacGregor admired her work in ‘Chroma’ so much that he gave her 2 leading parts there, which she alterated at different performances. ‘The Right of Spring’ was intended for her. And the Bolshoi acquired Cranko's Onegin where she would have been a lovely poetic Tatiana.

Sergei's full face can be seen on this video shown about a week ago. Thank God, there are no scars: http://www.vesti.ru/videos?vid=483346 Eyes, eyes! Let's hope they get better and better. Edited for typo.

It is a very unfortunate situation what is happening at the Bolshoi. However, I wouldn't call dysfunctional the organization, which continues to produce brilliant performances.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/02/01/ballerina-lunkina-canada-bolshoi.html

In order to do a recce for a documentary on Sergei Polunin Julie Cavanagh flies to "The Snow Capital of the World" in Siberia: http://moreintelligentlife.com/blog/julie-kavanagh/below-zero-with-sergei-polunin

While Bolshoi's La Bayadere was transmitted yesterday to cinemas in many countries the Russians could watch this performance on internet. It is still available there. So those who missed it yesterday can catch up now: http://kaban.tv/archive/rossiya-k/2013-01-27/574926