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Giselle The
Russian State Ballet of Siberia Malvern
Theatres ****
THERE has been a lot of attention drawn to the exceptional ballet skills
of Russia with mesmerising performances during the recent opening and
closing ceremonies of the Sochi Winter Olympics. This UK tour by the Russian
State Ballet of Siberia gives audiences the chance to see up close just
how good prima ballerinas are from a country that has been at the
forefront of this genre. It also is an opportunity to
hear the exceptional Orchestra of Siberia, which accompanies them. Giselle is just one of the
ballets that the dance corps is performing during its tour, which also
stops off at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from March 23. Others include
Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Telling the sombre story of a
young woman who dies from a broken heart after being duped by her lover,
Giselle is a timeless classic. The meaty part of the tale
comes in the second half when Giselle's ghost saves her repentant lover
from a a group of phantom women who dance men to death. At this point
the stage is filled with rows of stunning ballerinas dancing in complete
control en pointe in glimmering white traditional long dresses. Although the set and special
effects are more basic than those used by a dance company such as
Birmingham Royal Ballet, the footwork and artistic expression of the
ballet dancers is on another level. The leading players are so
exact and effortless in their movement that it seems like they must have
been born pirouetting with pointed toes. Formed in 1981, The Russian
State Ballet of Siberia is not as historic as the Bolshoi but it is
establishing itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies. This production is very
traditional in format with a heavy focus on the dancing and that is
something that cannot be faulted. Alison
Brinkworth
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