MOSCOW CLASSICAL BALLET
at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
on December 28, 29, 30 @ 7:30 pm
& December 29, 30, 31 @ 1:30pm
Buy Tickets!
CHOREOGRAPHY V. Vainonen, N. Kasatkina, V. Vasilyov
MUSIC Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Moscow Classical Ballet came into existence as the Young Ballet, the USSR State Choreographic Company, in 1966. It was established by the USSR Ministry of Culture as a ballet troupe whose role was to tour the Soviet Union and foreign countries performing Russian classical ballet in its traditional form.
The company, under the artistic direction of Igor Moiseyev, gave its first performance in 1968. Its repertoire consisted of excerpts from classical ballets and choreographic miniatures produced by such choreographers as Vinogradov, Goleizovsky, Messerer and Moiseyev himself.
In 1977, Vladimir Vasilyov, Asaf Messerer's pupil, and Natalia Kasatkina, Marina Semyonova's student, assumed the roles of artistic directors. Their arrival on the scene transformed the ballet company into the troupe it is today. The troupe has emerged from its earlier role as a concert company into that of a touring ballet theater, exhibiting a theatrical approach to the most traditional masterpieces of Russian Ballet and the newest achievements in modern choreography. Kasatkina and Vasilyov have been dancing and choreographing together since 1959, and have produced more that 55 of their librettos in the USSR and abroad. Their philosophy of the company, however, has always reflected the public's interest in classical performances.
In 1986, the company acquired a new status and its present name. This brilliant troupe has won more than 15 Gold Medals from international competitions and three prizes at the Paris Academy of dance. Recently, the company was granted the title of "Academic Theatre" by the Russian government, a prestigious title only granted to a few top Russian ballet companies. The Moscow Classical Ballet remains one of the few Russian ballet companies still supported by the Russian government. Regularly performing at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses in Moscow, they have also performed in more than 30 countries around the world and over 200 cities in Russia.
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without Nutcracker The Globe and Mail
Ask about our “Nutcracker Sweet” pre-show dessert buffet and chance to meet the dancers, Wednesday, December 31, 12:30 pm
Buy Tickets for Nutcracker Sweet!
DanceAlive!
2008-09
