Eifman ballet.

Insanity, sexual deviance, and emotional torment are just some of the afflictions that plague the characters of Boris Eifman's ballets, which center on the inner lives of historical and literary personages from Tehaikovsky to Anna Karenina. The dancers, who masterfully perform the sometimes frenetic choreography, always deliver charged dramatic performances. The St. Petersburg-based company celebrates its 30th anniversary with a tour that offers older rep works and a premiere of The Seagull, based on Chekhov's classic. For powerful visuals, check out Red Giselle, based on the life of Russian ballerina Olga Spessivtseva. In the ballet's most memorable scene, a vivid red swath of fabric entraps the central character, echoing Spessivtseva's complicated relationship with her homeland. During March and April the tour goes to Berkeley, Costa Mesa, Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, and New York. See www.ardani.com/eifmanabout.htm.