SLEEPER HIT THE KIROV BALLET BRINGS A CHILDREN'S CLASSIC TO THE MUSIC CENTER.Byline: Vicki Smith Paluch Correspondent When Russia's esteemed Kirov Ballet Kirov Ballet, one of the two major ballet companies of Russia, the other being the Bolshoi Ballet. In 1991 it was officially renamed the St. Petersburg Maryinsky Ballet; however, on its frequent tours abroad it is still called the Kirov Ballet. leaps onto the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center (which is one of the three largest performing arts centers in the United States). The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. next week, it's the only time you'll see tutus during the 2005-06 season of Dance at the Music Center. ``And you'll see lots of them,'' notes Renae Williams, manager of dance presentations at the Music Center. The legendary Kirov Ballet will perform the seldom-produced three-act ballet ``The Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty sleeps for 100 years. [Fr. Fairy Tale, The Sleeping Beauty] See : Enchantment Sleeping Beauty enchanted heroine awakened from century of slumber by prince’s kiss. .'' Considered the crowning jewel of Marius Petipa's choreographic career, the ballet is a grandiose yet refined telling of the popular fairy tale fairy tale Simple narrative typically of folk origin dealing with supernatural beings. Fairy tales may be written or told for the amusement of children or may have a more sophisticated narrative containing supernatural or obviously improbable events, scenes, and personages set to the lush score by Tchaikovsky. And when Williams says you'll see a lot of tutus, she means it. ``This truly is the largest production Dance at the Music Center has put on to date.'' In addition to the Kirov's 90 dancers and 70 members of the Maryinsky Orchestra, 20 wardrobe crew members and 100 technical crew members, Williams is coordinating the 40 local dance students and adults who will fill out the stage. Much of today's audience knows the story - a baby princess is cursed by an evil fairy to die on her 16th birthday - through its interpretation by Walt Disney. The three-act ballet ran four hours when it was created in 1890, but on this tour the Kirov is bringing a version that trims about 20 minutes of pantomime, character and national dances. In revising the work in 1952, the then-artistic director of the Kirov, Konstanin Sergeyev, refocused the ballet onto the dancing itself, keeping enough pantomime to convey the essence of the story. His version is more popular and better-known in the West, says ballet impresario Sergei Danilian. ``It is the most influential production of 'The Sleeping Beauty.' Rudolph Nureyev used this version in his staging for the Paris Opera Ballet The Paris Opéra Ballet is the official ballet company of the Opéra national de Paris, otherwise known as the Palais Garnier, though known more popularly simply as the Paris Opéra. .'' Danilian says that the Kirov is bringing all of its major dancers on tour. For example, on opening night, audiences will see Diana Vishneva, who will dance the lead role of Princess Aurora. Also appearing are Igor Zelensky as Prince Desire, Uliana Lopatkina as Lilac Fairy, and Daria Pavlenko and Anton Korsakov in the Bluebird bluebird, common name for a North American migratory bird of the family Turdidae (thrush family). The eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis, is among the first spring arrivals in the North. It is about 7 in. (17.8 cm) long. pas de deux pas de deux (French; “step for two”) Dance for two performers. A characteristic part of classical ballet, it includes an adagio, or slow dance, by the ballerina and her partner; solo variations by the male dancer and then the ballerina; and a coda, or . Vishneva is considered by many to be the perfect example of the purity of the Kirov style. Not only is she an exquisite technician but also she continues the Kirov's tradition of dramatic dancing. Her Princess Aurora has been called dazzling by the European and New York press New York Press is a free alternative weekly in New York City. It is the main competitor to the Village Voice. . One of the most difficult dances in the classical repertoire belongs to Aurora. The Rose Adagio a·da·gio adv. & adj. Music In a slow tempo, usually considered to be slower than andante but faster than larghetto. Used chiefly as a direction. n. pl. a·da·gios 1. is the famous dance in which the princess blooms into womanhood, accepting the hand and a rose from prospective suitors while holding a breathtaking series of balances on pointe. But in her joyous solo, she pricks her finger on a spindle and sets the fairy's curse in motion. From that fateful finger-prick, the ballet is off and running with a remarkable assortment of solos, pas de deux and character dances including Lilac Fairy, Tenderness Fairy, Diamond Fairy, the Bluebird pas de deux, and the duets of beloved fairy tale characters who serve as entertainment at the wedding, including Puss-and-Boots, Little Red Riding Hood Noun 1. Little Red Riding Hood - a girl in a fairy tale who meets a wolf while going to visit her grandmother and Wolf. Tutus, however, won't be in fashion during the rest of the Dance at the Music Center season, which includes performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in February, Limon Dance Company in March, Nuevo Ballet Espanol in April and Miami City Ballet Miami City Ballet was created in 1986 with former New York City Ballet principal dancer Edward Villella helming the company. The Miami City Ballet flourishes as one of America's most respected Balanchine-style based ballet companies. in June. But the Music Center wanted the Kirov to bring ``The Sleeping Beauty'' because ``it's a perfect fit for the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,'' Williams says, noting the ballet itself is not performed frequently because of its sheer size. ``This is an opportunity for families to see one of the most beloved story ballets presented as it should be,'' she said. ``Seeing the Kirov dance 'The Sleeping Beauty' is a shared experience that doesn't happen often.'' THE SLEEPING BEAUTY What: Russia's famed Kirov ballet performs the classic work. Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. When: Opening night 8 p.m. Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6-8, 2 p.m. Oct. 9. Tickets: $25 to $115. Call (213) 365-3500 or online at www.musiccenter.org/dance.html. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3 -- color) no caption (dancers) |
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