Beloved Russian ballet returns to River Campus for a one-night-only performance

One of the most magical and familiar works from the classical ballet repertoire, "Swan Lake," will be performed tonight by the Russian National Ballet Theatre at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

"Beauty, grace and elegance are the things that make up great ballet," said Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts. "With the Russian National's performance of ‘Swan Lake,' we have it in spades."

The ballet, which features a beloved score by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, premiered in 1877. Its choreography was revitalized in 1895 by Marius Petipa, and the Russian National Ballet Theatre will perform the ballet with subtle updates by artistic director Elena Radchenko.

"We had the Russian National with us in 2011 when they performed ‘Romeo and Juliet,'" Cerchio said. "We know their quality, and we're going to get a fantastic performance from this company."

This is a scene from Act II of “Swan Lake,” which premiered in 1872.

"Swan Lake" is a fantasy ballet inspired by the Russian folk tales of Odette, a beautiful princess turned into a swan at the hand of an evil sorcerer. With its majestic choreography and score, along with detailed costumes and sets, the ballet continues to earn the adoration of classical enthusiasts and attract newcomers to the art form.

"It's the epitome of what classical ballet should be," said Dr. Marc Strauss, professor of dance at Southeast. "People have always been drawn to it. Kids love the story and spectacle, and adults love the technique."

Strauss believes choreographer Petipa, who also created the ballets "Don Quixote" and "The Sleeping Beauty," had his finest work with "Swan Lake."

"The ballet has impeccable technique," he said. "In addition to its clever storyline, Petipa also incorporated divertissements, where the story stops momentarily and more attention can be paid to the dancers. It represents the pinnacle of classical ballet."

The Russian National is expected to deliver a magnificent performance, according to Cerchio.

"Their title tells you all you need to know," he said. "The company draws superior talent from all of Russia, the country where classical ballet evolved. It represents the best of the genre in many ways."

The company was founded in Moscow by Radchenko, a legendary Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer, during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s. It was a time when many great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union's ballet institutions were exercising newfound creative freedom by starting vibrant companies.

"There was a diaspora of dancers when the Soviet Union collapsed," Strauss said. "For the first time, they had the ability to go where they wanted, and the Russian National was able to attract a lot of the good ones."

Since its founding, the Russian National has focused on upholding the tradition of the major Russian ballet works, and it has more than 50 dancers of singular instruction and experience.

Alexander Daev, associate artistic director of the Russian National, said in an email to the Southeast Missourian the company is delighted to be returning to the River Campus.

"We have performed at Bedell Performance Hall in the past," Daev said, "and we've found it to be a nice theater with friendly people and a competent staff. The audience was very warm and appreciative of our performances, and we've always looked forward to returning."

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Bedell Performance Hall. Remaining tickets are being offered for $34 and $40 and are available at rivercampusevents.com or by calling the River Campus box office at 651-2265.

klewis@semissourian.com

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