Japan Performing Arts Foundation
Finishes in 10 days
Russia's 229-year-old Bolshoi Ballet began a tour of Japan yesterday, bringing two grand ballets that share a touch of exoticism, "La Bayadere" and "La Fille du Pharaon (The Pharaoh's Daughter)." Both are excellent choices for the company, as the two ballets' attraction lies not only in the leading roles for the stars such as Svetlana Zakharova, Sergei Filin and Nikolai Tsiskaridze, but also for the set pieces that show off the Bolshoi's acclaimed ensemble and dynamic character dancers.
Set in ancient India, "La Bayadere" tells the tragic story of a two lovers -- a temple dancer and a warrior -- and the Great Brahmin and Rajah's daughter who come between them. In a drama filled with mixed emotions, the dancers are required to show their acting skills in scenes such as the confrontation between the two women over the hero -- which you suspect might even reveal the backstage rivalries of the dancers themselves. The ballet features much ethnic dancing, as well as a breathtaking spectacle called "The Kingdom of the Shades," where the corps one by one perform beautiful arabesque sequences.