Bayadereland
Sunday January 27 the Kirov ballet wrapped up what was most certainly their most successful tour in my memory. The last performance featuring amazing
Alina Somova and virtuoso
Leonid Sarafanov in the lead roles was dedicated to the M. Baryshnikov 60-s Birthday. The two young dancers brought freshness and sincerity to their roles making this performance memorable in its own right. At times their emotions were over the top, but it played along well with their youth and charm that both possess in abundance. They also share the most amazing
plie in the industry, which gives their
grand jetes cat-like quality. The same
fondue quality stretches to the
pirouettes.
And so, just because all good things must come to an end, so did one of the most memorable cultural events in our Nation’s capital. There’s so much to remember:
Uliana Lopatkina outer-worldly expressiveness
Andrian Fadeev’s purity of style
Diana Vishneva’s death scene. Last breath and also the dance with the flower basket.
Leonid Sarafanov’ exuberance
Osmolkina-Gamzatti and Somova-Nikiya “beating” each other up
And yet for me at least the clear winner is the magnificent Kirov corps de ballet of the Mariinsky Theater.
The name of the dancer who led the spell-bounding procession of the Shadows is Yana Selina. Not a single time did she waiver in her perfect arabesque and not a single time her beautiful face expressed anything but cosmic harmony, just as great Marius Petipa had envisioned. 
Yana Selina
