ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Feb. 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Hermitage Ballet from St. Petersburg, Russia is coming to the Southeastern U.S. in early 2008. Headliners of the ballet come from the world famous Mariinski Theater, the Bolshoi, and the Mussorgsky Opera Theater. The members of the Corps de Ballet are from the world famous Vaganova School from which all Great Russian Ballet personalities graduated.
This world-renowned ballet will premiere in America in 2008, specifically in such southern cities as Savannah, Albany, Athens, Macon, Atlanta and Augusta, in Georgia and in Columbia, Spartanburg, and North Charleston in South Carolina, Montgomery and Birmingham in Alabama, Charlotte, North Carolina and in Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida. These southern communities will be able to view the ballet as a significant cultural experience that also provides an opportunity for American audiences to see classical Russian ballet at its finest.
The Hermitage Ballet, geared for every American appreciator of artistic physical movement, is what a world class ballet is all about. This performance is a must-see for student dancers, parents, ballet instructors, and anyone who enjoys an exquisite interpretation of the dance. Russian ballet souvenirs will be available for purchase at the performances.
The Hermitage Ballet has been touring all of Europe and the Far East for several decades. This debut performance in the United States will be the world famous "Gala Performance" which is performed in the historical theater of Catherine the Great in the fabulous Winter Palace of old Imperial Russia. It consists of the most important ten scenes of Russian classical ballet history. The stars are 12 soloists from the Bolshoi, the Mariinski, and the Hermitage Theater, the best ballet performers Russia has to offer. The artistic director, Victor Korolkov, is not only an Honored Artist of Russia; he is also the recipient of the title Honored Man of Russian Art conferred upon him by the President of Russia. Elena Klochkova, the pride of the Hermitage Ballet Company, will be performing her specialty, the famous "Dying Swan."
The Performance will offer the entire classical repertoire of the world famous Mariinski Theater (the Imperial Theater of Ballet under the Romanov dynasty). There will be two numbers from "Swan Lake," scenes from "Sleeping Beauty," "Nutcracker," "Giselle," "Don Quixote," "Corsair," and the concert item, "The Dying Swan," created for Anna Pavlova by Mikhail Fokin at the direction of Sergei Diagelev in 1903.
Spokesman Dr. Michael E. Donnelly said, "The prestigious Hermitage Theater Company is very proud to present Russia's best ballet performers in America for the very first time. This is not your typical Russian ballet performing in America relying on the traditions of Russian Ballet to carry the day -- this is the best ballet Russia has to offer."
The company is looking for financial support from art lovers and is planning to assist ballet in the Southeast USA by funding a scholarship for ballet students and dance instructors to study ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. The ballet is already preparing for its second trip to the United States in February, 2009.
For information: Telephone: 877-662-3605; Fax: 1-912-877-4897
Email: info@hermitageballet.com