Master Mayela

The name Mayela is unique, it is a derivative of the girls name May and means ‘star of the sea’. I spoke to the delightful Mayela Marcos recently on her role as dancer for the Imperial Russian Ballet and their tour of ‘A Festival of Russian Ballet’. This year’s production from the popular company will include performances of Don Quixote and Bolera,together with highlights of the world’s greatest ballets.

Mayela is certainly a star and though a sea doesn’t feature in the production, a lake does, since one of the plays the company will be performing as part of their highlights of world’s greatest ballets is Swan Lake.There will even be a nod to the Melbourne cup carnival with a performance of ‘The Dance of the Horses.’

The Imperial Russian Ballet was formed in 1994 by Bolshoi soloist Gediminas Taranda. The company are traditional and classical in their approach with a melding of contemporary choreography to ultimately create something magical.

Mayela who originates from Mexico has been part of the Imperial Russian Ballet for three years. While Mayela’s family thought she would join the family business Mayela knew she wanted to be a ballerina. The multilingual Mayela speaks Spanish Russian and English and recently completed a master’s degree in dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

Mayela tells me she loves everything about Tasmania and especially loves it when at the end of the show the audience meet and greet includes implorations of when the company will be back.

The wonderful thing about this tour is there is an opportunity for the cast to see something of Australia. Their mornings are fee to walk and explore while later in the day there is ballet class and rehearsal and the evening pre- performance brings the magical metamorphosis with makeup and costume.

Mayela’s aim is to one day open her own studio in Mexico and allow Mexican dancers the opportunities she has had to dance with the Imperial Russian Ballet. You can see Mayela and the rest of the Imperial Russian ballet dance Don Quixote, Bolera and a selection of the world’s greatest ballets on the following dates and venues:

Thursday 12 October 7.30pm

Friday 13 October 7.30pm

Launceston Princess Theatre 03 6323 3666

www.theatrenorth.com.au

Saturday 14 October 7.30pm

Sunday 15 October 7.30pm

Hobart Theatre Royal 03 6233 2299

www.theatreroyal.com.au
Paula Xiberras