It must be fate that the artistic director of the Imperial Russian Ballet’s Gediminus Taranda’s first name Gediminus loosely translates to ‘missed and mentioned’, and because of the impression he and his imperial ballet have made on Australian audiences he is certainly ‘missed ‘when he returns to Russia and as the buzz of the ballets 2013 shows approaches he is very much ‘mentioned’.
Gediminus and his Imperial Russian Ballet are ecstatic about their continued reception in Australia. It’s been a number of years in a row that the ballet has toured here to continuously sold out performances and of course spending such a long time here Gediminus and the ballet company have made many friends whom they delight in returning to see.
I spoke to Gediminus recently from Moscow and he told me he is bowled over by Australian people’s reaction to his ballet. He loves the fact Australians are so open and welcoming, indeed he and individual dancers have been invited into people’s homes and in returning the favour he invites all Australians to visit Russia and experience both its culture and sport .
This year the company will have an extended stay of 2 months of performances for their show ‘A Festival of Russian Ballet’. The production will be divided into three parts, the first will feature ‘The Nutcracker’, although a Christmas production Gediminus says it is a favourite for any time of year and with universal appeal.
The second act features what Gediminus calls ‘something different’ and ‘Ravel magic’ that is ‘The Bolero’, famously inspired by Ravels visit to a factory and the regular movements of machinery that he observed.
The third act is , says Gediminus,’a real treat’ and will feature some highlights of the world’s greatest ballets including ‘Don Quixote’, ‘Giselle’ ‘Carmen’ and ‘Swan Lake’
Gediminius says the two and a half hour performance has something to offer everyone, including children, from traditional to contemporary performances.
Gediminus will bring to Australia and New Zealand a performance he calls ‘Russian Choreographic Champagne!
You can see the Imperial Russian Ballet at the following venues and dates:
Launceston Princess Theatre 25th September
Burnie Arts and Function Centre 26 September
Hobart Theatre Royal, Friday, 27th & Saturday, 28th September.
Paula Xiberras
