In New York Metropolitan Theatre the Mariinsky Ballet stars performed the leading roles in La Bayadère choreographed by Natalia Makarova (Victoria Tereshkina on May 29, and Vladimir Shklyarov on May 26 and 29). Though American audiences had already seen both dancers during the Mariinsky Theatre tour, it was the first time they had a chance to appreciate their interpretation of Nikiya and Solor. No wonder the American critics paid so much attention to the St.-Petersburg soloists, for American Ballet Theatre has always invited the world’s best artists, many of the company’s soloists being representatives of the Russian dance school.
The critics noted the expressiveness of the St. Petersburg dancers. Tereshkina, they said, “shows the character’s pride in dancing”, while Sklyarov’s “detailed responses to other stage characters was constantly vivid. His byplay with his Gamzatti (Isabella Boylston) beautifully showed his mixed feelings” (The New York Times). The Huffington Post also noted that “she and Shklyarov are seasoned partners, evident in the confidence with which they wrapped themselves around each other, and with which he spun her and tossed her skyward”, so that “he can make a sensational effect when holding Ms. Tereshkina aloft” (The New York Times).
As for the performance techniques, Western experts traditionally praise the dance melodiousness typical for St.-Petersburg ballet school. As The New York Times says, “Ms. Tereshkina certainly understands the St. Petersburg tradition of legato”. Critics also noted that “both [Petersburg dancers] showed off their astounding allegro technique. But the technique was always in service to the acting, their faces and gestures communicating as much as their whirlwind pirouettes” (The Huffington Post).
Victoria Tereshkina and Vladimir Shklyarov will play the leading roles in La Bayadère in the Mariinsky Theatre on June 13 and 14.
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