The Russian Ballet Icons Gala - London Coliseum

To celebrate the Year of Russian Culture in the UK, Ensemble Productions are devoting their annual ballet gala to the centuries-old history of ballet in Russia – quite an undertaking. Olga Balakleets, the London-based production company’s director, always manages to secure top quality dancers. Inevitably, they may not be the ones advertised in advance: injuries, schedules and travel problems intervene at the last moment.

This will be the ninth Ballet Icons gala at the Coliseum. Previous ones have been dedicated to famous Russian dancers, such as Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky and  Rudolf Nureyev, as well as veterans still living: Maya Plisetskaya and Yuri Grigorovich. The programmes consist of solos and pas de deux presented in front of simple but effective stage designs, projected onto a backdrop so that performances can succeed each other swiftly. For ballet lovers, the galas are an opportunity to see new and familiar dancers from different companies. For newcomers, a chance to enjoy a taste of Russian ballet culture.

This year’s gala will feature selections from the Imperial Ballet’s 19th century past, as well as  from Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes , which performed in exile around the world at the start of the 20th century. There’s a lot of further history to cover, from the Soviet era to the present. Dancers will be coming from the Bolshoi and Maryiinsky companies, and from renowned companies in Paris, Berlin and New York. Britain’s Royal Ballet and English National Ballet will be represented, with ENB’s experienced orchestra adapting to dancers’ demands for suitable tempi. 

VIP ticket holders can expect a post-performance dinner ‘in the presence of the dancers, royalty, and eminent figures...’, but no further details are known as yet.

Tickets: £13-£100

Address and Map: St Martin's Ln, Charing Cross WC2N 4ES

Underground: Leicester Square