The Royal Ballet, La Bayadère, Royal Opera House

Set in a mythical India, La Bayadère tells the story of a doomed love affair between the temple dancer (bayadère) Nikiya and the noble warrior Solor.

As a reward for his bravery, Solor is offered the hand of the Rajah’s beautiful daughter, Gamzatti, in marriage. When the Rajah and Gamzatti learn of Solor’s feelings for Nikiya, they have her killed.

Devastated, Solor seeks solace in opium and, in his intoxicated state, has a vision of an infinity of Nikiyas in an extraordinary white act known as The Kingdom of the Shades.

Solor and Gamzatti make it to the temple to get married but the gods, infuriated by the killing of Nikiya, end up bringing the temple crashing down, killing everyone inside.

In death, Nikiya and Solor are reunited in eternal love.

Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, La Bayadère received its world premiere at the Maryinsky Theatre in 1877. Petipa continued tinkering and nearly all modern versions are now derived from his 1941 edited masterpiece.

Natalia Makarova saw La Bayadère as a child in Leningrad and created her own production in 1980. It was first performed by The Royal Ballet in 1989.

Set to a lyrical score composed by Ludwig Minkus to fit Petipa’s choreography, La Bayadère features virtuoso dancing. There are dramatic moments for the two opposing ballerinas – the spiritual temple dancer and her jealous rival – as well as intricate solos and romantic pas de deux.

And, of course, the mesmerising procession of white tutu-clad corps de ballet dancers performing a series of 39 arabesques in unison across a moonlit stage during The Kingdom of the Shades has become La Bayadère’s most admired scene.

This season, London ballet audiences can look forward to seeing Nikiya danced by Sarah Lamb, Marianela Núñez, Akane Takada, Natalia Osipova and Lauren Cuthbertson; with Solor portrayed by Ryoichi Hirano, Vadim Muntagirov, Steven McRae, Cesar Corrales and Matthew Ball.

And Gamzatti? Well, Claire Calvert, Natalia Osipova, Yasmine Naghdi, Marianela Núñez and Mayara Magri are cast in the role of the pampered princess/manipulative murderess.

La Bayadère boasts an exotic setting, engaging story and exquisite dancing... Enjoy!

La Bayadère will be screened in cinemas nationwide on Tuesday 13th November 2018 as part of the Live Cinema Season