A gala performance, which pays tribute to one of Russia’s greatest ballet dancers, Galina Ulanova, took place at the Bolshoi Theatre on January 17, Itar-Tass reports. Among participants of this event was the First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva, Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev, and many officials and representatives of public organizations.
The concert entitled Mona Lisa of the Russian Ballet was organized by a well-known ballet dancer, choreographer and President of Ulanova Foundation Vladimir Vasiliyev. The gala performance consisted of the first acts of three ballets, The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet which were signature pieces of Galina Ulanova. The most inspiring soloists of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky, gave their homage to Ulanova, for the creative destiny of Ulanova was inseparably connected with these two troupes. The Mariinsky was where she emerged as a great dancer, whilst at the Bolshoi, she was at the peak of her stage career, then worked as a choreographer and coach.
The organizers also prepared a surprise for the audience – they restored Chopiniana, where Ulanova danced prior to graduating from the ballet school and prior to retiring on December 29, 1960. The ballet was restored by Ulanova’s pupil and a celebrated ballet dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze.
