Details

Multi award-winning Russian classical ballerina Natalia Osipova is a major star in the dance world. She started formal ballet training at age 8, joining the Bolshoi Ballet at age 18 and dancing many of the art form's biggest roles. After leaving the Bolshoi in 2011, she joined American Ballet Theatre as a guest dancer and later the Mikhailovsky Ballet. She joined The Royal Ballet as a principal in 2013 after her guest appearance in Swan Lake. Produced by Sadler's Wells, and commissioned for the theatre's 20th anniversary, Pure Dance is a hand-picked programme of dance works exploring both contemporary and classical ballet repertoire rarely seen in the UK. The eclectic programme includes a new duet, Left Behind, choreographed by Jason Kittelberger and danced by Osipova and Kittelberger. Inspired by the emotional quality of its Rachmaninov soundtrack, the duet explores the notion that a person's effect on a life can never fully be understood until that person is gone. The programme includes an original solo for Osipova created by Yuka Oishi, Ave Maria, following Oishi's win of the Rolf Mares Prize for Outstanding Creation of the Year alongside Orkan Dann in 2012. Special guest, American Ballet Theatre Principal David Hallberg, performs a specially-commissioned solo In Absentia, choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Kim Brandstrup. Osipova and Hallberg perform two duets over the course of the evening, including a pas de deux from Antony Tudor's The Leaves Are Fading, one of the last works by the British choreographer; as well as Valse Triste, a new commission by artist in residence at American Ballet Theatre, Alexei Ratmansky.

Cast/Performers

Natalia Osipova, Natalia Osipova, David Hallberg, Jonathan Goddard

Creatives/Company

Producer(s): Sadler's Wells, New York City Center
Music: Nico Muhly