IN THE STEPS OF THE BALLETS RUSSES Gala Set for London Coliseum This March

The Russian Ballet Icons Gala 2017 "In the Steps of the Ballets Russes" will be held on Sunday 12 March, 2017 at London Coliseum to celebrate the glittering legacy of the legendary Ballets Russes.

Much-loved favorites from the heady days of Diaghilev such as The Firebird, The Scheherazade, Le Spectre de la Rose, Petrushka, L'après-midi d'un Faune, La Chatte and others will be complemented by contemporary works from choreographers David Dawson, Alastair Marriott, Gerald Arpino, Jean-Christophe Maillot - paying homage to the spirit of innovation and creativity that were such a hallmark of the great Russian impresario. The programme also features the world premiere of the exciting new work Theatrum Vitae by dazzling German choreographer Xenia Wiest. In addition to international ballet stars and principals of the major ballet companies, there will be a unique appearance in The Fairy Doll by final year students of the legendary Vaganova Academy.

The gala will feature performances by: Maria Alexandrova (Bolshoi Theatre), Tyler Angle (NYCB), Davide Dato (Vienna State Ballet), Marlon Dino (Bavarian State Ballet), Matthew Golding (The Royal Ballet), Dmitry Gudanov (Bolshoi Theatre), Liisa Hämäläinen (Monte-Carlo Ballet), Isaac Hernandez (English National Ballet), Maria Kochetkova (San Francisco Ballet), Liudmila Konovalova (Vienna State Ballet), Ekaterina Krysanova (Bolshoi Theatre), Lucia Lacarra (Bavarian State Ballet), Vladislav Lantratov (Bolshoi Theatre), Svetlana Lunkina (National Ballet of Canada), Sasha Mukhamedov (Dutch National Ballet), Vadim Muntagirov (The Royal Ballet), Evgenia Obraztsova (Bolshoi Theatre), Alexis Oliveira (Monte-Carlo Ballet), Natalia Osipova (The Royal Ballet), Ekaterina Osmolkina (Mariinsky Theatre), Xander Parish (Mariinsky Theatre), Tamara Rojo (English National Ballet), Iana Salenko (Berlin State Ballet), Vladimir Shklyarov (Mariinsky Theatre), Jacopo Tissi (La Scala), Ivan Vasiliev (Mikhailovsky Theatre), Maria Vinogradova (Bolshoi Theatre), Edward Watson (The Royal Ballet), Zenaida Yanowsky (The Royal Ballet) and students of the Vaganova Academy.

The gala will be accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Valeriy Ovsyannikov.

London's annual 'Russian Ballet Icons' Gala, first held in 2006, is now firmly established as a highlight of the international ballet calendar. Every year a dazzling programme pays tribute to the wonderful traditions of the Russian ballet school and its legendary soloists who have been inspiring dancers and ballet lovers since the early nineteenth century.