THE Moscow Ballet La Classique will stop in Mandurah this year as it tours with the classic masterpiece Sleeping Beauty.
The company was established in 1990 by its current artistic director Elik Melikov and quickly gained a reputation for elaborate stage sets and critically acclaimed ballet skills.
Melikov's role is to supervise all aspects of the company select new dancers and work with trainers and choreographers.
“I am a painter and artist by profession so I make paintings and drawings of the costumes and work with the people who create the costumes and stage directions,” he said.
“I watch the show every night when we are on tour. In the company I am the worst person, my role is to watch closely and critique the performance.”
Melikov said the company has performances on about 220 days of the year, both in Moscow and abroad.
“The rest of the days are for a short vacation but the dancers train every day, even if there is no rehearsal,” he said.
“They start rehearsals at around 10am and sometimes work until 10pm.”
The Moscow Ballet La Classique are about to embark on a one-month tour of the United Kingdom before returning to Moscow.
“The same day that we arrive in Moscow, we will get on a plane to Australia,” Melikov said.
“We will have days off so the dancers will get the opportunity to walk around and see Australia. The first time I visited I was stunned – I loved the country very much.”
Melikov said the two-act show would appeal to theatre-goers as well as ballet lovers.
The performance will follow the tale of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by an evil fairy and falls into a deep sleep at age 16 after pricking her finger on a needle.
The princess sleeps for 100 years until she is woken by true love’s kiss.
This will be the first time the company visits Mandurah and they will head to New Zealand after the Australian tour.
The group will perform at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday, May 5.
For bookings call 9550 3900 or go to manpac.com.au
