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Legacy dances on
  
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Media City Ballet will explore its classical roots in a performance that pays tribute to Russia’s Ballet Russe.
By Ani Amirkhanian
A local ballet company will give its audience a rare opportunity to see a repertoire of Russian ballet companies that brought the classical dance style to American audiences in the early 1900s.
Dancers from Burbank-based Media City Ballet will perform selections of famous Russian ballets on April 27 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.
The program, “Ballet Russe Remembered,” is a tribute to the classical ballets, said Natasha Middleton, artistic director of the Media City Ballet.
Ballet Russe was a Russian ballet company that ballet patron Serge Diaghilev started in 1909 and included top dancers from sister ballet companies that danced classical ballet, Middleton said, adding that later American companies were influenced by the techniques and choreography of Ballet Russe dancers.
“If it wasn’t for the Ballet Russe, which started in Russia, we wouldn’t have what we have today in this country,” Middleton said. “Ballet Russe not only made itself the mother of ballet companies in the United States but also throughout the world.”
For Middleton, the upcoming show is a way to pay homage to the classical ballets and the dancers of the Ballet Russe.
“We want to keep it alive and keep the family legacy alive,” Middleton said, adding that her father, Andrei Tremaine, danced with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which toured the United States during World War II.
Ballets including “Polovtsian Dances” from “Prince Igor,” “Raymonda” and “Le Can-Can” are part of the company’s featured selections for the upcoming show, she said. Classically trained ballet dancers with the local company including Edgar Nikolyan of Glendale, are starting to master the ballets of eras past, Middleton said.
Nikolyan, who’s been dancing since he was 7 years old, is preparing to perform the lead role in Alexander Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” from “Prince Igor.”
The 21-year-old danced in “Giselle,” “Gayaneh,” “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty” in his native Armenia.
The upcoming performance is more than just an opportunity to showcase talent, Nikolyan said. It’s also a chance to acknowledge the ballets that many audiences are not familiar with.
“They don’t dance the old ballets anymore,” he said. “It’s important for people to come and see the old ballets and see that the dancers can dance the classical ballets.”
An opportunity to see the lesser-performed ballets will provide the audience a break from the more commonly performed numbers, he said.
“It’s important for people to come and see that it’s not just about ‘Swan Lake’ or ‘Don Quixote,’ ” Nikolyan said.
“But there are old ballets as well.”
Also appearing in Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” from “Prince Igor” is Mary Bankston.
The opportunity to perform in a tribute to the Ballet Russe is one she is proud to be a part of, she said.
“It’s where our company’s roots are,” Bankston, 23, said. “They were world-renowned, one of the best companies in the world. And to have the roots here, that’s amazing.”
Bankston, a Burbank resident, is excited to perform the same choreography that was originally choreographed by Ballet Russe, she said. She will also be dancing in Jacques Offenbach’s “Le Can-Can” and Alexander Glazunov’s “Raymonda.”
The local company has worked hard to instill the skill and professionalism of Ballet Russe dancers into the dancers of the Media City Ballet, she said, adding that she hopes the audience can appreciate that dedication.
“I would like them to notice the artistry that the company has,” Bankston said. “The choreography is gorgeous, and I think Ballet Russe was one of the companies that when you watched them, you were in complete awe. I hope our company can relay that performance to the audience.”
Dancers from Burbank-based Media City Ballet will perform selections of famous Russian ballets on April 27 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.
The program, “Ballet Russe Remembered,” is a tribute to the classical ballets, said Natasha Middleton, artistic director of the Media City Ballet.
Ballet Russe was a Russian ballet company that ballet patron Serge Diaghilev started in 1909 and included top dancers from sister ballet companies that danced classical ballet, Middleton said, adding that later American companies were influenced by the techniques and choreography of Ballet Russe dancers.
“If it wasn’t for the Ballet Russe, which started in Russia, we wouldn’t have what we have today in this country,” Middleton said. “Ballet Russe not only made itself the mother of ballet companies in the United States but also throughout the world.”
For Middleton, the upcoming show is a way to pay homage to the classical ballets and the dancers of the Ballet Russe.
“We want to keep it alive and keep the family legacy alive,” Middleton said, adding that her father, Andrei Tremaine, danced with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which toured the United States during World War II.
Ballets including “Polovtsian Dances” from “Prince Igor,” “Raymonda” and “Le Can-Can” are part of the company’s featured selections for the upcoming show, she said. Classically trained ballet dancers with the local company including Edgar Nikolyan of Glendale, are starting to master the ballets of eras past, Middleton said.
Nikolyan, who’s been dancing since he was 7 years old, is preparing to perform the lead role in Alexander Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” from “Prince Igor.”
The 21-year-old danced in “Giselle,” “Gayaneh,” “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty” in his native Armenia.
The upcoming performance is more than just an opportunity to showcase talent, Nikolyan said. It’s also a chance to acknowledge the ballets that many audiences are not familiar with.
“They don’t dance the old ballets anymore,” he said. “It’s important for people to come and see the old ballets and see that the dancers can dance the classical ballets.”
An opportunity to see the lesser-performed ballets will provide the audience a break from the more commonly performed numbers, he said.
“It’s important for people to come and see that it’s not just about ‘Swan Lake’ or ‘Don Quixote,’ ” Nikolyan said.
“But there are old ballets as well.”
Also appearing in Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” from “Prince Igor” is Mary Bankston.
The opportunity to perform in a tribute to the Ballet Russe is one she is proud to be a part of, she said.
“It’s where our company’s roots are,” Bankston, 23, said. “They were world-renowned, one of the best companies in the world. And to have the roots here, that’s amazing.”
Bankston, a Burbank resident, is excited to perform the same choreography that was originally choreographed by Ballet Russe, she said. She will also be dancing in Jacques Offenbach’s “Le Can-Can” and Alexander Glazunov’s “Raymonda.”
The local company has worked hard to instill the skill and professionalism of Ballet Russe dancers into the dancers of the Media City Ballet, she said, adding that she hopes the audience can appreciate that dedication.
“I would like them to notice the artistry that the company has,” Bankston said. “The choreography is gorgeous, and I think Ballet Russe was one of the companies that when you watched them, you were in complete awe. I hope our company can relay that performance to the audience.”
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