Boris Eifman Ballet (Ballet company)
BORIS EIFMAN is one of the few, if not the only Russian
choreographer, who continued his active creative work for decades. Perhaps none
of his contemporaries can take pride in such achievements. There are more than
forty performances on the director’s account. He was the laureate of the
prestigious theatrical awards «Golden Soffit» and «Golden Mask», of the State
Prize of Russian Federation, received the Order of Arts and Letters of France,
the People’s Artist of Russia title, Order of Merit for the Fatherland and many
other prizes and titles.
The choreographer was born in Siberia,
finished the department of choreography of Leningrad (St. Petersburg)
Conservatory. In 1977 he organized Leningrad New Ballet (today called Saint
Petersburg Eifman Ballet), the only individually managed theatre in Russia,
developing the art of modern choreography. He did not only create an original
style, which absorbed the achievements of new time art and which is based on the
classical school, but also brought up a team of kindred spirit, for whom no
unsolvable tasks exist.
The current Company’s repertory includes
the following works that have been already recognized worldwide are «Requiem»,
«Tchaikovsky», «I, Don Quixote», «The Karamazovs», «Red Giselle», «My
Jerusalem», «Russian Hamlet», «Don Juan, or Moliere Passions», «WHO is WHO»,
«Musagete», «Anna Karenina», «The Seagull», «Onegin» and the most recent one
«Rodin».
Boris Eifman is a
choreographer-philosopher. He is concerned with the problems of the modern
world; with the secrets of creativity and the magic of geniuses, which uncover
themselves in his interpretation of the fates of Tchaikovsky, Spesivtseva,
Moliere or Rodin. He makes experiments with such dark and fearful sphere as
human psyche («Idiot», «Murderers», «I, Don Quixote», «Russian Hamlet» and «Anna
Karenina»), creating the images of stage psychoanalysis. He strives for showing
extreme states of human mind, regarding his heroes` madness not as an illness
but as their ability to penetrate into another worlds. The choreographer pulls
apart the limits of his imagination with the help of his heroes` fantasies,
deepening in the questions of spiritual and philosophic life of humankind, which
interest him most.
Boris Eifman’s desire to draw his
spectators into the inexhaustible world of human passions, to establish live
spiritual connections with the audience, to stun it with brilliance and dynamism
of plastic language – all this determined the success that accompanies the
theatre’s performances on the leading stage venues of the world for decades. The
choreographer marks: «The spectator wants to receive from a ballet
performance, first of all, a catharsis, a deep emotional shock. And visiting our
performances, he receives this live emotional charge. We aspire to that the
psychological theatre would be the privilege not only of a drama, but also of a
ballet. And from this point of view we are unique. Such type of theatre to which
our Company belongs – with the strong dramaturgic base, the deep philosophical
maintenance and high heat of passions - is necessary for many
spectators».
Creating his own style Eifman worked at
various dancing systems. The theatre became a kind of laboratory for him. The
choreographer did not limit himself with the frames of a purely ballet
performance, since the most important thing for him is theatricality. His plays
are unforgettable shows, revealing new forms and new principles of dancing
action. Boris Eifman has created his theatre – a theatre of unconcealed
emotional feelings.
Press about Boris Eifman
«Boris Eifman is undoubtedly the most
interesting modern Russian choreographer. He has a magnetism of both his own
personality and his constant desire for renewal».
Le Figaro
«The ballet world in search of a
major choreographer need search no more. He is Boris
Eifman…»
Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times
«Eifman’s personal qualities are
strength and unrestraint. His nervous “painful style is a cover for the most
brilliant skills».
Le Figaro
«Boris Eifman will remain one of the most creative artists of
Russia».
Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times
«There is no doubt any longer
that the choreographer Boris Eifman is an amazing magician of the theatre. …
Probably the only thing one can still have any doubts about is whether he is the
last leading choreographer of the 20 century or the first choreographer of the
21st».
Clive Barnes, New York Post
«The artists of Eifman’s theatre are
phenomenal. Everybody from the soloists to the perfect corps de ballet.
Amazingly skilful and flexible, they can equally purely and vividly perform the
most incredible creation of the choreographer and any classical pas and are
outstandingly expressive and musical».
Russian Daily – Novoye Russkoye Slovo
©
2013 St.Petersburg Eifman Ballet.
Boris Eifman's "Up & Down" - Official Trailer 2 |
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About This Video 03:28 New ballet by Boris Eifman
Music: G. Gershwin, F. Schubert, A. Berg
Sets: Zinovy Margolin
Costumes: Olga Shaishmelashvili
Light: Gleb Filshtinsky, Boris Eifman
Premiere: January 27 and 28, 2015. Alexandrinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg).
European premiere was held at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on February 9, 10, 11.
St. Petersburg Eifman Ballet |
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