• 
• 

Thanks to Thailand's diplomatic relations with Russia, Bangkok ballet lovers were given a rare chance recently to witness a show by one of the country's finest classical-ballet companies.

Four talented dancers from the Kremlin and Nemirovich Danchenko Theatre graced Patravadi Theatre's main stage on June 15. The performance was hosted by the Russian Embassy and the Russian Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography as part of the "International Russian Cultural Day 2008".

The company first won Thai hearts several years ago with their original full-length ballet, "Katya and the Prince of Siam". This time, however, the selected pieces demonstrated the company's decision to go with something more traditional.

The results were mixed one, and not helped by mistakes in the programme (a waste of paper in this critic's view) and the distraction of the young girls attempting pirouettes in the front row.

Alexandra Timofeeva and Maxim Apanasyev started the night with the Black Swan pas de deux from "Swan Lake". Their beautiful physiques and high technical prowess shrank in significance during a stiff performance that lacked passion. Still, they managed to prove why they are stars later on in another pas de deux from "Giselle", Apanasyev exquisitely transforming into the frail spirit of her tormented lover after causing her death.

The technically challenging "Grand Pas Classique" was beautifully executed by Natalia Krapivina, who displayed a masterly balance en pointe, matched by the neat footwork of her partner Georgi Smilevsky. The two were even more impressive in their second duet, to Chopin's "Adagio", with Krapivina flowing breathtakingly in her long, blue dress and Smilevsky dancing with tremendous elegance and poise. The night was closed by Timofeeva, who had another chance to shine in a cheeky solo that had strong overtones of Russian folk dance. And shine she did, as was obvious from the audience's thunderous applause and loud cheers.

For young Thai ballet fans, the event is sure to have been memorable. However, for seasoned performance-goers who expect something more than perfect bodies going through the motions on a barren stage, the show came close to being mere eye candy.