Russia's Eifman Ballet returns to London to celebrate 40th anniversary
Renowned St. Petersburg dance company Eifman Ballet has returned to London to “astound” audiences with its UK premiere of Up & Down – a “tragic and bright chronicle of a person’s spiritual death.”
Based on the 1934 F. Scott Fitzgerald novel Tender is the Night, ‘Up & Down’ follows the rise and fall of a young psychoanalyst and one of his schizophrenic patients, who end up marrying. It is set in the 1920s, to a mostly George Gershwin and Franz Schubert score.
“The story about how a dream of happiness turns into a disaster, and an externally beautiful and carefree life flowing to the rhythms of jazz – into a nightmare,” founder Boris Eifman says.
Eifman Ballet is also celebrating its 40th anniversary. First established in 1977, it is one of the world’s largest non-classical ballet companies. Eifman has created more than 50 full-length works, which have been performed throughout the world.
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Speaking to RT’s Martyn Andrews, Eifman said his team is happy to be back in London, one of the ballet capitals of the world.
“We cater for the most demanding of audience members. We give theatre goers a wide range of emotions that they may not get anywhere else.
“Our dance is an art and it astounds people, and at the same time, spiritually unites them.”
Performances of Up & Down begin at the London Coliseum on December 6.
