Right: Taking centre stage was the Kiev Ballet’s Sergii Sydorskyi and Tatiana Goliakova. By Kelly Yates
IT WAS lights, camera and action as 52 ballet dancers donned their tutus and took centre stage for Monday night’s performance of the classic Swan Lake.
Dandenong’s Drum Theatre was a complete sell out for the Kiev ballet’s one and only three-hour performance.
The classic dancers filled the small stage, dancing in complete unison with their satin ballet slippers lightly brushing the floor.
The ballet’s Russian tradition was obvious in the gorgeous costumes and wonderful backdrops that set each scene.
The dancers made every step look easy, which is what all dancers aspire to.
Lead dancers Viktor Ishchuk and Natalia Domracheva stole the show as they pirouetted across the floor.
The connection between them was breathtaking; his eyes never left her for a second.
With the audience on the edge of their seats, the dancers were telling the story of Swan Lake through their perfect precision, poise, speed and control.
Mr Ishchuk had a magical ability to float in the air before returning to the ground with a perfect landing.
Then the final act came. The dancers were in position for the finale when all of a sudden the lights went out.
The dancers froze in their positions and like true professionals they exited the stage.
Sitting in blackness for about three minutes, the lights finally came on and the dancers returned.
Like the show biz rule says, the show must go on and it did.
Despite the lights going out, the dancers remained to shine through their performance, even though they had no stage lighting.
In an interview with the Star after the show, Mr Ishchuk said he was disappointed with the technical problems.
“It doesn’t happen very often. It has only ever happened once before,” he said.
“We hope people liked the show. If they did, then our job is done.”
After the show, Mr Ishchuk was physically tired but said he was full of good emotions.
He said the ballet planned to return to Australia but didn’t have any further details.
Ms Domracheva said seeing how pleased the audience were was like receiving a gold medal.
“When we dance we touch people and make them smile,” she said.
“That’s why we dance.”
