‘Stars of Russian Ballet’ will feature timeless pieces

Think of it as a sort of "Dancing with the Stars," but with an international flavor and focusing on a particularly timeless style of dance.

So, out with dancing to the sound of hip-hop, swing or cha-cha tunes. Instead, members of "The Stars of the Russian Ballet" company will perform to the classical music of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Saint-Saens.

"The Stars of the Russian Ballet" comes to Las Vegas on Saturday for a performance at Artemus Ham Hall on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.

The performance will feature excerpts from some of ballet's most timeless story pieces, including "The Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella" and "Don Quixote."

The 30-member, Moscow-based company that will be performing the pieces is a professional company directed by Sergei Radchenko.

In a phone interview, touring company manager Madelaine Collinson, speaking on behalf of ballet master Alexander Daev, said the company has been performing since 1989, tours the world and has made several tours of the United States.

Collinson added that all but one of the selections performed this weekend will feature the original choreography created for the works.

The evening's repertoire largely will feature what are, in effect, highlights - for example, the main adagios and pas de deux - of each ballet, Collinson said.

Included among this weekend's scheduled pieces are the Rose Adagio from "The Sleeping Beauty," the adagio from the third act of "Cinderella" and the adagio from "Romeo and Juliet."

The Russian classical tradition dates back to the 1700s in St. Petersburg. What makes story ballets of the sort guests will see Saturday so enduring?

It's because, Collinson said on behalf of Daev, they are human, romantic stories about love, loss and eternal themes.

The ballets' themes also are universal and resonate with audiences regardless of language, nationality, culture or, even, the times.

It also helps, she said, that the pieces' choreography and music are "so beautiful, everybody gets it."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.