RUSSIA: Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre stages Soviet-era 'Moidodyr' ballet for children with choreography worthy of the most demanding ballet scenes

Record ID: 173941

  • Title: RUSSIA: Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre stages Soviet-era 'Moidodyr' ballet for children with choreography worthy of the most demanding ballet scenes
  • Date: 19th December 2012
  • Summary: DANCER PERFORMING ON STAGE CHANDELIER
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Education,Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVA8TS9TMJQEPN8EVVGM2JGCC7SE
  • Story Text: Russia's Bolshoi Theatre is staging a performance of a Soviet-era fairytale which is bound to amuse child audiences and take their adult companions on a sentimental journey.

    "Moidodyr" which will be premiering from December 21 at the Bolshoi's New Stage, is based on a 1923 children's poem by Korney Chukovsky.
    The ballet tells a story of a boy who refused to wash and gets so dirty that in a magical twist of fate, his toys come alive and abandon him.
    Moidodyr is the name of a one of the characters, a giant washing basin, which sends an army of cleaning utensils after the boy who eventually is persuaded to wash.

    "I am sure that those adults who will come with their sons, daughters or any children who will accompany them, I think that the parents and adults will enjoy it more, because when they were little it is possible that they haven't seen it performed like this," said Bolshoi Ballet artistic director Sergei Filin about the performance.
    The ballet is based on a children's poem, but performer Anastasia said its choreography is no child's play.

    "You know, at this point ballet has advanced so far, it involves different acrobatic and circus tricks. But I have a more serious part here, I do step dance, it's more classic. The choreography is very interesting, it is complicated, it is not a children's choreography," she said.
    Russian composer Efrem Podgaits with his version of "Moidodyr" won Bolshoi Theatre's contest for the best music piece for children several years ago, leading to the creation of the performance choreographed by Yuri Smekalov.
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