The Krasnoyarsk National Dance Company of Siberia's performance of 14 dances at Brooklyn College’s Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday was a treat for any fan of traditional Russian folk dance -- and for any fan of great dance, actually. This was more than traditional Russian dance; this is performance for a world stage.
Watching the Krasnoyarsk National Dance Company is the visual equivalent of a shot of ice-cold premium vodka and a spoonful of caviar -- slight intoxication. This effect was induced not only by the technical abilities of the dancers, who performed each number with almost scientific precision, but also by the exquisitely-embroidered costumes based on traditional regional designs. Created by Merited Worker in Art of the Tuva Republic Yelizavet Akselrod and Merited Workers in Art of Russia Boris Knoblok, Vladimir Mamontova, and Paulina Korotova, these garments -- museum pieces in and of themselves -- evoke the Siberian landscape in their lines, colors, and interplay with each other. The choreography, under the artistic direction of Vladimir Moiseev, was a wonderful blend of traditional folk dance and modern sophistication, with stunning highlights of acrobatics and gymnastic techniques. The result is a visual experience that leaves the audience with impressions of Siberian culture, values and aesthetics -- lovingly crafted and delivered with an irresistible joyousness and cultural pride.
The 14 dances overlapped each other so beautifully and seamlessly that it was sometimes hard to tell where one ended and another began; the impression they created was of a fairy tale come to life. Part of their charm is the thematic thread that runs through each piece, namely the celebration of life and the interconnectedness of all living creatures. In “By The Wall”, a segment aimed at the younger members of the audience, the manner in which art imitates nature conveys a universal message of family values, community, and the cycle of life with a uniquely Russian flavor. And of course what would Russian dance be without Cossacks squatting and then jumping up spread-eagle above the height of their heads and touching their toes?
The Krasnoyarsk National Dance Company of Siberia, like all the very best dance companies, has something for everybody and should not be missed the next time they come to town. It’s the kind of theater experience that one looks forward to seeing again.
