The St Petersburg State Ice Ballet

The Saint-Petersburg State Ballet on ice (former the Leningrad State Ballet on ice) founded in 1967 by the outstanding choreographer Konstantin Boyarsky, is the successor of the remarkable traditions of the St.Petersburg school of the classical ballet.

Konstantin Boyarski founded the state ice ballet and established it with a rendition based on Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” combining figure skating with classic Russian ballet for the first time. Even back then it was possible to immediately celebrate an overwhelming success despite Russia having such a critical home audience with regards to Ballet!

The time consuming task of adapting classical figures, lifts and jumps to ice had paid off. A new, fantastic genre had been born in the form of ice ballet.

The Ballet is headed by its Artistic Director, former soloist of the world-famous Mariinsky Ballet, Merited Artist of Russia Konstantin Rassadin, a school-mate of Rudolf Nuriev. He participated in the performances jointly with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova. Mr. Rassadin was a leading soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet in St. Petersburg (formerly the Kirov Theatre) for 23 years and was a pupil of Leonid Yakabson at the Academy of Russian Ballet.

Mr. Rassadin's contemporaries include classmates Rudolf Nuriyev and Natalia Makorova as well as fellow performers Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Dudinskaya. After having choreographed classical ballets on companies throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union, Mr. Rassadin joined the St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet in 1980.
Musical Director and one of the co-founders of the Ballet is Leo Korkhin, prominent Russian conductor who conducts quite a number of orchestras including the renowned Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Society named after D.Shostakovich.

Ice-dancing: The Russians have reigned supreme for some time!

Figure skating and ice dancing have a long tradition in Russia, not least because of the favourable climatic condition for these sports. Thus it was no coincidence that the first world championships in figure skating took place in St. Petersburg in 1896. In international and Olympic competitions the pair skating and ice-dancing disciplines have been the preserve of the Russians for a long time. Since 1976 only Russian pairs have won the gold medals in both disciplines at the Winter Olympics, and have often also won the silver medals. This is also true in the case of the world championships, in which Russia figure skaters have always been the leaders of the pack since the start of the 80s. The reigning figure skating world champion Evgeni Plushenko, the pair skating world championship silver medalists Elena Bereshnaya and Anton Sikharulidze and the world championship bronze medalists Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbokh are, of course, favourite once again for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The dancers of the St. Petersburg state ballet on ice also stem from the “forge” of the most famous Russian figure skating dynasties. After their successful sports careers the dancers of “Swanlake on ice” decided to devote their sporting talents and their performing capabilities to the artistically demanding St Petersburg State Ice ballet that remains unique throughout the world to date.

The Ice Ballet Dancers

The majority of the current dancers come from the individual and pair figure skaters who have won Russian and international figure skating medals. They then trained intensively and hard with the choreograph Konstantin Rassadin in order to merge elements of athletic figure skating with elements of classical Russian ballet to form a high quality artistic and graceful unit. Hence, the ex-European champion Olga Ivanova and the former Olympian Andrey Stroganov, for instance, now also dance to Tchaikovsky’Swan Lake.

Productions

All the productions are staged by its principal choreographer Merited Artist of Russia Konstantin Rassadin.  The St Petersburg State Ice Ballet, are the first and remain the only Ice Ballet company to offer real classical ballets in classical ballet costumes and sets, that are performed on an ice rink installed on a stage of a theater.
Over the years their repertoire and their technical abilities were not just extended, the design and structuring of stages and costumes were also perfected. Now a “squad” of 80 figure skating dancers with approx. 800 costumes and symmetrical ice surface enchant theatres and arenas throughout the world with there repertoire which includes; Swan Lake,  Sleeping Beauty,  Romeo and Juliet,  and The Nutcracker.

For the last five years these productions have been successfully performed on the best stages of the USA, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, China, Spain, Korea, Taiwan, Greece, Portugal, Ireland and now at The Mediterranean Conference Centre, MALTA!

The St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet, having presented over 7000 performances internationally, presents a remarkable blend of many art forms, offering something very innovative and spectacular to audience’s world wide.
The St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet appeals to audiences of all ages with its lavish sets and costumes, bringing with it, a touch of magic which is created as your theatre is transformed into a skating paradise.

The Swan Lake On Ice 
A traditional ballet on ice in two acts

The magnificent production of "Swan Lake" made its world premier in the United States in November, 1996. Never before had a full length production of the ballet been performed by an ice skating company. With the full knowledge and skills from the Kirov Ballet, the ballet was created for skaters by choreographer for the Merited Artist of Russia, Konstantin Rassadin, the company's resident choreographer.

Not to be missed are the over 100 exquisite costumes and newly created opera house sets designed by Mikhail Shavdatuashvili. This production of "Swan Lake" equaled if not surpassed Mr. Shavdatuashvili's magnificent efforts in creating for "Sleeping Beauty".   

The magnificent music of Tchaikovsky and the plot of “Swanlake” are virtually predestined to be converted into an ice rink choreography. The audience is whisked away into an overpowering world of aesthetics and harmony when the ballerinas apparently weightlessly glide over the ice surface with swanlike movements and appear majestic.

Principal Choreographer 
KONSTANTIN A. RASSADIN is the principal choreographer of the Saint Petersburg Ice Ballet, Merited Artist of Russia

Upon graduation from the world famous Academy of Russian Ballet named after A. Vagonova, Konstantin was immediately invited to join the renowned ballet troupe of the Maryinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet of St. Petersburg (formally of the Kirov Theatre). For 23 years he occupied the position of ballet “star”, having brilliantly premiered more than two dozen leading roles and performing with ballerinas such as Natalia Dudinskaya, Alla Shelest, Alla Osipenko, Natalia Markarova, and danseurs Konstantin Sergeev, Rudolf Nuriyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. He worked with the great ballet masters Yuri Grigorovich and Leonid Yakobson and studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. After receiving his first award for choreography, Mr. Rassadin began producing classical ballets and programs for theatre throughout the USSR and in 1980 joined the St. Petersburg Ice Ballet in the capacity of its Principal Choreographer. His latest works for the company are “Romantic Poem” and the full-length holiday spectacular, “Nutcracker”.

PRINCIPAL DANCERS
OLEG YAGUBKOV Was born in Perm. Master of Sports in figure skating. Competitor in international events in Canada and USA, member of National Juniors team. Principal dancer of Saint-Petersburg State Ballet on Ice. Leading roles in “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Nutcracker”.

ELENA KHAILOVA began skating at the age of 4,5. Master of Sports candidate. Multiple champion of Saint-Petersburg. Silver medal winner of  open tournament of Scandinavian countries.  Joined our company in 1990. Soloist dancer. Leading roles in “Sleeping Beauty” – Aurora, Lilac Fairy;  “Swan Lake”- Odetta-Odilia.

The Story of Swan Lake

ACT 1
Scene 1 – The Palace Garden

The story open peasants and royalty alike dance and revel in celebration of Prince Siegfried’s twenty-first birthday. Shortly the entrance of Siegfried’s mother, the Sovereign Princess, brings the merriment to a halt as she tells Siegfried that his age now demands that he face his responsibilities. Soon he will be king. Tomorrow at the court ball he must choose a bride from among the beauties of the kingdom. After the queen departs, the party again becomes lively and the revelers dance long into the afternoon. At sunset the guests toast the prince and begin to depart. Noticing a flock of swans flying by, Siegfried and his friends decide to go off hunting.

Scene 2-The Lake

Moonlight illuminates a lake and forest clearing blanketed in mist. An evil apparition, part bird and part man, is seen. It is the sorcerer, Rothbart. He senses Siegfried’s approach and hides himself. As the fog lifts, Siegfried enters, drawn to this enchanting spot. He sees that the swans have settled on the lake and raises his bow, but he finds himself unable to shoot. The leading swan slowly approaches. The prince watches in amazement as the swan changes form before his very eyes. Though it still moves with all the grace of a swan it has become a woman. The prince discovers that she is Odetta, queen of the swans, and that the lake is made from her mother’s tears, which poured forth long ago on the day that the sorcerer imprison Odetta in the shape of a swan. Now she is only allowed to take human form between midnight and dawn. She tells Siegfried that only true love can save her. A man who will marry her and be loyal forever will break the sorcerer’s evil spell, but should that man betray her she will never have another chance to become human.

The prince tells Odetta that he is smitten by her and that he can indeed be that man. Suddenly Rothbart enters. Siegfried raises his bow, but the swan queen stops him, fearing that if the sorcerer is killed the spell may never be broken. The prince invites Odetta to the ball and promises to choose her for his bride, but she explains that the evil spell will not allow her to leave the forest. A wedge of swans dressed just like Odetta, now appear. The prince is spellbound by their beautiful display. As the sky grows lighter Odetta and swans prepare to depart. Rothbart emerges and sends the swan back to the lake as he hypnotically draws Odetta to him. She tries to break free but Rothbart’s power is to strong and she slowly returns to the form of a swan. Siegfried is left alone.   

Act 2
Scene 1- the palace ballroom

The ball is underway and knowing that he must choose a wife, Siegfried thinks only of Odetta. The loveliest maidens in the kingdom are paraded before him and he slowly dances with each. Knowing he must choose a wife, but not seeing Odetta, the Princes’ chest heaves with despair. As his mother is about to question him two strangers arrive. The man claims to be a baron but looks suspiciously like the sorcerer. With him is his daughter Odilia. She looks enticingly familiar and Siegfried becomes captivated by her. Unknown to Siegfried the man is the sorcerer and he has transformed his own daughter into the image of Odetta in order to trick the Prince. As they dance together the Prince becomes ever more spellbound and abandons himself to this magical creature, believing her to be Odetta.

Suddenly a cry in the distance disturbs his rapture. The swan queen has appeared in the widow. She reaches for Siegfried silently begging him not to forget her. Rothbart sees her as well and commands his daughter to distract the Prince. Beguiled, Siegfried proposes marriage to Odilla and she accepts. Thunder crashes and it grows dark. Siegfried’s doom is sealed. Rothbart takes great joy in showing the Prince his error. Siegfried is horrified. Odilia laughs at him and throws his bouquet to the floor in disgust as she vanished with the sorcerer. Sobbing, Siegfried says goodbye to his mother and runs of to the forest to find his true love.

Scene 2- The Lake

It is a dark and desperate night. The swan maidens dance sadly in the mist as they await their queen. Odetta appears, her body racked with sobs. She knows she has lost her chance for love and life. Bolts of lightning frighten the swans into a flurry of movement, the maiden swans huddling together in small groups to comfort one another. Siegfried   rushing in and searches among them, at last discovering Odetta. He explains to her how the sorcerer tricked him. Odetta tells him that now her only chance for happiness is death. Rothbart enters and laughs at Siegfried, telling him that all these creatures are in his power. The sorcerer tries to separate the lovers, but the Prince prevents him for seizing Odetta. As the swans fly off and Odetta prepares to drown herself in the lake of her mother’s tears, Prince Siegfried vows to follow her so that they can spend eternity in the comfort of each others arms.

Press reviews

“Highly attractive, athletic figure skating with jumps, spins, bold lifts and visually expressive synchronized movement. Viacheslav Vodopyanov and Andrei stroganov put on a brilliant display with exceptional technical jumps with axels, Rittbergers, butterfly jump and jump sit spins”         
“Volksstimme Magdeburg”

“The St. Petersburg Ice ballet warmed the hearts of the audience in the Kulturpalast. The ice skaters almost flouting across the smooth ice surface to tchaikovsky’s work.”
“Dresdner Neuste Nachrichten”

“The enthusiasm for the poetic acrobatics on skates was undivided. The performance was virtually sold out.” 
“Leipziger Volkszeitung”

It was a fantastic performance yesterday evening in the Congress- Centrum. For the first time the audience did not witness tchaikovsky’s ballet on a wooden stage but on ice in an auditorium that was sold out. Glamorous, opulent, spectacular and graceful at the same time.”                                                                                
“Freie Wort”, Suhl

“In a synthesis of ice dancing and ballet the 45 dancers demonstrated their exceptional skills in magnificent costumes. Breathtaking turns, twists and jumps.”
“Freie Presse”,Chemnitz

“The dancers of the St. Petersburg State Ballet on Ice delighted the Erfurt audience.”
“Thuringer Allgemine”

“The St. Petersburg State ballet on Ice is very much based on the great tradition of Russian ballet with elaborate costumes and exquisite choreography. Familiar and larger than life at the same time.”                                                “American Skating World”

“The ice skaters wore breathtaking costumes and performed against the backdrop of exceptional, baroque scenery, which was romantically illuminated. The St. Petersburg thus merged some of the most outstanding Russian figure skating talents.”
“The Daytona Beach News-Journal”

“When the St. Petersburg Ice Ballet converts the theatre into a winter palace, a hundred years in a romantic dream pass by like never before…”           
“Manhatten, KS Mercury”

The Ensemble performed breathtaking turns, twists and jumps. You can clearly recognize exceptional ,almost luxurious qualities in their performance – it was the best ice dancing show that I have ever seen or will ever see.” 
“The New York Post”