VILNIUS, LITHUANIA: A gala concert starring Lithuanian dancer Jurgita Dronina and many world stars of ballet was performed in Vilnius on 5 December celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Lithuanian National Ballet.
Dronina is currently one of the brightest ballet stars in today’s dance arena, who has deep connections with Lithuania. Her performances are always very much appreciated and eagerly awaited in her native country.
Osiel Gouneo in a solo from Excelsior. Photo Martynas Aleksa LNOBT
Dronina, who is at present a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, danced four pas de deux with three excellent partners: Balanchine’s Diamonds and Gsovsky’s Grand Pas Classique with Josua Hoffalt (Paris), adagio from Le Corsaire with Vadim Muntagirov (Royal Ballet) and finale and coda from Le Corsaire with Isaac Hernandez (ENB). Her superb technique, showing her astonishing balances as well as lightness and radiant charm, was breathtaking!
Ashley Bouder and Amar Ramasar in Bitter Earth. Photo Martynas Aleksa LNOBT
Cuban dancer Osiel Gouneo brought youthful energy and spectacular jumps to the stage in a pas de deux from Don Quixote with Nicoletta Manni and a solo from Excelsior.
A moving and beautiful pas de deux, Bitter Earth by Christopher Wheeldon with Ashley Bouder and Amar Ramasar, gave food for deeper thoughts.
The gala was in all a generous display of both classical numbers and contemporary productions. All the participants, friends and colleagues of Jurgita Dronina, presented bravura and beauty of the utmost quality.
The 90 years celebration also contained performances of Coppelia, a triple bill entitled Bolero and the Lithuanian ballet Eglé, the Queen of Grass Snakes.
The festivities ended with TheNutcracker in a version by Krzysztof Pastor, artistic director of the Vilnius company. A traditional setting but joyful and lovely to see.
Anders Jörlén
Huvudbild: Josua Hoffalt and Jurgita Dronina in Grand Pas Classique. Photo Martynas Aleksa, LNOBT.
All participants in the Gala:
Jurgita Dronina, National Ballet of Canada
Ashley Bouder, New York City Ballet
Anastasija Čumamakova, Lithuanian National Ballet
Maria Eichwald, Stuttgarter Ballett
Osiel Gouneo, English National Ballet
Kristina Gudžijūnaité, Lithuanian National Ballet
Isaac Hernandez, English National Ballet
Josua Hofalt, Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris
Mikhail Kaniskin, Staatsballett Berlin
Daria Klimentová, English National Ballet
Olga Konošenko, Lithuanian National Ballet
Jeronimas Kruvickas, Lithuanian National Ballet
Jekaterina Krysanova, Bolshoi Ballet Moscow
Vladislav Lantratov, Bolshoi Ballet Moscow
Nicoletta Manni, Teatro alla Scala, Milano
Vadim Muntagirov, The Royal Ballet, London
Amar Ramasar, New York City Ballet
Martynas Rimeikis, Lithuanian National Ballet
Genadij Žukovskij, Lithuanian National Ballet
