Dance Channel TV

A new show has been launched in Russia, which according to the project’s creator Ilya Averbukh “will provide freedom to imagination and bind classical ballet and modern dance" (see the trailer below).  Entitled “Bolero”, the show partners prima ballerinas and female soloists from the leading Russian ballet companies and theaters (i.e. the Bolshoi, Mariinsky, Mikhailovsky and Stanislavski-Nemirovich-Danchenko) with champions in figure skating.  There are eight pairs competing in the show.  In preparation, for the past several months, they have been training with over 20 well-known choreographers, teachers and dancers, including Nacho Duato, Francesco Ventrilya, Radu Poklitaru and many others.  The list of judges is no less impressive, including Vladimir Vasiliev, Tamara Moskvina, Gediminas Taranda and Tatiana Navka.

There are no strict rules as the show wants to allow artistic freedom to push the boundaries of dance and choreography.  Each dance, however, will be judged by judges on a 10-point system for technique and artistry.
 

Given the enormous talent that has been brought together for this show, we are excited to see the results of such unique collaborations.  Dance Channel TV will blog about the performances and provide weekly updates (since the programming is in Russian and is not readily available to all).  So first thing first.  Let’s meet the pairs!

1. Natalia Osipova (prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre) and Roman Kostomarov (the Olympic champion in ice dancing, two-time world champion, three-time European Champion, three-time winner of the Grand Prix finals and three-time champion of Russia);

2. Christina Kretova (the first soloist of the Bolshoi) and Aleksei Yagudin (the Olympic champion in figure skating, four-time world champion, three-time European champion and two-time winner of the finals of the Grand Prix);

3. Catherine Krysanova (the leading soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre) and Maxim Shabalin (bronze medalist in ice dancing, the world champion, two-time European champion, the champion of the Grand Prix series);

4. Irina Perren (prima ballerina of the Mikhailovsky Theatre) and Peter Chernyshov (five-time U.S. champion in ice dancing);

5. Faith Arbuzov (soloist of the Mikhailovsky Theatre) and Alexei Tikhonov (world champion in pairs figure skating, two-time European champion, champion of Russia);

6. Julia Makhalina (prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre) and Povilas Vanagas (world bronze medalist in ice dancing, bronze medalist of European Championships and bronze medalist Grand Prix Final);

7. Evgenia Obraztsova (first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre) and Maxim Stavisky (a double world champion in ice dancing, multiple winner of the European championships and ten times champion of Bulgaria); and

8. Natalia Somov (prima ballerina of Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre) and Maxim Marinin (the Olympic champion in pairs figure skating, two-time world champion, five-time European champion and three-time champion of Russia).