Grand Prix 2013 in Mikhailovsky Theatre

I was lucky to shoot annual Grand Prix event in Mikhailovsky Theatre, St petersburg, held on 10.11.2013. Gala was divided into 3 parts: Grand Prix’2012 Finale, Winners of the Grand Prix 2009-2012 and finally Star Gala.

The Mikhailovsky Theatre Grand Prix, an annual show-competition for choreography students. This ‘competition of high hopes’, as critics have called it, promotes the preservation and development of the traditions of professional choreographic education.

As always, photo approval is quite strict in Russia. I shot 1000+ photos during 4 hour gala, hand picked ca 75 and only 2 photos got approval. These two photos were both from Star Gala and only six photos were published all together. I understand Mikhailovsky Theatre, they get loads of photos and have right and capacity to choose only the best. exactly the same as they demand the best on the stage. Special thanks to Valeria Rodionova and Darina Timofeyeva. These 2 photos are here:

Star Gala program

Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Adagio from Act 1 of Swan Lake
Choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Alexander Gorsky, Asaf Messerer revised by Mikhail Messerer
Ekaterina Borchenko and Victor Lebedev
The Mikhailovsky Theatre

Ludwig Minkus, Pas de deux from Don Quixote
Choreography by Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky
Angelina Vorontsova and Denis Matvienko
The Mikhailovsky Theatre

Franz Schubert, Duet from Without Words
Choreography by Nacho Duato
Irina Perren and Leonid Sarafanov
The Mikhailovsky Theatre

Sergey Prokofiev, Balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet
Choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky
Maria Shirinkina and Vladimir Shklyarov
The Mariinsky Theatre

Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, Leo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo and Pyotr Oldenburgsky
Pas de deux from Le Corsaire
Choreography by Marius Petipa and Pyotr Gusev
Oksana Bondareva and Ivan Vasiliev
The Mikhailovsky Theatre

Mr. Mikhail Messerer (with microphone) greeting Altynai Asylmuratova (in the blue dress, far left), Boris Eifman (behind mr Messerer), Nikolai Tsiskaridze and other key stakeholders in Grand Prix event.

Photo by Jack Devant © with kind permission of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, special thanks to Mikhail Messerer, Nacho Duato, Valeria Rodionova and Darina Timofeyeva.