Maria Kochetkova and Joan Boada in Diving Into the Lilacs

Maria Kochetkova and Joan Boada in Diving into the Lilacs, music Boris Tchaikovsky “Sinfonietta for String Orchestra” choreography Yuri Possokhov. Dance Open 2015 Gala Concert, shot on 27.4.2015 in Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg.

Maria Kochetkova is currently Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet. She was born in Moscow. Maria trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School for eight years before dancing with The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet in London. She joined the San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer in 2007 and has performed as a guest artist with many Theatres.

Joan Boada is principal with San Francisco Ballet. A native of Havana, Cuba, Joan Boada trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba and danced with seven companies (including Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Ballet National de Marseille Roland Petit, The Australian Ballet, and Royal Ballet of Flanders) before joining San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer in 1999.

Yuri Possokhov is former San Francisco Ballet principal dancer currently company’s resident choreographer.

“Diving into the Lilacs” is Yuri Possokhov third work for the Ballet since retiring from the stage in 2006, provides a sweeping showcase of lush dancing for three ravishing couples and a corps of eight. But it’s unlikely that much beyond the strong performances will prove lasting. Shostakovich-influenced Boris Tchaikovsky (not Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, though few would confuse them), evoked memories of boyhood Moscow with lilacs in bloom. And indeed, no shortage of nostalgia and passion permeates “Lilacs,” with its busy abundance of swirling lifts, swooning melts and devastated clutches. But much of the high emotion feels unearned.

Photos by Jack Devant Ballet Photography with kind permission of the Dance Open and Alexandrinsky Theatre, special thanks to Ekaterina Galanova and Adelia Mukhamedzhanova.