Victoria Jaiani and Fabrice Calmels in Othello

Victoria Jaiani and Fabrice Calmels (Joffrey Ballet) in Othello, music by Elliot Goldenthal, choreography by Lar Lubovitch. Benois de la Danse 2016 Gala, Laureates of different years, shot on 18.5.2016 in The Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.

Check out all dances from 18.5.2016 Benois de la Danse 2016 Gala, Laureates of different years

 

Check out all dances from 18.5.2016 Benois de la Danse 2016 Gala, Laureates of different years

Victoria Jaiani joined the Joffrey Ballet in August 2003. Born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgia, Ms. Jaiani began her training at the age of ten at V. Chabukiani Ballet School. She continued her studies in New York and in June 2003 was awarded a Bronze Medal at the New York International Ballet Competition. Since joining the Joffrey, she has danced leading roles. In 2010, Ms. Jaiani was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine and was named “Chicagoan of the Year” by the Chicago Tribune Arts Critic. In 2012, Today’s Chicago Woman named her one of Chicago’s top women in the arts. In 2013, Chicago Magazine named her “best dancer.”

Fabrice Calmels joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2002. Born and raised in France, Mr. Calmels began ballet training at age three, following in the steps of his younger sister. In 1991, he entered the Paris Opera School, under the direction of Claude Bessy. Through his training he worked with world-renowned dance masters and also performed at the Opera Palais Garnier theatre. In 1998, Mr. Calmels was spotted by John Meehan, director of American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, and moved to New York. He furthered his training by joining The Rock School, and danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet. At Boston Ballet, under the direction of Anna-Marie Holmes, he learned the Russian technique with ballet masters Tatiana Terekhova and Sergei Berezhnoi, and also the Balanchine style at The School of American Ballet.

Elliot Goldenthal (born 1954) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways. He is also a film-music composer, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2002 for his score to the motion picture Frida, directed by his long-time partner Julie Taymor.

Lar Lubovitch (born 1943) is an American choreographer. He founded his own dance company, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 1968. Based in New York City, the company has performed in all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 countries. As of 2005, he had choreographed more than 100 dances for the company. In addition to the company, Lubovitch has also done creative work in ballet, ice-skating venues, and musical theater notably “Into the Woods”.

Photos by Jack Devant Ballet Photography with kind permission of the Benois de la Danse and Bolshoi Theatre, special thanks to Nina Kudriavtseva-Loory and Regina Nikiforova.