Victoria Jaiani and Joseph Walsh in Toi Moi

Victoria Jaiani and Joseph Walsh (San Francisco Ballet) in Toi Moi, music by Ilya Demutsky, choreography by Yuri Possokhov. World Premiere. Music, choreography and costumes are created as a gift to Benois de la Danse 25yr jubilee. Benois de la Danse 2017, Defile of the Stars and New Laureates, shot in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow on 30.5.2017.

See all photo galleries from 30.6.2017 Benois de la Danse Stars and New Laureates Gala

See all photo galleries from 30.6.2017 Benois de la Danse Stars and New Laureates Gala

Victoria Jaiani joined The Joffrey Ballet in August 2003. Born and raised in Tbilisi Georgia, Victoria Jaiani began her training at the age of 10 at the Choreographic school of Georgia. Later she continued her studies at a ballet school in New York. In June 2003, she won a bronze medal at the New York International Ballet Competition. Victoria Jaiani is married to Joffrey dancer, Temur Suluashvili.

Joseph Walsh is Principal with San Francisco Ballet. He was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He is trained at Houston Ballet II, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, American Ballet Theatre (summer program), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (summer program), Chautauqua School of Dance (summer program), Kaatsbaan International Dance Center (summer program), Stiefel and Students (summer program). Joseph Walsh joined as soloist in 2014, promoted to principal dancer in 2014.

Yuri Possokhov, choreographer (ex Bolshoi principal dancer) was born in Lugansk, Ukraine. After receiving his dance training at the Moscow Ballet School, Yuri Possokhov danced with the Bolshoi Ballet for ten years, working primarily with Ballet Master Yuri Grigorovich. During this decade, he was promoted through the ranks to principal dancer. In 1992, he joined the Royal Danish Ballet as a principal dancer. In 1994, he joined San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer. Possokhov was named choreographer in residence in May 2006. His final engagement with the Company as a principal dancer was on tour to New York’s Lincoln Center Festival in summer 2006.

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.