Russian ballerinas arrive for weekend show

Two Russian ballerinas are all set to pirouette their way to the hearts of the island’s high-heeled crowd in this weekend’s presentation of Swan Lake and Concert of Ballet Stars.

Dasha Sosnina and Nikolai Kalabin arrived on Saipan Monday and were welcomed by event organizer Ana Glushko of Glushko’s Academy of Performing Arts.

The two immediately headed to the show’s venue at the Hotel Nikko Saipan Theater Hall in the afternoon for rehearsals.

Sosnina and Kalabin are alumni of the famed Perm State Opera and Ballet Theater School in Russia. The school is said to be one of the top three ballet schools in the entire country. It took the two performers two days to come to Saipan all the way from Perm, Russia.

Both Russians do not speak English, but through Glushko, both said they were happy to be back to the tropical island.

Sosnina, 27, has been dancing ballet since she was 10. She said it’s her second time to be in the CNMI and she feels great about the upcoming performance.

“This is a beautiful island,” Sosnina said through Glushko. She last visited Saipan three years ago.

Kalabin at 22 said he has been dancing ballet since he was seven years old. He said his eight-year study at Perm State has honed his skills. It is his third time on the island. Last year he played the prince of the Nutcracker ballet performance. He said the audience last year was very warm.

Both Russian performers said they would do their best to provide the people of the CNMI the best show this weekend. Kalabin said they would perform something new this time by executing moves from a different program.

“We are looking forward to the show and will try to do our best,” Sosnina said.

A Japanese ballet group from the Takagi Ballet School of Tokyo will also join the Russian ballet dancers. The group will arrive tomorrow. Kalabin said though they have already performed with several ballet groups, this would be the first time they will perform with Japanese ballet dancers. He said he himself is very excited with the show.

Glushko, who will also dance in the show, said she will be in two parts. She will perform with local and guest ballet dancers in the first part and then collaborate with professionals in the second. Glushko said her company aims to bring world-class ballet entertainment to Saipan.

Curtains draw open for Swan Lake and Concert of Ballet Stars on Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, beginning 7pm at Hotel Nikko Saipan’s Theatre Hall.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and sold at all Shell gas stations, Ebisuya, Thai House Restaurant, Glushko’s Academy of Performing Arts, and at the door of Hotel Nikko Saipan in event night.