«A ballerina is carried in four hands, like a stretcher with mortar». Belarusians debate the new «Nutcracker» ballet

Photos here and further: onliner.by

Another premiere of «The Nutcracker» took place at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre on November 28. Igor Kolb was the ballet master, choreographer, and libretto author.

Igor Kolb was born in Pinsk and graduated from the Belarusian State Choreographic College; he began performing on the stage of the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Minsk during his third year. But he became a star in Russia – from 1996, he worked in St. Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theatre.

In 2022, Igor Kolb – Honored Artist of Russia – returned to Minsk. Here he was made chief ballet master. In an interview with BelTA, the man recounted that accepting the offer was not very easy – as his family did not want to move anywhere from St. Petersburg.

This April, audiences were outraged by his vision of the ballets «Boléro. Carmen». The public then believed that the new ballet master had «defiled the sacred» and demanded the return of Valentin Yelizariev's production.

Now, a new avalanche of criticism has fallen upon Igor Kolb – due to «The Nutcracker», which is traditionally considered one of the most New Year's ballets. Many went to the performance in late December.

Here are some opinions from Belarusians on social media.

«I had dreamed of this ballet for several years. Especially before the New Year! Of course, I read a lot of unflattering reviews about the new production, but I believed, or rather hoped, until the very last moment that people were exaggerating. It turned out they weren't. It's a complete failure. It reminded me of amateur performance in beautiful decorations. Even the music couldn't save it. It sounded somehow quiet and indistinct.»

«Overall, the impressions are positive, but the snowflake dance left negative emotions: very strong desynchronization – some had legs at 90 degrees, others at 45, hands were different, someone lagged, someone rushed. The ballerina's fall is a separate story, I really hope she's okay. The Prince was also not at his best – he messed up the ballerina when she was doing a pirouette, they hit legs. But overall, it was beautiful. But there's nothing to compare it with.»

Павялічыць

Someone still tries to defend Kolb's «Nutcracker»: «Everyone in Minsk is such an expert in ballet. Criticizing the new "Nutcracker". Like football commentators, for God's sake. They would be released, they would dance and do the choreography, and the decorations, and even play the harp at the same time. An excellent modern production, in my layman's opinion. I got maximum pleasure.»

«People desperately wanted to see what they had seen many times. Not ready to accept something new. I liked "The Nutcracker", my six-year-old son was completely delighted. I don't know... My son himself said he would stay till the very end, and then he endlessly shouted "Bravo!" to the artists. This is his first ballet and I'm very glad everything went exactly like this. The new production has a different vision and one must be able to accept it. I am shocked that people write such negativity.»

There were also rave reviews, but the criticism outweighed them. Model and ballerina Elizaveta Artyushevskaya, who dances in the new production, participated in the discussion. She wrote on Threads: «I'm already tired of seeing these disappointed comments about the new "Nutcracker". Isn't it beautiful? It is! And not only the decorations and costumes are excellent here.»

Павялічыць

Many complaints were written to her in the comments: «Two partners carrying one ballerina with four hands? Erm... Well, for those who have seen a ballerina supported high by one partner with one hand, without stumbling and without the audience fearing he'd injure his back... No, not very beautiful, excuse me.»

«Have you seen the production at the Mariinsky? What I see on stage is not ballet, but some kind of pilates, honestly. With elements of short-distance running and a power approach.»

«If you compare it with other "Nutcrackers", this is not ballet at all. I saw a video where the snowflake girls jump sissonnes (a type of jump. – **NN**), some raise their legs to 90 degrees, others don't even try to lift them off the floor. I won't even mention the two princes, it's a disgrace. It's easier to go to the cinema and watch old productions, you can truly enjoy those.»

«I don't even know how to describe what's happening to make it sound more polite and gentle. In short – ballerinas crawling on their bottoms, and two dancers, like builders, carrying a ballerina with four hands, like a stretcher with mortar. Is this ballet? You need a smart ballet master from whom you could learn skill... But, alas...»

There were also videos from "The Nutcracker" ballet, where it is clearly visible that the artists' support failed – but Elizaveta philosophically says that such things happen to everyone.

Павялічыць

All this led to other people asking whether they should return tickets and not attend this ballet – they don't want to lose money, especially if someone paid 250 rubles for one seat.

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