Diana Vishnyova - foot injury

[Natalia]

First Sergei Filin at the Bolshoi...now I get word that the K-M's Diana Vishnyova injured her foot prior to last Friday's 'Balanchine Evening'...with young Tatyana Tkachenko taking over Vishnyova's lead-ballerina role in 'Ballet Imperial.'

Vishnyova is now officially out of the Baden-Baden, Germany, Kirov tour, in late December. [Teryoshkina & Tkachenko taking over her roles. This from an official Mariinsky press release on the Baden-Baden performances.]

I hope that Vishnyova will be able to make the DC tour, which is just a couple of weeks after the Baden-Baden appearances. If not...then there go Vishnyova's 'Rubies' and 'Cinderella' appearances in DC...and Golub and Sologub may be 'dancing overtime'!

[Michael]

As silver lining to this cloud, I'd give a lot to see Tkachenko all the same. A notably charismatic dancer. Even if in size and temperament she does verge on demi character, which should make you wonder a bit about casting her in Ballet Imperial. Vishneyva is not demi character. Ah well, re replacing her with Tkachenko in Ballet imperial, just another instance in which personal penchant towards a dancer makes one willing to relax the formal strictures. Which is why, exactly, so many demi character dancers end up being cast that way.

[Joseph]

what is baden - baden?

(sorry if this is a dumb question!)

[Marc Haegeman]

Baden Baden is a smallish city in Southern Germany, on the border of the Black Forest, famous for its healthy waters and its rich people. Your question is not dumb, Joseph. The Mariinsky has been guesting there for several years. The local theatre (the Festspielhaus, in fact a rebuilding of the old railway station) is one of the biggest venues in all western Europe.

Baden Baden

[art076]

I could vouch for Tkachenko as well; she gave a matinee performance in the "Diamonds" pas de deux when the Kirov was last here in Orange County. She did a remarkable job in the role - pristine and technically assured, showing great promise.