Celebrating 25 Years! What the Critics Say - Moscow Ballet from 1993 to 2017
“Tatiana Nazarkhevich as Masha and Andrey Batalov as the Nutcracker Prince showed why the Russians remain the principal keepers of the classical ballet tradition.” Eric Harrison, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock, AR 2016
“Karyna Shatkovskaya is exceptional…every movement emanating elegance, control and confidence. As the Prince, Vladimir Tkachenko is a fluid force, executing lifts and leaps with evident ease,” Rob Hubbard, Minneapolis Pioneer Press, Minneapolis MN 2015
“The true highlight of the night was seeing all the Calgary children who successfully auditioned to dance as mice, snowflakes and assorted minor colourful characters. They were truly adorable, and should be congratulated for their very skilled and enthusiastic participation. It really brought the idea home that the Great Russian Nutcracker is a wonderful chance for children to be in a full-length production and experience first-hand an authentic Classical ballet from this uniquely Russian company of remarkable performers.” Stephan Bonfield, Calgary Herald, Calgary, Canada 2014
“Karyna Shatkovskaya…[showed]faultless mastery of the steps and a floating jump. Vladimir Tkachenko …contributed bravura expertise. Nobody out-dancedSergi Kotov as Fritz and the Chinese male. Virtually everypassage confirmed his brilliance,” Dance Critic Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA 2013
“One highlight occurs when two dancers become one as the Dove of Peace, a "bird" with a 20-foot wingspan, in a prayer for world peace,” The Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL 2013
“Many delights…ravishing costumes… production abounds in references to the country’s traditions… choreography that reveals the clarity of line so vital to Russian classical style… disarming… gorgeous… effortlessly graceful and various other ensemble sequences [were] full of sophistication and buoyancy… winning puppets (lions and elephants and bears – oh, my!),” Donald Rosenberg, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH 2012
“Sparkly tableau of angelic dancers, acrobatic lifts, sinuous inter-twinings and palpable chemistry...sweet, genuine feel...Elegant French pair [Anastasiia Homitcaia and Vladimir Trystan],” Tresca Weinstein, Albany Times Union, Albany, NY 2011
“Kids… wide-eyed with delight. The Russian ballet style is expansive… elegantly generous, and so the experience is never meager,” Chief Dance Critic Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times, NYC, NY 2010
“A knockout male dancer in the Arabian divertissement Sergey Chumakov. Sergey Chumakov…when partnering Elena Petrachenko…confers an unusual thrill upon the work’s many lifts.” Chief Dance Critic Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, NYC, NY 2010
“In her first pas de deux with her transformed Nutcracker Prince, Masha (Alexandra Elagina) finds world enough and time to raise one leg slowly behind her until it’s the height of her shoulder. This slow ascent of one leg, while the music swells, seems brimful with feeling.” Chief Dance Critic Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, NYC, NY 2010
“[The Great Russian Nutcracker] featured dancing that was marvelously athletic and joyous, yet surprisingly evocative and subtle. Each dancer displayed a captivating, distinct personality and considerable versatility,” Betsy Light, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN 2004
“A winter wonderland emerged onstage full of airy snowflakes, kaleidoscopic costumes, and best of all, crystalline dancing from the principals. The dancing was paramount; gone were pantomime and general dramatic narrative…animated dragons, brisk Spanish dancers and breezy flowers.” Dana Gavin Frank, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 2003
"Whimsical ideas... charming tone...Tatiana Predenia [as Masha] trained in Perm…set the standard as an assured ballerina with vibrant classical style and perfect body placement, dynamically danced…Anatoly Kazatsky added increasing polish to his dancing as the Prince,” Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times, NYC, NY 2002
“The traveling production of The Great Russian Nutcracker has storybook sets, stunning costumes and top Russian dancers who convey all the majesty you would expect from the Moscow Ballet,” Tracy Dingmann, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM 2001
“Say goodbye cute, and hello genius with the Moscow Ballet's kick-ass rendition of The [Great Russian] Nutcracker,” Anna Ditkoff, Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore, MD 2000
“[Moscow Ballet’s] family-friendly Nutcracker production featured gorgeous dancing to some of the most gorgeous music ever written…the costumes and backdrops were lovely...Natalya Ogneva and Andrey Evdokimov were superb, Anatoli Roumianstev and Irina Vakhromeeva …were particularly thrilling. [Local] children made darling mice, snowflakes, party guest, angels and butterflies,” Eric Harrison, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock, AR 1999
“Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker...sweet and restrained…the Nutcracker Prince, Dmitri Dmitriev…combining a classically pure line with power and elasticity… a most elegant and dashing Prince,” Margaret Putman, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 1997
“The mysterious hold that the Moscow Ballet has on Washington audiences proved its strength again …the principal dancers are highly trained, expressive and a delight to watch. They include Marina Alexandrova as Masha, a passionate child whose imagination and cleverness brings the fanciful character to life; Vitaly Zabelin as her Prince; and Alexandre Troubitshyn as favorite relative Drosslemeier,” Dance Critic Sarah Kaufmann, The Washington Post, Bethesda, MD 1996
“Led by a superlative ballerina, Marina Alexandrova, who is both lyric and soulful… presents a Nutcracker that celebrates a feeling of Christmas and gives dance fans a treat,” William K. Gale, The Providence Journal-Bulletin, Providence, RI 1995
“Moscow Ballet dances up a storm…much worth seeing both for its seasonal celebration and its dancing too...unforced, technically strong and emotionally compelling...performed by a fluid and lyrical company,” William K. Gale, Providence Journal-Bulletin, Providence, RI 1994
“Moscow Ballet drew nearly a full house opening night...to all performers, we say Bolshoi Spasiba. Big thanks!” The Post Standard, Syracuse, NY 1993