La Bayadere at Joburg Theatre

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2. La Bayadere

Set in mythical India, La bayadère is one of the masterpieces of 19th-century Russian ballet, a brilliant example of a grand spectacular production with huge crowd scenes, colourful costumes and handsome sets.

Nikiya is a bayadère, or temple dancer. She is in love with a warrior named Solor, but he ends up in an arranged marriage with the lovely Princess Gamzatti. The Princess sees Nikiya as a threat, so she must die. The wedding of Solor and Gamzatti ends in chaos, as the enraged gods intervene.

The best-known scene in La bayadère is the Kingdom of Shadows, where Solor has a vision of the dead Nikiya, multiplied by the corps de ballet. This lovely and entrancing scene is often performed separately.