Moscow Ballet Announces 25th Anniversary Tour of Great Russian Nutcracker Coast to Coast Across North America

The one and only Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker and classic Swan Lake celebrate 25 years of touring North America bringing world renowned Russian ballets and artists to audiences in cities and towns, large and small. The "2017 Peace and Puppets Tour" features Moscow Ballet's singular "Dove of Peace" character, created by 2 dancers moving as one bird, which opens Act II's "Land of Peace and Harmony." (not the traditional "Land of Sweets") This production also includes the use of small puppets in Act I's Party Scene and whimsical 10 foot tall puppets in Act II's Variations. The Moscow Ballet version of the 5 Variations represent the major heritages of the world: Hispanic, African, European, Asian and Slavic/Russian living in peace and harmony.

New in 2017 is the premiere of a flying Dove of Peace puppet, and more puppet-birds, commissioned from award-winning and internationally renowned South African Puppeteer Roger Titley. Roger comments, "I am excited to bring my puppets to Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker.Every creature that we build has a special place in my heart, especially the Dove of Peace." Puppets such as Elephants hatching from eggs for IBM, a crocodile that loses its teeth for Toyota, and the Flying Ostrich for Microsoft, are just some of the award-winning works in which Roger is involved.

Stacey Gannon, Executive Director of Saginaw's Temple Theatre, on the 2017 tour, shares, "Temple Theatre is pleased to present Moscow Ballet's 25th Anniversary Great Russian Nutcracker "Peace and Puppets Tour." Not only is the dancing world class, so are the production values and the community engagement programs Dance with Us, New Horizons, and Musical Wunderkind. Saginaw will host a Russian Tea Party with a Ballerina making the Moscow Ballet visit to Saginaw like a family homecoming. Spasiba Moscow Ballet."

The tour is recognized for its award-winning Principal Dancers (2017 to be announced) and company of almost 40 performing extraordinary ballet moves to Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker Suite. The lavish hand-sewn costumes, designed by Arthur Oliver, and created in one of the oldest costume shops in Russia; intricately nuanced backdrops created by "La La Land' Set Concept Designer Carl Sprague; and the distinct Russian focus including life-sized Matryoshka Dolls, appearances of folk legends Ded Moroz (Father Christmas) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) and Troika Sleigh, make the performance an experience of a lifetime. Tickets for 2017 are available at www.nutcracker.com .

For twenty-five years Moscow Ballet has been consistently embraced by audiences and the press on their North American tours. "Moscow Ballet drew nearly a full house opening night...to all performers, we say Bolshoi Spasiba. Big thanks!" The Post Standard, Syracuse, 1993. "Whimsical ideas... charming tone...Tatiana Predenia...set the standard as an assured ballerina with vibrant classical style and perfect body placement,dynamically danced," Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times, 2002. "The Russian ballet style is expansive... elegantly generous," Chief Dance Critic Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times, 2010. "Karyna Shatkovskaya... [showed] faultless mastery of the steps and a floating jump. Vladimir Tkachenko ...contributed bravura expertise. Nobody out-danced Sergi Kotov as Fritz and the Chinese male. Virtually every passage confirmed his brilliance," Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times, 2013. "Nazarkhevich and Batalov...danced the Land of Snow pas de deux and the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, and in sterling style. Costumes and drops were sumptuous," Eric Harrison, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 2016.The Principal Dancers receive accolades, "Danced exquisitely by...Ekaterina Bortiakova, her technical prowess, especially in her footwork and turns, coupled with an endearing smile and girlish innocence, was...truly great," from Cleveland Plain Dealer. Canada's Stephan Bonfield,Calgary Herald, writes, "Great Russian Nutcracker ...resplendently detailed, colourful production...technically supreme dancing, dazzling moments, authentically opulent and beautifully detailed costumes."

Moscow Ballet - 2017 marks Moscow Ballet's 25th consecutive year touring North America performing the acclaimed story ballets the Great Russian Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella and more. The company is known for presenting award-winning Ballerinas and Danseurs, from Lilia Sabitova in 1994 to Honored Artist of Russia Tatiana Predenia in 2002 to Andrey Batalov, former Principal Danseur with the Mariinsky Theatre in 2016. The company performs more than 100 engagements annually across Canada and the United States' to sell-out audiences in the some of the finest performing arts venues. In addition to public performances, Moscow Ballet's North America tours have always included community engagement programs. "Dance with Us" shares the Russian Vaganova ballet training with over 6000 American dance students annually bringing them on stage in ancillary roles to perform side-by-side with the professionals. Underwritten by Moscow Ballet, the program was developed by choreographer and co-producer Mary Giannone Talmi. "New Horizons - A Children's Program for Life" is a cultural immersion program benefitting thousands of children across the country annually and Musical Wunderkind also connects the Russian dancers directly with American children and young adults. In addition, many Moscow Ballet performances have a fund-raising component for organizations such as hospitals, children's museums and more. www.moscowballet.com.

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