The Sarasota Ballet Will Revive Galina Samsova's Production Of Paquita During The 2018-19 Season

The Sarasota Ballet will revive Galina Samsova's production of Paquita during the company's 2018-19 season. The performances will take place on October 26, 27, and 28, 2018 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts in Sarasota, Florida. Miss Samsova's production of Paquita was first staged for the Sarasota Ballet in 2010.

GALINA SAMSOVA was born in Stalingrad, and began her career with the Ukrainian Ballet in Kiev. She emigrated with official permission and has since been back to Kiev as a guest artist to dance Swan Lake and to research for the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet's production of Swan Lake.

In the West, Miss Samsova moved first to Canada, where she became a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, dancing ballets by George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, and John Cranko as well as the classics. Her European debut was dancing the title role in the famous Orlikovsky-Raymond de Larrain production of Cinderella for which she won a gold medal at the Paris International Dance Festival.

She then joined London Festival Ballet, as a principal ballerina, appearing in all of the classics and many one-act ballets. She also made frequent guest appearances abroad. Later, she and Andre Prokovsky formed their own small company, the New London Ballet, which toured successfully on five continents with a repertoire comprising of specially created works.

Miss Samsova first danced as a guest artist with the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet in 1978, and joined the company as a principal dancer and teacher in 1980. During her career, Miss Samsova created leading roles in ballets by Jack Carter, Peter Darrell, Ronald Hynd, Andre Prokovsky and others. She appeared as a guest artist with the National Ballet of Canada, the National Ballet of Washington (Washington, D.C.), the Australian Ballet, The Scottish Ballet, and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

With the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, Miss Samsova created the role of The Woman in Lynn Seymour's Intimate Letters, and principal roles in Kenneth MacMillan's Quartet, Peter Wright's Adagio, Andre Prokovsky's Vocalise, Graham Lustig's Paramour, Derek Deane's The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Michael Corder's Gloriana. She created the role of Frau Stahlbaum in Peter Wright's new production of The Nutcracker for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and Carabosse in Peter Wright's production of The Sleeping Beauty, a role she danced during the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet's American tour in 1986.

She also danced Lise in Ashton's La Fille Mal Gardee, the title roles in Peter Wright's Giselle, Rudolf Nureyev's Raymonda Act III, MacMillan's Isadora and Ronald Hynd's Papillon, the Eldest Sister in MacMillan's Las Hermanas, the Debutante in Ashton's Façade, the Wife in MacMillan's The Invitation, Mary Magdelene in Geoffrey Cauley's Lazarus, the Bride in Andree Howard's La Fete Etrange, Katherina in John Cranko's The Taming of the Shrew and principal roles in Les Sylphides and MacMillan's Concerto. In 1962 and 1963, Miss Samsova staged Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, the Pas de Six from Laurencia for the National Ballet of Canada.

In 1980 she produced the Grand Pas from Paquita for the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet and danced the principal ballerina role; and in 1981 she collaborated with Peter Wright on a production of Swan Lake, dancing Odette/Odile at its premiere performance. This production was also staged for the Munich Opera Ballet during the 1983-84 season.

Miss Samsova has also staged her Paquita for the National Ballet of Spain in Barcelona, and appeared as a guest artist with Ballet West in the title role of Andre Prokovsky's Anna Karenina, a role she created with the Australian Ballet. She also appeared as a guest artist with the Hong Kong Ballet in Peter Darrell's Cheri, recreating the role that was especially choreographed for her.

In 1988 Miss Samsova produced Giselle for London City Ballet and has also mounted productions of La Bayadere, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux and Walpurisnacht. In 1990 Miss Samsova staged a new production of Raymonda Act III for The Scottish Ballet and in that same year was appointed The Scottish Ballet's artistic director. In 1991 Miss Samsova staged her production of Laurencia for The Scottish Ballet and Les Sylphides for the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In 1994 Miss Samsova staged her production of The Sleeping Beauty for The Scottish Ballet and in 1995 Miss Samsova staged her production of Swan Lake for The Scottish Ballet. Both productions were designed by the noted British designer, Jaspar Conran.

In 1997 Miss Samsova resigned from her position as artistic director of The Scottish Ballet and has pursued a freelance career as a master teacher and coach.

In 1999 Miss Samsova collaborated with David Bintley on a new production of Giselle for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and in 2000 staged her production of The Sleeping Beauty for the Tulsa Ballet. The Royal Swedish Ballet presented the company premiere of the Peter Wright/Galina Samsova production of Swan Lake during the 2001-02 season, and the Teatro Colon presented the company premiere of the Peter Wright/Galina Samsova production of Swan Lake during the 2013-14 season.

During the 2002-03 season the Rome Opera Ballet presented the company premiere of Miss Samsova's production of Swan Lake. During the 2009-10 season, the Sarasota Ballet presented the company premiere of Miss Samsova's production of Paquita.

Miss Samsova is in great demand as a master teacher and coach, and has had teaching engagements in Europe, the Far East and the United States.

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