I saw Lost Illusions in Moscow when it debuted (the same month) and I loved it personally. Lucky Paris!

I watched Smirnova's pre-graduation year and graduation-year performances and I can say that she resembles nothing of Skorik, either physically or otherwise. She has a calm aristocratic bearing and a capacity for fluid lyricism that few her age have. (Plus a beautiful face and body). The Bayadere Act III Shades excerpt she danced was "colder" than other things she has danced and given the right outlet she can emote. Cassandra, Smirnova is one not to be missed. My opinion.

In that case I'll try to see her in the summer, but with no casting announced yet and booking getting close, it's possible I won't catch her this time around.

Anastasia Volochkova makes accusations against Bolshoi management of ignoring sexual abuse against female dancers by Moscow's wealthy:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21856516

Previews of "The Age of the Rite of Spring -- The Age of Modernism."

Sergei Loiko for the Los Angeles Times.

LA Times

Sophia Kishkovsky for the New York Times.

NY Times

Nikolai Tsiskaridze's teaching and performance contract at the Bolshoi is not being renewed beyond June 30, 2013, according to Russian press sources.

RIA Novosti

Press reports on the non-renewal of Tsiskaridze.

Ismene Brown for the Arts Desk.

Arts Desk

Damien McElroy for the Telegraph.

Telegraph

Ellen Barry for the New York Times.

NY Times