Boston Ballet is getting quite a helping hand in its staging of "La Bayadère." According to the company's press release, Natalia Dudinskaya will be in Boston early October to coach the dancers.<P>Go to the <B><A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum13/HTML/000001.html" TARGET=_blank>Boston Ballet press release thread</A></B> for more.

Well, Boston <I>is</I> going all-out on this production. Here's an excerpt from their press release:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Boston Ballet's wardrobe and production staffs made two trips to the Ukraine to view the creation of these materials, which include more than 175 different costumes (including 50 hand-stitched tutus), an exotic and colorful show curtain and a life-sized, wood-carved elephant. The production consists of four different elaborate scenes. Act I, scene 1 opens to a grand Indian Temple, scene 2 takes place inside the Rajah's lavish palace, Act II takes the audience outside of the majestic palace surrounded by palm trees and Act III evolves into the ethereal Kingdom of the Shades. Lighting design for the production is by American designer Mary Jo Dondlinger.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>For more, go to the <B><A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum13/HTML/000001.html" TARGET=_blank>Boston Ballet press release thread</A></B>.

It's a feat for Boston Ballet to have the illustrious ex-ballerina of the Kirov Dudinskaya to stage this. I hope it'll still be in the repertory after Maina Gielgud takes over, as Gielgud was quoted in saying that she's not too keen on the Russian influence.

There seems to be a bit of a vogue for Bayadere this year, with productions in both Boston and San Francisco (the latter, Nureyev's choreography performed by Paris Opera Ballet). It would be enjoyable to have the opportunity to compare and contrast both....

Here's the link to the topic on Paris Opera Ballet's visit to Salford with 'La Bayadere'.<P> <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000146.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000146.html</A>

Here are some reviews:<P><BR><B><A HREF="http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/ball10202000.htm" TARGET=_blank>`Bayadere' a success</A></B><BR>T.J. Medrek, Boston Herald<P><BR><B><A HREF="http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/ballet10212000.htm" TARGET=_blank>Ballet scores with `Bayadere'</A></B><BR>T.J. Medrek, Boston Herald<P><BR><B><A HREF="http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/baya10252000.htm" TARGET=_blank>Second rotation of `La Bayadere' takes step backward</A></B><BR>Vicki Sanders, Boston Herald