It is no surprise that major international artists want to dance with the Mikhailovsky Ballet a company that also gives opportunites to new talent.
Isabella McGuire Mayes, 17,who left her home in Highbury north London last year to be the first British student in over 270 years at the world famous Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg returns to the capital to dance at the London Coliseum, the largest theatre in London, with St Petersburg’s prestigious Mikhailovsky Ballet during their season 13 – 25 July.
Isabella is in Mikhail Messerer’s new production of Swan Lake receiving its London premiere on 13th July.
A thrilled Isabella said: "It's a fantastic opportunity to work with the Mikhailovsky Ballet. I've really enjoyed learning their revived version of Swan Lake. I liked the challenge of learning quickly and performing it in St Petersburg. The other dancers in the corps de ballet are lovely people and very helpful when I was learning it. I have two years left at the Vaganova Ballet Academy so I really appreciate them asking me to take part. It's going to be a wonderful experience coming home to London, with this excellent Russian company."
Mikhail Messerer the Mikhailovsky Ballet’s chief ballet master said: “I spotted this brilliant girl in a school class and straight away invited her to join us on our London tour - without realising she was British - the realization came as total surprise and a bonus”!
Isabella will be dancing in the corps de ballet in all performances of Swan Lake. The Mikhailovsky Ballet is at the London Coliseum 13-25 July 2010 Tickets eno.org Box office 0871 911 0200. London Tour site:
http://www.mikhailovsky.ru/london2010