Specials

IVAN VASILIEV AS SPARTACUS Photos from the debut of 19-year old Ivan Vasiliev as Spartacus during the Bolshoi tour at the Royal Theatre Carré in Amsterdam - 25 July 2008. Also featuring Nina Kaptsova, Alexander Volchkov and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet. With kind permission of the Bolshoi Theatre and Stardust Theatre BV.

MOSCOW CITY BALLET'S GISELLE Impressions from Moscow City Ballet's production of Giselle. Choreography by Jules Perrot, Jean Coralli, Marius Petipa, Leonid Lavrovsky, Viktor Smirnov-Golovanov. Production by Viktor Smirnov-Golovanov. Design by Viktor Smirnov-Golovanov and Evgeny Gurenko. Costumes by Elisaveta Dvorkina and Natalia Povago. Featuring Anastasia Gubanova, Talgat Kozhabayev, Anastasia Shiladzhyan and artists of Moscow City Ballet. With kind permission of Viktor Smirnov-Golovanov and Ludmila Nerubashchenko - July 2008.

FLAMES OF PARIS AT THE BOLSHOI A selection of photos from Flames of Paris, a new ballet in 2 Acts, with music by Boris Asafiev, book by Alexander Belinsky and Alexei Ratmansky, based on the original libretto by Nikolai Volkov and Vladimir Dmitriev. Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, with use of the original choreography by Vasily Vainonen. Sets by Ilya Utkin, Evgeny Monakhov, costumes by Yelena Markovskaya. Lighting by Damir Ismagilov. Premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, July 3, 2008.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET'S GISELLE (II) A selection from the 2nd Act of Giselle, featuring Natalia Osipova, Andrei Merkuriev, Maria Alexandrova, and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet. staging by Vladimir Vasiliev (1997), sets by Sergei Barkhin, costumes by Hubert de Givenchy.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET'S LA SYLPHIDE (2), FEBRUARY 2008 A new staging produced by Johan Kobborg, principal dancer with London's Royal Ballet. Choreography by August Bournonville. Production and New Choreography by Johan Kobborg. Sets and costumes by Peter Farmer. Lighting by Damir Ismagilov. Featuring Natalia Osipova, Vyacheslav Lopatin, Ekaterina Krysanova, Yan Godovsky, Nelly Kobakhidze, Ruslan Skvortsov and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet. Photos with permission of the Bolshoi Theatre. Special thanks to Katerina Novikova, head of press.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET'S LA SYLPHIDE (1), FEBRUARY 2008 A new staging produced by Johan Kobborg, principal dancer with London's Royal Ballet. Choreography by August Bournonville. Production and New Choreography by Johan Kobborg. Sets and costumes by Peter Farmer. Lighting by Damir Ismagilov. Featuring Natalia Osipova, Vyacheslav Lopatin, Ekaterina Krysanova, Yan Godovsky, Nelly Kobakhidze, Ruslan Skvortsov and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet. Photos with permission of the Bolshoi Theatre. Special thanks to Katerina Novikova, head of press.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET IN PARIS, JANUARY 2008 The Bolshoi Ballet returns to Paris for three weeks at the Opera Garnier in January 2008. The programme consists of Le Corsaire, Spartacus and a triple bill with Jeu de Cartes/Card Game (Alexei Ratmansky), the Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadère and Pique Dame/Queen of Spades (Roland Petit).

THE BOLSHOI BALLET IN LA BAYADÈRE The Bolshoi Ballet in Yuri Grigorovich's revival (1991) of Marius Petipa's La Bayadère. Designs and costumes reproduced by Valery Firsov, Nikolai Sharonov and Nikolai Sviridchik under the guidance of Valery Leventhal according to the original 1877 production. Featuring Maria Alexandrova, Svetlana Lunkina, Denis Matvienko, Natalia Osipova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Andrei Sitnikov and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet.

NATALIA OSIPOVA & IVAN VASILIEV The Bolshoi Ballet summer 2007 season in London was overall an outstanding success. Natalia Osipova (21) and Ivan Vasiliev (18) were the company's eye-catching young soloists. Whether on their own or dancing together, on the ground or in the air, they unconditionally conquered audiences and critics, and quickly became the new favourites of the London balletgoers.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET'S LE CORSAIRE (part 2) New production (2007), choreography by Marius Petipa, revival and new choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, Yuri Burlaka. Sets by Boris Kaminsky, costumes by Elena Zaytseva (with the use of sketches by Evgeny Ponomaryov - 1899), lighting by Damir Ismagilov. Premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, 21 June 2007. Featuring Maria Alexandrova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet. Photos with permission of the Bolshoi Theatre. Special thanks to Katerina Novikova, head of press.

NATALIA OSIPOVA & IVAN VASILIEV REHEARSING DON QUIXOTE Up-and-coming Bolshoi Ballet soloists Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev in rehearsal for Don Quixote.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET'S LE CORSAIRE (part 1) New production (2007), choreography by Marius Petipa, revival and new choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, Yuri Burlaka. Sets by Boris Kaminsky, costumes by Elena Zaytseva (with the use of sketches by Evgeny Ponomaryov - 1899), lighting by Damir Ismagilov. Premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, 21 June 2007. Featuring Maria Alexandrova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze and artists of the Bolshoi Ballet. Photos with permission of the Bolshoi Theatre. Special thanks to Katerina Novikova, head of press.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET CLASS A selection of black and white shots of the Bolshoi Ballet in class. Featuring Maria Alexandrova, Rimma Karelskaya, Nelly Kobakhidze, Ekaterina Krysanova, Svetlana Lunkina, Denis Medvedev, Natalia Osipova, and members of the Bolshoi Ballet.

SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA REHEARSING SWAN LAKE A selection of photos of Svetlana Zakharova rehearsing Swan Lake in the studio. Also featuring Ruslan Skvortsov.

SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA AS CINDERELLA A selection of photos of Svetlana Zakharova in the the Bolshoi Ballet's 2006 production of Sergei Prokofiev's Cinderella. Choreography by Yuri Possokhov, sets by Hans-Dieter Schaal, costumes by Sandra Woodall.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET IN DON QUIXOTE A selection from the Bolshoi Ballet's production of Don Quixote. Choreography by Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky, staging by Alexei Fadeyechev. Additional choreography by Kasyan Goleizovsky, Rostislav Zakharov, Anatoly Simachev. Designs by Sergei Barkhin, costumes after Vasily Dyachkov (1906), recreated by Tatiana Artamonova and Yelena Merkurova.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET IN LONDON (part 2) The Bolshoi Ballet seen from and in the wings.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET IN LONDON (part 1) Photographic survey of the Bolshoi's three-week season at London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 31 July-19 August 2006.

NATALIA OSIPOVA The Bolshoi's new up-and-coming soloist, Natalia Osipova, rehearsing in the studio for Don Quixote and The Pharaoh's Daughter. London, August 2006.

LES ÉTOILES DE BALLET2000 Les Etoiles de Ballet2000. An international dance gala, Cannes Palais des Festivals, 16 July 2006. Featuring stars from Paris Opera Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet Béjart Lausanne, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and Vienna Opera Ballet.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET IN GISELLE A selection from the 1st Act of Giselle, romantic ballet par excellence. Production of the Bolshoi Ballet, featuring Svetlana Zakharova and Andrei Uvarov, production by Vladimir Vasiliev (1997), sets by Sergei Barkhin, costumes by Hubert de Givenchy.

LIGHT, COLOUR AND MOVEMENT A selection of images of dance and dancers, on or offstage, emphasizing light, colour and movement. Featuring Bolshoi and Mariinsky ballet companies.

THE CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET Images from The Cuban National Ballet, including some of this company's greatest dancers - Viengsay Valdès, Joel Carreño, Rómel Frómeta, Sadaise Arencibia and Anette Delgado.

IMAGES OF ROMEO AND JULIET - A MARIINSKY BALLET PHOTO GALLERY Impressions from the Kirov Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet in a choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky. Featuring up-and-coming coryphée Evgenia Obraztsova and principal dancer Igor Kolb.

IMAGES OF SWAN LAKE - A BOLSHOI BALLET PHOTO GALLERY Impressions from the Bolshoi Ballet's production of Swan Lake (as staged by Yuri Grigorovich). Featuring the Bolshoi principals and soloists Galina Stepanenko, Sergei Filin, Vladimir Neporozhny, Ekaterina Shipulina, and the corps de ballet of the Bolshoi Theatre. With special thanks to the press department of the Bolshoi Theatre.

THE BOLSHOI IN LONDON - A BOLSHOI BALLET PHOTO GALLERY Impressions from the Bolshoi Ballet tour in London, July-August 2004. Featuring Maria Alexandrova, Sergei Filin, Svetlana Zakharova, and the Bolshoi Ballet artists. With special thanks to the press department of the Bolshoi Theatre.

BACKSTAGE AT THE BOLSHOI - A BOLSHOI BALLET PHOTO GALLERY Shot backstage at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, May 2004. Featuring Maria Alexandrova, Nadezhda Gracheva, Dmitry Gudanov, Nina Kaptsova, and Marina Kondratieva. With special thanks to the press department of the Bolshoi Theatre.

CLASS AND REHEARSALS - A BOLSHOI BALLET PHOTO GALLERY A selection of shots showing the Bolshoi Ballet in class and in rehearsal. Featuring Alexei Ratmansky, Ludmilla Semenyaka, Ekaterina Shipulina, Anastasia Yatsenko, Svetlana Zakharova, and Andrei Uvarov. With many thanks to the Paris Opera and the Bolshoi Ballet.

IMAGES OF NIKIYA - A KIROV BALLET PHOTO GALLERY A selection of moments taken from La Bayadère, focusing on the ballet's central character, the temple dancer Nikiya. All shots are from the Mariinsky's new-old production of La Bayadère, as staged by Sergei Vikharev. Featuring Svetlana Zakharova as Nikiya, Leonid Sarafanov and Igor Kolb as Solor, and Viktoria Tereshkina as Gamzatti.

WINGS, CURTAINS AND FLOWERS - A KIROV BALLET PHOTO GALLERY When the Kirov-Mariinsky Ballet was guesting at the Opera House in Graz, Austria in July 2003, I was allowed to shoot the dancers from the wings and backstage. Here is a selection of images rarely seen by the audience. With many thanks to Rieder Promotions and the Mariinsky Ballet management.

FRENCH DANCERS AT TIVOLI, COPENHAGEN - PHOTO GALLERY A group of eight French principals and soloists of the Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet appeared for a short stint at Tivoli's Concert Hall in Copenhagen in September 2002. Thanks to the producer of the event Alexander Meinertz, I was able to shoot them in performance. Here is a selection.

DANSES CONCERTANTES PHOTO GALLERY A group of ten principals and soloists of New York City Ballet performed at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre in September 2002. As with the French dancers at Tivoli, thanks to the producer of the event Alexander Meinertz, I was able to shoot them in performance. Here is a selection.

WARNING:All photos copyright © Marc Haegeman. All rights reserved. It is illegal to publish, download, reproduce, distribute, or sell the photograph(s) contained in these pages without the expressed permission of the photographer.