Anna Karenina

To think i was so psyched to watch Finnish National Ballet in Anna Karenina. I was very disappointed honestly. Firstly, the principal dancer dancing as Anna(i can't remember her name) is so old, and she looked like she had alot of botox done. She fell going into an arabesque(but then again it's very common), and she did some stuff a little too much, a little too often, like extensions and kicks(grand battements).

Secondly, i believe Anna Karenina is more suited adapted to an opera rather than a ballet. I just felt that the music didn't suit the steps. More importantly, this choreography won a Benois de la Danse award for choreo, and the choreographer's a Russian trained in russian technique. What i saw was totally opposite of Russian ballet, more contemp ballet, and i of course i was dismayed because i love russian ballet, and am not accustomed to watching story plot ballets with contemp style. Thirdly, the dancers were not synchronised. Not even when there were only 3 on stage. I mean, that's quite basic right? That's what most corps try to achieve at least. Even we amateur dancers try to do that!

But i must admit that the dancers are technically great!!! The sets were nice and the projection was well thought of. I felt that perhaps the dancers could emote more because even though i was sitting right after the orchestra pit, i could feel nothing coming from the dancers. It was just choreography and faces.

It ended quite cutely because as usual, Esplanade screwed up the curtain call. The dancers thought it was the end of the curtain call, and 'Anna' was happily shaking her ass with her ass facing us as the curtains went up for the last time. LMAO! ;P

I expected to watch a good ballet, but ah well. Can't expect much if it's a tragic plot, and not a classic. SDT's doing Balanchine's Concerto Barocco in September! Exciting! Can't wait for Genee and dans fest!