Chastushki de la Danse

On 26 June, the historical Bolshoi Theatre venue in Moscow is set to host the Benoit de la Danse Gala, celebrating the Benoit de la Danse prize winners of the years past. The action-packed, star-studded programme for the evening will include a fragment from the Cheeky Chastushki ballet. The dancers from Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre are both delighted and proud to showcase this zestful, wild, high-energy choreographic text, composed by Vyacheslav Samodurov specifically for our troupe, in front of the sophisticated Moscow audience and masters of world choreography.

The history of the Benoit de la Danse prize and the eponymous festival goes back to 1991. This prestigious award honours the most outstanding accomplishments in the world of dance, and singles out the best choreographers and performers. Just like 33 years ago, legendary choreographer Yury Grigorovich is guiding the festival and the award ceremony as its president, while Bolshoi prima Svetlana Zakharova is chairing the judging panel and acting as art director for the event. Any money collected at the Gala will, as per tradition, be donated to charity and used for financially supporting veterans players from various choreographic troupes.