If you thought the flurry of Christmas ballets had been swept off stage for another year, not so fast: the Churchill Theatre is hosting two all-time favourites: The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
The ballets are being performed by the International Classic Ballet Theatre, a troop of international dancers represented by PACE Ballet USA, with an orchestra bringing Tchaikosky’s memorable, magical scores to life.
The twin ballets return to Bromley’s leading theatre following a well-attended UK debut there this time last year.
With the ballets returning to the Churchill Theatre this weekend, we look back at our interview with Sophie Mergaliyev, a dancer and dance teacher with International Classic Ballet Theatre, who last year told us all about how the company will be staging the well-known works…
Holly O’Mahony (HOM): As a company, you perform ballets both in the UK and the US. Are there any notable differences between audiences on either side of the pond?
Sophie Mergaliyev (SM): After the pandemic, it has been wonderful to be dancing to a live audience again regardless of the country to be honest. We performed to very welcoming audiences in the US, but it’s always special when you get to perform in your home country, and we’re looking forward to the UK audiences – beginning with Bromley!
HOM: The Nutcracker follows a young girl, Clara, on her adventures with the Nutcracker Prince. How would you describe your production of the story?
SM: Magical, Christmassy and accessible for all.
HOM: London has a generous sprinkling of productions of The Nutcracker at this time of year. What sets yours apart?
SM: Our Nutcracker is very colourful and full of energy. It has a blend of styles from across the ballet world and is very family friendly, so it’s a great introduction to the story for young audiences as well as those for whom it’s a festive favourite. Uplifting and celebratory, it truly transports you into a magical world.
HOM: You’re also staging another Tchaikosky masterpiece, Swan Lake. How would you summarise this one?
SM: t’s an emotive, dramatic journey of love. It’s a tragic love story, isn’t it, about a prince who falls in love with the Queen of the Swans and is tricked into betraying her.
HOM: What defines your production of it?
SM: Our production is very traditional yet still very relevant for today’s audiences. It gives all the feelings one would hope for from such a classic, capturing the emotion and spectacle, with a powerful corps de ballet [group performance] portraying both serenity and strength throughout.
HOM: Lastly, what do you hope audiences take away from seeing either show?
SM: We hope they enjoy the magic of beautiful ballet accompanied by a live orchestra. Hopefully we can transport them briefly into another world, and they will experience a real feast for all their senses.
International Classic Ballet Theatre is performing its productions of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker at the Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA.
Swan Lake on January 19, 7:30pm;
The Nutcracker on January 20, 2:30pm and 7:30pm.
Admission: £25 – £48.
