DANCE TO THE MUSIC

Aswar rages between Russia and Ukraine, the Royal Czech Ballet company is aiming to unite audiences with their latest production – Swan Lake.

Artistic director Andrey Scharaev said the company was aiming to ‘bring good through art’ with its latest production.

“In this difficult time for everyone, when there is a conflict in Ukraine, we want to bring good through our art,” he said.

“We have an international company with dancers from different European countries, including Ukraine.

“The theatre is something that has always united people and always will do.”

Swan Lake, set to the magnificent score of Tchaikovsky, is the most romantic of all the classical ballets.

The storyline is ultimately one where the virtues of love and forgiveness conquer evil and betrayal.

The Royal Czech Ballet company is made up of elite dancers from Europe, including Italy, Moldova and Ukraine and was formed in the Czech Republic in 2008.

Scharaev said, who was born into an “ordinary family”, ”my father was a doctor and my mother was a music teacher at an art school” said it was in school where his creative path began by accident.

“I graduated from the school of arts and immediately entered the choreographic school, which I successfully graduated in 1995 and received a diploma as a professional ballet dancer and was hired by the National Opera of Chisinau (Moldova),” he said.

“I really wanted to try myself in the West, so after 10 years of work in the theatre, I left for the USA.

“After two years of work in several US companies, I returned to Europe and settled in the Czech Republic, where in 2008 I founded the Royal Czech Ballet company.

“The start of the company was not an easy one, it required significant investments to implement our plans.

“We organised gala concerts, festivals and spent all the money we earned on new costumes and scenery for our future performances.

“Luck was on our side, we worked hard and we made it.

“Now we have traditional classical performances in our repertoire: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Giselle. We tour a lot in Europe and beyond.

“We will be very happy to present our ballet performance Swan Lake to audiences in Australia and New Zealand.”

Don’t miss Swan Lake, performed by the Royal Czech Ballet, at the Townsville Civic Theatre on September 28-29. Bookings: www.ticketshop.com.au