Auditorium Theatre 2018-19 Issue 4 Eifman Ballet

22 | AUDITORIUM THEATRE 2018-19 | April 11 - May 19, 2019 The Auditorium Theatre’s “Russian Travelers” Celebrate Eifman Ballet’s Return! LARRY GLOWCZSEWSKI The Russian Travelers In 2013, members of the Auditorium sta— and some of the theatre’s closest friends made their way to Russia on an Auditorium Theatre cultural excursion. The trip brought together an unexpected group, eventually referred to as the “Russian Travelers,” who continue to celebrate and support one of Russia’s most innovative and esteemed ballet companies, Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. Throughout their weeklong stay, the Russian Travelers toured the iconic cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg to see the sights, taste the cuisine, and experience the culture (and maybe have a shot of vodka or two!). Some highlights from the trip included visiting the Kremlin, Red Square, the Pushkin Museum, the Winter Palace, and St. Isaac’s Cathedral; traveling on a Moscow Metro high-speed train; and watching the Bolshoi Ballet and the Mariinsky Ballet in their respective theatre homes. But the Russian Travelers all agree the most memorable part of the trip was their visit to Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. Their first stop was the brand-new Boris Eifman Dance Academy — the state-of-the-art facility had opened just one month prior to their arrival, but 90 dance students were already hard at work, and the Russian Travelers were able to see how the devoted pre- professionals were working towards their dreams. The next stop was Eifman Ballet’s professional studio, where the Russian Travelers were greeted by Artistic Director Boris Eifman and treated to a private rehearsal viewing of Anna Karenina . The experience had lasting e—ects on each traveler. As Russian Travelers Amy and Kent Jidov recalled, “What we remember most was the Eifman Ballet School and how impressed we were with the rehearsal hall performance. Thrilling!” The Eifman Ballet was no stranger to the Auditorium in 2013. The company’s first visit to our National Historic Landmark stage was in 2000 with Red Giselle . The Russian Travelers were so moved by their visit to the Eifman studios they wanted to support their beloved Russian ballet company on the Auditorium stage, and since 2009, the company has returned to Chicago every two years. “We all have a great respect for the perfect technique and fabulous choreography of Eifman,” Russian Travelers Lee and Floy Barthel said. “We will never forget the rehearsal hall performance and how we didn’t want to leave.” The Russian Travelers created their own tradition to celebrate Eifman Ballet’s return to Chicago every other year: They gather prior to the Sunday matinee performance of Eifman Ballet to reunite with members of the company over brunch. They reminisce about their trip, share updates on their lives, and honor a dance company near and dear to all of their hearts. “ What we remember most was the Eifman Ballet School and how impressed we were with the rehearsal hall performance. Thrilling! ” “We will never forget the rehearsal hall performance and how we didn’t want to leave.”