She was one of the world’s greatest ballerinas — so it was fitting that a West End gala tribute to Maya Plisetskaya was hailed by a former protégé as “one of the great London ballet nights”.
Stars from the Bolshoi, Mariinsky and Royal Ballets, among others, gathered at the London Coliseum to perform Ave Maya, in memory of the Russian dancer, who died aged 89 last May.
The show — the biggest celebration of Plisetskaya’s life outside Russia — featured her favourite roles and works created for her, such as Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso’s Carmen Suite.
Matthew Golding, the principal of the Royal Ballet, performed an extract from Swan Lake with Russian Liudmila Konovalova. He said: “To give a show for Maya and dedicate the career she gave for the stage and off the stage was something special. All the people here are good people from top companies.”
Ms Konovalova, the prima ballerina of the Vienna State Ballet whose career was launched in Russia after she won a competition organised by Plisetskaya, said: “The last time I danced as the Black Swan she told me, ‘Don’t think about anything, just dance for you and for her’ — and tonight I did the same thing. I was dancing for her. It was a magical and emotional night. I think one of the great London ballet nights.” Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were among those watching last night’s show, which was accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic.
Ave Maya’s artistic director Andris Liepa, a close friend of Plisetskaya, said: “The energy was special and I know Maya was watching like the great artist she was and supporting us.
“I felt from backstage, the audience received our energy and gave it back with love for her and love for ballet. You see how people danced, it was not just the full force, it was an over-emotion and the audience loved it. Because when we talk about Maya it is something super, not just good but super.”
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Londoner Xander Parish, the first British dancer to join the illustrious Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, said: “It was a great honour to come back and dance here as a Brit. It was a great crowd. She was such a great ballerina.”
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