The Bermuda Civic Ballet is hosting two gala performances by Swansea Ballet Russe this weekend.

The two performances are under the distinguished patronage of Sir John and Lady Swan, one is tomorrow evening and the other on Saturday with both beginning at 8 p.m. at the City Hall Theatre.

The performances are dedicated to Elsbeth Gibson who passed away recently after being on the Board of Trustees for 33 years and a great patron of the arts in Bermuda.

The Ballet Russe company dancers that are on-Island are from Russia and Japan.

The Company was formed in 1998 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and a group of Russian dancers arrived in Britain seeking better opportunities.

It began its life in Bristol, but in September 1999, thanks to the vision and generosity of the City & County of Swansea, they took up residence in the Grand Theatre, Swansea.

They have taken ballet to a broad cross-section of venues ranging from theatres and school halls to outdoor stages. They expertly adapt their dances to the space available, performing in places where an audience would not normally have the opportunity to see classical ballet.

The five dancers, all of whom trained in the foremost Russian Ballet Academies including the Kirov and Bolshoi Schools, are Viktor Pivovarov, Yuri Demakov, Zhanat Atymtayev, Chika Temma and Evgenia Enikeeva.

Bermuda Civic Ballet (BCB) founder Madame Patricia Deane-Gray said: ?It is a very varied programme and it?ll give people just a taste of everything.

?Yuri will be doing a mime piece in the Hooligan, which I understand he does magnificently.?

The Bermuda Civic Ballet was formed in 1972 and for over 30 years has continually strived to develop the art of dance in Bermuda. It is best known for its annual Summer School that will which this year will feature instructors in both classical ballet and modern dance.

BCB director Coral Waddell said: ?The Company has provided an opportunity for trained dancers and advanced students to perform at a semi-professional level, and work with visiting and local choreographers and professional dancers.

?Over the years the company has made a significant contribution to the culture of the community. It have been very fortunate to be able to work with many talented choreographers including Oscar Harmos, Madame Ana Roje, Chuck Bennett, Marian Bayer, Ron Cunningham, Patrick Woods, Myles Marsden, Jelko Yuresha, Belinda Wright, Lawrence Haider and David Drummond.?

Mrs. Waddell was pleased with the repertoire.

She said: ?Les Sylphides will be performed in the first act by Ms Temma, Mr. Atymtaev, Ms Enikeeva, Sophia Cannonier, and the Corps de Ballet.

?The 11th Waltz will feature Ms Enikeeva and Mazurka will show the talents of Mr. Atymtaev. Ms Temma will also be in the Prelude and Ms Cannonier in another Mazurka. The 7th Waltz will feature Ms Temma and Zhanat Atymtaev.?

She said the local Corps de Ballet are Andrea Powell, Gabriella Shorto, Annabelle Gray, Jessica Koren, Davina Cannonier, Amanda Perry, Catherine Outerbridge and Onika Outerbridge.

?I choreographed Smooth Fun and it will be performed by Jalani Veney and James Waddell,? said Mrs. Waddell.La Fille Mal Gardee (pas de deux, act 3) features Ms Enikeeva and Mr. Pivovarov. The third act will feature Mr. Pivovarov is the male variation of Corsaire.

?And Mr. Demakov and Ms Enikeeva in The Young Girl and the Hooligan. Diana and Acteon will feature Ms Temma and Mr. Atymtaev. ?And the entire Company will be in CODA.?

The love of dance is what binds all of the Ballet Russe performers.

Ms Temma began training at the age of five in her mother?s ballet school in Osaka, Japan. She then went on to train at the Royal Ballet School, in London.

After graduation she joined the St. Petersburg?s Academic Ballet Theatre where she performed in many leading roles. Since joining Swansea?s Ballet Russe in 1998 she has played a major role in bringing the company together.

Her repertoire includes: Odette/Odile, in Swan Lake; Swanhilda, in Coppelia; Lise, in La Fille mal Gardee; Myrtha, in Giselle; Clara, in The Nutcracker; and many Pas de Deux from famous classical ballets.

Ms Temma, who has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, the Baltic States, Russia and Great Britain, heard about the Ballet Russe when she was working in Russia.

?I heard about a Russian Ballet Company with Russian dancers in the UK who wanted to get started,? she said. ?And because I studied at the Kirov Ballet Schools for two years and I couldn?t speak English, I thought I would go back to England. So, that is why I joined.?

For the first half she said: ?We are performing Les Sylphides and highlights of different ballets in the rest of the show.?

Mr. Atymytaev was born in and he studied at the Alma ? Ata Ballet School. Following his graduation he worked for several ballet companies in Russia and participated in many overseas tours.

He has also taken part in dance festivals, including the Kazakhstan Ballet Stars Festival and the Festival of Rudolph Nureyev.

Nowadays he also appears as a guest principal dancer with the Russian National Ballet and the Classical Dance Company of St. Petersburg.

His repertoire includes: Prince SiegfrKazakhstanied, in Swan Lake; Prince, in The Nutcracker; Solol, in La Bayadere; and many other Pas de Deux and contemporary works.

Mr. Atymytaev will dance in Diana and Acteon pas de deux.

?The Company has 16 dancers,? he said. ?We are touring all the time and we practice everyday.?

St. Petersburg native Ms Enikeeva studied at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, the school of the Kirov Ballet.

She has been a professional dancer for ten years and since her graduation has performed with the St. Petersburg Marynsky (Kirov) Theatre, touring throughout Japan, the US, Finland, Turkey, Italy and the UK.

Ms Enikeeva has danced in numerous roles which include: the Pas de Deux, in Giselle; La Fille mal Gardee; Clara, in The Nutcracker; and Troi, in Swan Lake; and as Paquita. She has worked with Swansea?s Ballet Russe since 1998.

?I like to dance,? she said, ?But it is the performing that I love most.?

Born in Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Pivovarov graduated from the Ballet School, in Frunze. He began working for the State Academic Ballet Theatre of St. Petersburg before joining the Swansea?s Ballet Russe in 1999.

His repertoire includes: Frantz, in Coppelia; Colin, in La Fille mal Gardee; Prince, in The Nutcracker; Jester and Pas de Trois, in Swan Lake; and various Pas de Deux from many different classical ballets.

Mr. Pivovarov said he joined the Ballet Russe after he heard someone talking about it.

?I heard someone say there was a Russian Ballet Company, in Swansea,? he said, ?So, someone said, ?let?s go?. So, I just went there.?

But although he is a successful dancer he still misses his native Russia. ?St. Petersburg is a big capital city and it is a really special place,? he said.

?It has a lot of life and in Swansea, it is a country life. But I am really glad to be there because I have a daughter who is living with me. In the UK I am relaxed about my daughters.?

Here he is performing in La Fille mal Gardee and variations of other ballets.

Of Bermuda he said: ?It is really nice ? working here is like being on holiday.?

Mr. Demakov, who looks very much like French film star G?rard Depardeiu, is the Company?s artistic director.

He graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet School, in Moscow, and joined the St. Petersburg Academic Ballet Theatre where he danced in many leading roles for choreographer Leonid Yakobson.

He joined Swansea?s Ballet Russe, in 1998, and is very much the core of the company, adding dignity, masculinity and an offbeat sense of humour to his performances. His repertoire includes: Franz and Coppelius, in Copplelia; Mother Simone, in La Fille mal Gardee; von Rothbart, in Swan Lake; Hans, in Giselle; and many other contemporary Russian pieces.

Mr. Demakov will be performing in The Young Girl and the Hooligan.

Of his dancing, he said: ?I don?t speak much English, but if you come ? I will show you on the stage. It is a very simple language ? a language that everyone understands ? the language of dance.?

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