Russian Prima Ballerina will star in San Antonio Nutcracker Performance

Russian Prima Ballerina will star in San Antonio Nutcracker Performance

Russian Prima Ballerina, Marianna Ryzhkina, of Moscow’s famous Bolshoi Theatere Ballet, has accepted an invitation to make her San Antonio debut in performances of The Nutcracker.   Ryzhkina will partner with another native Russian, Alexei Tyukov, in the November 27-29 performances at San Antonio’s Municipal Auditorium.

San Antonio audiences will have an unusual opportunity to see the stunningly beautiful prima ballerina from the world’s greatest ballet company perform the role of Princessa, Fairy Doll and the Grand Pas de Deux in the Waltz of the Flowers.  Among her many accolades, Ryzhkina was awarded the distinction of “Merited Artist of the Russian Federation” in 2002.  In 2003, she was featured in the Hamburg Ballet’s Nijinsky Gala XXIX) dedicated to the memory of Rudolf Nureyev.  Ryzhkina won the 2004 Golden Lyre competition in Moscow.

The Nutcracker is important because it is a fairytale that evokes both creativity and fun.  It is a wonderful holiday tradition that can be shared by children and adults alike and is a way to celebrate the season,” says Vetrov.  “I have traveled the world with the Bolshoi and it is still exciting to go somewhere new and share the arts with a new audience.

The Nutcracker will be performed by Metropolitan Classical Ballet under the artistic direction of Alexander Vetrov and Paul Mejia in association with San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, Susan Connally, Artistic Director.  The production will be accompanied by the San Antonio Symphony under the direction of Maestro Bernard Rubenstein, Music Director of Metropolitan Classical Ballet, with set lighting by Tony Tucci.  The Nutcracker performances are November 27, 28, 29 and December 4, 5, 6 at Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio.

For more information on performances call (210) 226-2891 or visit www.ARTSSA.org.
For more information on San Antonio go to www.visitsanantonio.com.