World-renowned talents brings a reimagined ‘Nutcracker’ and ‘Swan Lake’ to Malaysia

FreedBallet, founded by graduates of the renowned Vaganova Academy of Ballet and husband-wife duo, Vitaliy Amialishka and Nika Tskhvitariia returns to Kuala Lumpur with what promises to be the biggest ballet concert in Malaysia. The company made their maiden performance in Malaysia last August and as part of their global tour, returns with brand new elements added to their acts.

The concert is divided into two acts, each approximately an hour long, and will see the prima ballerina and premiere danseur perform selected excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker. The performances will be accompanied by live music from pianist Dmitrii Nekhoroshev and Aysylu Salyakhova (Moscow State Conservatory).

Joining them are guest dancers, Oleg Demchenko, Nikita Ksenofontov, and Ludmila Khitrova, each a luminary in the world of ballet with accolades and international recognitions to their name. The performance will also feature flying artists, Olga Lemberg and Alexsandr Timohin, performing for the first time at FreedBallet, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the Kuala Lumpur stage.

In an interview with FirstClasse, lead dancer Nika Tskhvitariia teased a few more details of the repertoire and choreography. “We created our libretto for The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, based on classical ballet but modernized. Swan Lake is condensed into one act instead of three. I’ll perform adagio from The Nutcracker, the White Swan from Swan Lake, and other numbers we created for FreedBallet.”

The former Mariinsky Theater ballerina added that the choreography is rooted in the traditions and training taught at Vaganova Ballet Academy. “Vaganova Ballet Academy is the best ballet school, without a doubt. Its graduates are easily recognizable. The academy equipped me with knowledge, body control; thanks to it, I became a ballerina. I carry their traditions, as evident in my movements,” she said.

To appeal to a larger audience, the duo has added experimental elements to their production such as live music, aerial gymnasts and vibrant sets and lighting. “Vitally and I incorporated aerial gymnasts, turning them into characters enhancing the performance. We had a concert with them in Jakarta and received positive feedback. I believe it adds emotions, making our ballet production a unique spectacle,” Tskhvitariia added.

The concert takes place for one night only on Friday, February 2^nd at Plenary Hall. For more details and to book your tickets, click here.