On March 20, 2026, a performance of Ludwig Minkus’s La Bayadère will take place in the Great Hall of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Ludwig Minkus’s birth. This composer’s name is linked inextricably with the golden age of Russian ballet.
Ludwig Minkus, not only an Austrian composer, but also a conductor and violinist, is rightfully considered to be one of the founders of the classical ballet repertoire. Several masterpieces by Marius Petipa have been inspired by his music, distinguished by its melodic and vibrant theatricality.
La Bayadère is one of the two Minkus’s most celebrated ballets, and it still adorns the repertoires of theatres around the world. On the Primorsky Stage, it premiered on May 28, 2021. This classic production has seamlessly entered the repertoire and, over the past seasons, has won the hearts of audiences, becoming one of the signature pieces of the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Stage. The connoisseurs are consistently captivated by its expansive choreographic canvas, virtuoso solo parts, and the extensive corps de ballet ensembles. The vivid stage sets and costumes, evoking the oriental atmosphere with its mysteries, add extra visual appeal to this story.
In the production of the Primorsky Stage, Marius Petipa’s choreography is carefully preserved, revised by Vladimir Ponomarev and Vakhtang Chabukiani. The love story of the simple temple dancer Nikia and the noble warrior Solor unfolds against the exotic backdrop of ancient India. The ballet culminates in the legendary scene The Kingdom of the Shades, an immortal classical dance masterpiece, where thirty-two ballerinas move with impeccable synchronicity, creating one of the most captivating images in the history of ballet.
On March 20, 2026, the main parts will be performed by the leading soloists of the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Stage Irina Sapozhnikova (Nikia), Lada Sartakova (Gamzatti) and Shizuru Kato (Solor).
