Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg

Eifman Ballet, based in St. Petersburg, has revolutionized the concept of Russian classical dance—with its rigor, purity and exquisite line—by fusing those traditions with expressive modern investigations of narrative and character.

Fast on the heels of his Red Giselle, Russian Hamlet and Anna Kareninaperformed in previous Northrop engagements, the prolific Boris Eifman has now turned his choreographic attention to another work of literature: Pushkin’s 19th-century novel of love, morality and loyalty, Onegin, which Tchaikovsky also scored as an opera.

In the tale a jaded aristocrat comes to regret his spurning of a lovelorn girl, which Eifman explores in his new ballet with psychological acuity and emotional drama.

Sumptuous costumes, magical staging and atmospheric lighting generate a theatrical spectacle in which the corps de ballet ebb and swirl with dramatic intensity, while the soloists embody their characters with artistic integrity and emotional truth.

A singular company, the Eifman Ballet speaks the language of Russian ballet, but with a contemporary inflection all its own.  In Onegin, Eifman transforms another classic with an expressive power unique to dance and his original vision.

Critic's Comments

“Boris Eifman doesn’t just choreograph ballets, he creates dynamic, theatrical, visionary works that delve into characters’ lives in the most exiting, probing, titillating and wondrous ways.”-Los Angeles Times

Past performances at Northrop

2000, 2002, 2007

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Funding provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and private funders.