If There Is Much In The Window There Should Be More In The Room

Sunday, April 10, 2011

La Bayadère: Marianela Nuñez



La Bayadere (The Temple Dancer) is a ballet in four acts and seven scenes, choreographed by Marius Petipa. It was first performed by the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg in 1877.

Plot Summary of La Bayadere:

La Bayadere takes place in the Royal India of long ago. As the ballet begins, we learn that Nikiya, a beautiful temple dancer, is in love with a young warrior named Solor. However, Solor is engaged to the Rajah's daughter. During the betrothal, Nikiya is forced to dance, after which she receives a basket of flowers from the Rajah's daughter. The basket contains a deadly snake and Nikiya dies.

Solor dreams of reuniting with Nikiya in the Kingdom of the Shades. He then awakens, remembering that he's still engaged. At his wedding, however, he sees a vision of Nikiya. He mistakenly says his vows to her, instead of his bride-to-be. The gods become infuriated and destroy the palace. Solor and Nikiya reunite in spirit, in the Kingdom of the Shades.


Marianela Núñez (born in San Martín, Buenos Aires 1982) is an Argentine dancer. She is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, London. Of her performance one leading critic commented “every gesture sings, every step is luminous with emotion. The result is sublime“.


Marianela Nuñez as Gamzatti - La Bayadere



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