Russian Fair Travel

Tourist and Cultural center Russian Fair, founded in 1992, has been actively involved in the entertainment production activities since 1993.

The choreographic art ranks among the main highlights of our city. Ballet is one of the images of St. Petersburg, the city's visiting card, along with its architectural ensembles and museums. It's impossible to trace the cultural development of the city without studing the history of the ballet achievements, as St. Petersburg ballet is a special language, style, perfection and spiritual world.

Over 200 ballet performances, organized and presented by Russian Fair at various venues of the city, became the most important events in the cultural life of St. Petersburg:

• 1992 Concert dedicated to the 90th birthday of the great Russian singer Sergei Lemishev (Grand Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic Society)



• 1994 Premiere of the one-act ballet "Rapsody on the Subject of Love" with the participation of the Prima-ballerina of the Mariinsky theatre Galina Mezentseva; music by Sergei Rakhmaninov; choreography by Peggi Willis-Aarnio.



• 1994 Premiere of the one-act ballet "Romeo and Juliet"; music by P. Tchaikovsky; choreography by Sergei Vikulov.



• 1995 Gala-performance of the Winner of the International Prizes, the soloist of the Mariinsky theatre Sergei Vikharev (the Hermitage theatre)



• 1996 Openning of the exhibition "Persian Painting and Drawing of the XV-XIX Centuries" from the Hermitage collection (ballet pieces related to the exhibition subject).



• 1996 Performances of the guest dancer Julio Bokka and "Argentinian Ballet" in St. Petersburg (the Mariinsky and the Hermitage theatres).



• 1997 Ballet performances dedicated to the 125th birthday of Sergei Dyagilev: "Ballet Images of Russia" featuring the works of the modern choreographers, and "Dedication to Sergei Dyagilev" presenting the choreography of "Russian Seasons". In the framework of this event the ballet "Lady with Camellias" choreographed by Vasili Medvedev was presented (the Hermitage theatre).



• 1997 Premiere of the one-act ballet "The Picture" (after the ancient Chinese epos) from the series "Ballet Images of Russia". Choreography by the Glinka State Prize Laureate and the International Competitions Winner Yuri Petukhov (the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama theatre).



• 1997 Program of the Independant company of Alla Sigalova , the ballet "Departing Nature" - after A. Mariengof's novel "Cinics"; music by Russian jazz composers of 1920-1930.



• 1998 International Festival "Rudolf Nureev. Person and Legend" dedicated to the 60th birday of this outstanding dancer and choreographer (conference and ballet program in the Hermitage theatre).



• 1998 20 gala-performances of the ballet soloists of the St. Petersburg musical theatres on the stage of the Mariinsky theatre.



• 1999 Jubilee concert dedicated to the 45th birthday of the Prima-ballerina of the Mariinsky theatre Alla Osipenko. Included were the premiere of the play by S. Berret (cast: Alla Osipenko, Valeria Kurbatova; producer A.Kononov), and the premiere of the play "To my Beloved Terpsichore - Ballet workshop" (cast: Alla Osipenko, Roman Viktuk, Alisa Friendlikh; producer Roman Viktuk) (the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama theatre).



• 1999 Theatrical Ball-Divertissement in the Anichkov palace.



• 2000 On the eve of Alexander Pushkin's 200th anniversary Russian Fair together with the Institute of Russian Literature organized and carried out the Charitable Concert of the American Symphony Orchestra from Sacramento, California



• 2002 Program "Friendly Meeting on the Theatre Square" dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Russian Fair Cultural and Tourist Center with the participation of the Mariinsky Ballet Stars: Yulia Makhalina, Elvira Tarasova, Zhanna Ayupova, Ilya Kuznetsov, Anton Korsuntsev, Igor Kolb. This program presented ballet pieces from the classical repertoire.

In the period of 1998-2002 the Russian Fair Center in co-operation with thr American Foundation "The Pushkin Legacy" held five tours of the St. Petersburg ballet soloists and dancers from the Prague National theare to USA.

"Slipping easily through 150 years of dance history, the Russian troupe performance was illuminating - broadly conceived, superbly executed, intellectually stimulating and filled with moments of pure visceral impact <...> In the Russian style, the dancers play big and bold to the crowd, like Elizabethan actors working to a flourish. Yet a sence of classical restraint also distinguishes this company, and at times it played tricks on the audience, creating an illusion of almost lackadaisical fluidity. It was like watching a top spin: Everything seemed a hitch slow, until suddenly you realized how swift and energetic it all was."
Dance Review
The Sunday Oregonian
March 19, 2000

"Russian Fair is a company which has been in the tourist business for many years. Tatiana Tomnitskaya, the President of Russian Fair rejects a commercial approach to art. If she announces a concert of the stars of the St. Petrsburg ballet, only the dancers constituting the fame of the city's choreographic art are taking part in her performances, whatever it costs to her..."
"Ticket for Ballet"
Evening St. Petersburg
September 28, 1997 N 183

For more detailed information: Art of Dance