Dancing for Dollars – The Bolshoi in Vegas & The Kirov in Petersburg

Synopsis

Thirty years ago the Bolshoi Ballet’s first trip to America was a political and artistic triumph and audiences queued for days to see these legends of ballet. Bolshoi in Vegas, a richly entertaining documentary, follows their disastrous 1996 tour in which they hoped to capitalise on this earlier success. Kirov in Petersburg traces the development of an institution which is both irremediably altered and condemned to trade on its past glories. As Communism gives way to Capitalism and artistic values give way to commercial considerations, the Kirov Ballet’s chief choreographer Oleg Vinogradov’s final year in office is set against allegations of bribery and corruption. Through the deeply personal recollections of workers, dancers and critics, specially-filmed backstage footage and previously unseen archive material, a unique portrait emerges of the Kirov’s changing fortunes in the context of its awesome heritage. “These two documentaries, for all their dance interest, are centrally about the plight and destiny of post-Soviet art, and are profoundly moving.” THE FINANCIAL TIMES – "The Bolshoi in Vegas'" won:1997 International EMMY Award for Best Arts Documentary, Special Commendation at the 1998 Grierson Memorial Trust Awards, Special Mention at the 1998 Golden Prague Awards

Additional Info

• No: GBCRB0601723
• Artists: Narrator: Clare Higgins
• Production year: 1997
• Run time: 01:02:00
• Director: Angus Macqueen
• Producers: An NVC ARTS production for Channel 4 in association with MIRIS, St Petersburg, Telepiù Classica
• Format: HDTV