New YouTube videos: a starry Bayadère with Zakharova, Allash, Tsiskaridze, Ivata, Krysanova, Osipova and Nikulina from 2008

This was an inspired performance of Nikiya from Svetlana Zakharova. There are many videos of her in what is arguably her best role, but this is certainly one her finest performances. A magical evening in February of 2008.

With her are Maria Allash as Gamzatti and Nikolai Tsiskaridze as Solor, both in splendid form. The Bronze Idol is danced by Morikhiro Ivata, and it would be hard to better the three “Shadows”: Ekaterina Krysanova, Natalia Osipova and Anna Nikulina.

Nikiya's Death – Svetlana Zakharova:

Shadow Variation – Natalia Osipova:

Final Pas de deux & Variations – Svetlana Zakharova & Nikolai Tsiskaridze:

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.