The ballet tells the story of the love between Nikya – a bayadère (temple dancer)– and Solor, a warrior, who has been promised in marriage to Gamzatti, the daughter of a Rajah.

 

 

A High Brahmin, who also loves Nikiya attempts to have Solor killed by informing the Rajah that Solor has vowed eternal love to Nikiya. But his intentions are thwarted when the Rajah decides to have Nikiya killed. Gamzatti, who has eavesdropped on their conversation summons Nikiya and attempts unsuccessfully to bribe her to give up Solor. Their rivalry escalates and Nikya seizes a dagger to kill Gamzatti, who is saved by her servant. As Nikiya flees, Gamzatti vows that she must die.

 

 

 

 

Daria Pavlenko was born in Moscow on November 19, 1978. Following the example of her older sister, she went training at the Vaganova Academy in then Leningrad. She completed the full eight-year course with Olga Iskanderova and, for the last three years, with Yelena Yevteyeva. Upon graduation in June 1996, Daria Pavlenko joined the Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet.

 

Daria Pavlenko’s career followed a more traditional path than is common in the Mariinsky Ballet, where stars are now often made overnight. In her case the daily corps de ballet work preceded the more prominent assignments.

 

 

 

Oksana Skorik (born April 20, 1989) is a Ukrainian professional ballet dancer and Principal Dancer of the Mariinsky Ballet. She graduated from Perm School of Dance in 2007 and joined the Mariinsky Ballet the same year. She was the subject of David Kinsella's documentary A Beautiful Tragedy and was featured on RT Documentary's Ballet, Sweat and Tears.

 

Recipient of the Spirit of Dance prize in the category “Rising Star” (2012). Prize-winner at the XII International Ballet Dancers’ and Choreographers’ Competition in Moscow (2nd prize, 2013). Recipient of the Leonide Massine Prize in the category "Emerging Talent on the International Scene" (Positano, Italy 2014)

 

 

 

Graduated from the Uzbek School of Ballet in 1992. From 1992–1998 he was a soloist with the Moscow State Classical Ballet Theatre. He joined the Mariinsky Ballet Company in 1998. Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation (2008). Prize-winner at the International Ballet Competition Maya (St Petersburg, 1996). Diploma-recipient at the International Ballet Competition in Paris (1997).

 

He has performed at the National Opera and Ballet in Bulgaria and at the National Theatre of Japan in Tokyo. He has toured with the Mariinsky Ballet Company to Great Britain, Greece and China.

 

 

 

Born in Ashkhabad (Turkmenia). Graduated from Vaganova Ballet Academy (class of Prof. Valentin Onoshko). Joined Mariinsky Theatre in 1992. Became the First soloist in 1996.