Makarova appears in film snippets chronicling her rise in the ranks of the Mariinsky theater, defection to the west, establishment of an international career, motherhood and renovation of the full-length La Bayadere.

The smartly produced evening fades between the film and live performances reflecting Ms. Makarova’s accomplishments. Snippets from La Bayadere bring forth Ekaterina Kondaurova and Veronika Part. The long Ms. Kondaurova returns in William Forsythe’s off-kilter, leggy “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and as the fiendish Black Swan.

Already a star, Natalia Osipova and her equally ebullient partner Ivan Vasiliev went modern in Mauro Bigonzetti’s Serenata, and although it’s always enlightening to see the many aspects of a ballerina, one thirsts for Osipova in the classics, like her remarkable turn in the Pas de Deux from Giselle.

Another ballerina darling, Diana Vishneva swooped through the Bedroom pas de Deux from Manon while leggy Maria Kowroski kicked her way through Slaughter on Tenth Avenue that led to Ashley Bounder’s lilting rendition of “Other Dances.”

Tamara Rojo danced “A Month in the Country,” Alicia Amatriain and Friedemann Vogel coupled in “Onegin,” Yuan Yuan Tan transformed into a White Swan and Ms. Rojo, Denis Matvienko, Ms. Kondaurova and David HalbergGillian Murphy came through in the Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadere.

At the end of the fine tribute coordinated by Artistic Producer Natasha Gamolsky-Radinskaya, Natalia Makarova appeared to her adoring audience hoisted high in the air by two suitors and the adoration of everyone in the audience.

The gala benefited the Youth American Grand Prix, an international dance competition that spent several days in the David H. Koch theater coaching and viewing some of today’s most talented young dancers.

Award winning competitors included:
Men
Gold – Adhonay Soares da Silva (14), Bale Jovem Do Centro Cultural Gustav Ritter, BRAZIL
Silver – Giuseppe Basillio (14), AS Ballet, SWITZERLAND
Bronze – David Preciado (13), Los Angeles Ballet School, CA, USA Women
Gold – Juliet Doherty (14), Fishback School of the Dance, NM, USA
Silver – Grecia Marian Meza Posada (12), Escuela Superior de Musica Y Danza de Monterrey, MEXICO Adhonay Soares da Silva
(14), Bale Jovem Do Centro Cultural Gustav Ritter, BRAZIL
Bronze – Maria Clara Coelho (13), Balletarrj Escola de Danca, BRAZIL
For more information on the Youth American Grand Prix’s exciting work, please click HERE.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis