Featured at the Old Stage for the very first time, Petipa’s lavish romantic ballet La Bayadère will be staged by Artistic Director Nikolaj Hübbe. 

This version of La Bayadère is set in Victorian times in the late 1800s when India was a British colony. The story is one of a love triangle between a young British lieutenant, William; the daughter of a vice consul, Emma; and the temple dancer, Nikiya. William forsakes his bride (Emma) and bourgeois propriety to follow Nikiya into the Kingdom of the Shades.

One of the grandest of romantic ballets, La Bayadère reaches its apex in ‘The Kingdom of the Shades’, a scene in which 32 temple dancers make their appearance and which is celebrated as one of the highlights of classical ballet, in artistic league with the famous swan scene in Swan Lake. Dressed in white tutus the temple dancers emerge one by one from a hidden ramp at the back of the stage. They pause in a forward-leaning position – and arabesque penchée – before continuing. A seemingly endless revelation of ethereal white beings that slowly embody the stage.

Special thanks to the Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs Foundation (OJD) – exclusive performance sponsor of La Bayadère.