Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre once more played host to the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre. Konstantin Tachkin created this self sustaining company in 1994 with the vision of delivering excellence at each performance. Despite their having traveled seven hours from Blackpool that day, what I saw in Eastbourne’s Congress on the evening of 12 December was more than excellent.


The story of Sleeping Beauty was creatively invoked by this young company with dancing of sheer beauty matched by the costumes and scenery.


When the SPBT’s Prima Ballerina, Irina Kolesnikova, arrived on stage in the title role the magic came too. The other dancers are top notch but Irina is in a league of her own. If grace and poetry in motion could be turned into a perfume it would be labeled Kolesnikova. Her attention to the smallest detail lent itself to a performance of exquisite dancing; her eloquent hands speaking volumes.


Dymchik Saykeev danced with distinction as the Fairy Carabosse. The Puss in Boots and Cat of Dimitry Shevtsov and Asia Lukmanova were also especially satisfying.