Ballet or Folk Dancing??
 

We will be in St. Petersburg for 2 days while on a cruise in July. We only have one night and we are wondering if we should go to a Folk Dancing show or the Ballet at the Mariinsky Theater. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Boy, that is a touch choice! But if you have access to ballet where you live, then I'd go for the folk-dancing shows. Those can be marvelous, and you don't often get a chance to see a troupe here. Might also depend on what the ballet is performing.

A tough choice, too.

For what it's worth, I personally preferred the folk dancing over the ballet when we went to St. P. Part of it being, as Underhill has already mentioned, I can see the ballet at any time at home but not the folk dancing.

Russian ballet visits US cities sometimes, but I've never heard of folk dancers doing the same.

Russian ballet is practically the same as French ballet or US classical ballet.

I love ballet, but would go for dancing as it's more difficult to find.

The Moiseyev group of fine folk-dancers used to tour the U.S., but after Igor M. retired that was unfortunately that.

Next season at the Mondavi Center in Davis, CA, however, we're getting a Hungarian troupe. Can't wait!

The only folk dancing I got to see was a group from the Republic of Georgia as part of Varekai by the Cirque du Soleil. They have very specific dances, men dance on their toes ballet-like.

Thank you for your opinions.

Ballet like a shot. Yes - you can see ballet in the US - but Russian is not the same. Has a different texture and feel -partly I think due to their full employment policy - they tend to do lots of things grandly and somehow I come out feeling very fin de siecle..

While folk dancing can be interesting I have seen it in at least 8 countries and find that no matter where it is it's all too much alike. I don;t mean between countries - but within each country after the 3rd dance they all seem to just run together.

(I think things like Riverdance succeed beccause they take a specific type of folk dancing and then expand/enhance it with influences from several other genres - thus avoiding the sameness of most folk dancing performances.)

I guess a lot will depend on which you prefer. I have seen both in Russia and I would go for the ballet. The ballet that you see at the Mariinsky Theatre is world class and is one of a kind, while the folk show is excellent but it is put on for the tourists and you will find much the same show at a a number of places each night.

My husband and I met in an exhibition folk-dance group, and I can assure you that all dances within a given country are not alike. Russian dancing in particular is exciting, especially when the men do the various tumbling runs and splits in the air.

Don't get me wrong--I love ballet, but I have more opportunities to see it than professional folk dancing.

Rhin...choose the folk dancing..there's nothing quite like Russian folk dancing...I saw several during the 80's in the former USSR..and the Moiseyeve's all four times they toured the USA...outstanding.

Underhill...one of my daughters danced with The Aman Folk Ensemble up and down the West Coast, including the Music Center in L.A... (Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Serbian, Russian, etc.).

Stu T.

hi! if you happen to deside for the ballet, book and pay your ticket ahead of time ,you can pick up at ticket office by theatre.
go "www.mariinsky.ru"
I'm also going next July and planning to see the LA SYLPHIDE.
One thing, the tickets for the JUlY
program are not available yet, the go on sale June 1st.

FYI- I don't know if you can find out about what company or organization will put on the possible folk dancing show, but if you can...

Some of my students' families arranged this past fall (when we were in St P) for them to go to "Feel Yourself Russian"- which is a folk dancing performance. They said it was awful- corny and silly.

The Mariinski is so much more than just ballet! The theater is lovely, too... my vote= ballet.

%%-

Will be in St. Petersburg this July on cruise, but doing private tour. They have offered us Ballet at the Hermitage. Has anyone been there as opposed to the Mariinsky? How do they compare?

I would not miss the opportunity to see the ballet at the Hermitage, it must be very exciting. The Hertmitage is so interesting, read up on the history and then you will definitely want to attend just for the experience.

Ballet or Folk Dancing? That's an easy choice. The answer is: The Pub.

CW - who once sat through three hours of the Bolshoi prancing around and occasionally wakes up screaming at the memory of it.

I have seen both (in fact, several times), and my personal vote goes clearly for the Mariinsky.

The folk dancing shows are typical shows which are specially created for tourists. Expect sitting at long tables, with mediocre food and vodka, and colorful dressed dancers performing to Russian folk music.

When you go to the Mariinky, expect 90% of the spectators being from Russia, dressed up nicely. The buildings is an attraction in itsself. Especially during the pause, it is a special atmosphere to stroll through the grand hall and have an ossietra caviar snack (for little money) and a glass of excellent Russian wine at the buffet. No one speaks English, but you will go along with sign language and you will get the feeling to be part of the crowd.

The performances are spectacular and traditional in style. Ballets are usually performed like plays, with grandiose stage settings and historical costumes. An opera performance is equally good, and usually they have a ballet performance woven into the opera, too.

As marti has said, use http://www.mariinsky.ru
to reserve tickets. It is very easy.
(There is no need to buy the most expensive tickets. Baignoire/Benois and Belle Etage will be fine and less pricey. Even the inexpensive seats for 640 Rubels are not bad.)

Okay, you must have a sense for classical music to enjoy. Otherwise, go the the folk dancing show.