DATE: Monday, November 17, 1997             TAG: 9711170080

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Dance Review 

SOURCE: BY SUE VANHECKE 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

KIROV BALLET ON ITS TOES AT SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCE

The classics came alive at Norfolk's Chrysler Hall on Sunday night as the Stars of the Kirov Ballet gave a spectacular gala performance of favorite solos and pas de deux from the company's legendary repertoire.

From the romantic - adagios from ``Swan Lake'' and ``Romeo and Juliet'' - to the courtly - pas de deux from ``The Nutcracker,'' ``The Sleeping Beauty'' and ``Arlequinada'' - to the exotic - pas de deux from ``Sheherazade'' and

``Le Corsaire'' - there was something for almost every taste on the program. The event was a fund-raiser for the Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival.

Technically, the Kirov dancers were disciplined, though hardly restrained. Their far-reaching leg extensions, loftily placed port de bras and fluidly arching backs emphasized a controlled, elongated line. Work on point was rock-solid, not a trembling leg or wobbly ankle in sight, battements were crisp and lifts and jumps were seemingly effortless.

But the true artistry of these amazing dancers was in their expressivity. An arabesque held a fraction of a beat longer, a gently questing hand, an emotive tilt of the head - these dancers were more than mere athletes.

Most poignant was ``Cognition,'' a solo danced by Farukh Ruzimatov, premier danseur of the Kirov Ballet, who gave the contemporary choreography achingly beautiful phrasing.

Most dazzling was the pas de deux from ``Le Corsaire's'' second act, also danced by Ruzimatov, who amazed with his boundless work en l'air, and Elvira Tarasova, who proved Ruzimatov's match with an endless stream of single and double fouettes.

The sold-out evening's only damper was the taped accompaniment; a live orchestra would have surely heightened the excitement. ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot

The Stars of the Kirov Ballet performed a variety of dances during a

benefit show Sunday at Chrysler Hall, including an adagio from

``Swan Lake.'' The show's only drawback was its taped accompaniment.

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