An Evening of Contemporary Choreography Featuring Diana Vishneva

On June 16, the Neftche Palace of Culture hosted an Evening of Contemporary Choreography featuring Diana Vishneva.

The program featured works by Russian choreographers who have participated in and received awards at the Context.Diana Vishneva Young Choreographers Competition over the years: Gentle Hearts by Ernest Nurgali (founder of Nurgali Dance Company and winner of the 2020 Young Choreographers Competition); Pagodas by Konstantin Semyonov (founder of Knyajestvo. Dance&Art Platform and winner of the 2015 Young Choreographers Competition); Imprint. Michelangelo and Ave ever by Anna Shchekleina (recipient of the Golden Mask National Theatre Award and finalist and participant in the 2018 and 2019 Context.Diana Vishneva Young Choreographers Competition); and Black Friday by Irina Kononova (founder and artistic director of 10thAVENUE Dance Theatre, finalist and recipient of the Audience Choice Award at the 2018 Young Choreographers Competition).

The audience had the unique opportunity to be among the first to see Russian Dead Ends 2 by choreographer Max Petrov, which had received the 2021 Golden Mask National Theatre Award just days earlier for Best Choreography in Ballet or Contemporary Dance.

The highlight of the evening was a solo from Jean-Christophe Maillot’s ballet Switch performed by Diana Vishneva. The evening concluded with another special presentation—the premiere of a new work by Pavel Glukhov, recipient of First Prize at the Arabesque International Ballet Competition and the Audience Choice Award at the 2016 Young Choreographers Competition, with Diana Vishneva performing the leading role.

Diana Vishneva is a People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, and the creator and artistic visionary behind the CONTEXT. Diana Vishneva festival.

Born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Vishneva graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 1995. While still a student, she became an apprentice at the Mariinsky Theatre, and in 1996 made her debut at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, where she continues to perform as a guest ballerina.

Vishneva’s repertoire includes works by many of the most influential choreographers of our time, including John Neumeier, Mauro Bigonzetti, Mats Ek, Hans van Manen, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Carolyn Carlson, Ohad Naharin, Paul Lightfoot and Sol León, Martha Graham, and others.

She has created three solo contemporary dance programs: Beauty in Motion, Dialogues, and Facets. In 2010, she initiated the establishment of a foundation dedicated to supporting the development of ballet arts.

Diana Vishneva is a recipient of the State Prize of Russia, the European Best Dancer Award, six Golden Mask Awards, the Divine Award, the Benois de la Danse, the Dancer of the Decade title, and numerous other prestigious honors.

The international contemporary dance festival Context. Diana Vishneva introduces audiences to the finest achievements in contemporary dance, breaks down boundaries between genres, and provides a platform for emerging talent. First held in 2013, the festival quickly became an important event in the cultural life of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Its program features international and Russian productions, film screenings, lectures, discussions, and master classes. The festival has presented works by more than 40 leading choreographers from around the world, including Mats Ek, Hans van Manen, Marco Goecke, Ohad Naharin, Hofesh Shechter, and others.

It has also presented more than 20 internationally renowned dance companies, including the National Ballet of Canada, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), Maurice Béjart’s Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Batsheva Dance Company.

The festival has toured in Yekaterinburg and Perm, as well as appearing at leading international dance venues and festivals, including the Holland Dance Festival in The Hague, Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, and the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv.

The Artistic Director of the festival is Diana Vishneva, prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre, People’s Artist of Russia, and recipient of the State Prize of the Russian Federation.