The People’s Artist of Russia Alexander Kuimov Memorial Gala will take place on April 8 at the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. The outstanding ballet dancer, attentive teacher, and kind-hearted person passed away at the end of February.

The event received a laconic name - “Alexander”. The production group of the concert consists of Honoured Artist of Russia, Chief Conductor of the theatre Anatoly Chepurnoy as music director and conductor of the Gala, Anastasia Kuimova as production director, Honoured Artist of Russia Vera Surovtseva as assistant choreography director.

“The Alexander Gala is divided into three acts. The first act (it’s called “The Artist”) includes excerpts from ballets in historical choreography - the parts Alexander Eduardovich danced in his youth - performed by the theatre artists. The second act features scenes from the ballets that are currently running in the theatre: they will be danced by students of Alexander Kuimov. All the stars of the ballet company will perform! In the final part of the concert (it’s called “Man”), the theatre’s guests who cherish the memory of Alexander Eduardovich will see footage of his chronicle,” Anastasia Kuimova told about her concept of the night.

Anastasia is the daughter of Alexander Eduardovich. After she had graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Choreography College, she danced at the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre for several years. But she decided to become a dramatic actress and studied at the Department of Acting of the VGIK (Gerasimov State Institute of Cinematography). Now Anastasia Kuimova performs at the Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre, acts in films, studies at the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors, and dips her toe into directing.

The programme of the Alexander Kuimov Memorial Night will include excerpts from the ballets Swan Lake by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, The Little Humpbacked Horse and Le Diable Amoureux by Cesare Pugni, La Dame aux Camélias to music by Frederic Chopin, Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus, Carmen by Georges Bizet, Anyuta by Valery Gavrilin, Spartak by Aram Khachaturian, Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev. Soloists and the corps-de-ballet of the ballet company of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre will take the stage on April 8.

Besides, spectators will have the opportunity to see rare archival video recordings of Alexander Kuimov's performances: Adagio from the ballet Giselle by Adolphe Adam and Gertsev's monologue from the ballet Tsar Fish by Krasnoyarsk composer Vladimir Porotsky (based on the eponymous novelette by Viktor Astafiev).