The Return of Mariinsky

Russia's Mariinsky Ballet - which gave a memorable Bangkok debut performance for His Majesty the King's 80th birthday in 2007 - is returning with two full-length works and more short pieces for the international Festival of Dance and Music in September and October. Fans of classical ballet in Thailand and neighbouring countries have already started booking tickets for three productions - totalling five shows in six days.

"Mariinsky is a dream," says Jaspal Singh Uberoi, president of International Cultural Promotions, which is organising the festival. "Their dancers hold more medals from dance competitions than those of any other dance company in the world. This is a rare treat to have the world's leading dance company performing three productions with their own orchestra."

Uberoi says the ballet's appearance has resulted from his time spent "building relationships with people". He'd been to St Petersburg, the company's home base, prior to Mariinsky's 2007 show in Bangkok, and nailed down this year's dates in 2009.

"Singapore has been trying to book them for the past 10 years and hasn't been able to!" he says.

But the company will stop in Singapore first, thanks to Uberoi's negotiations, to perform "Don Quixote" at the Esplanade Theatre. The arrangement saves both producers on airfare for more than 200 dancers, musicians and crew.

"Our ticket prices are half of what Singapore is charging, and less than half of what the company charges in St Petersburg," Uberoi says.

Uberoi has witnessed an increase in young crowd attending the festival over its 12 years, and sees that as its most important achievement.

"We feel that the youth can only benefit if you make performing arts available for them. They have long been deprived of the opportunity - or don't know about it.

"Local talent can only absorb and improve, especially when you bring the best from around the world."

Another achievement, says Uberoi, is that a world-class artist like Zubin Mehta returned to the festival last year. He's tried to book Mehta for future dates but the esteemed conductor is fully engaged for the next five years.

"But he says if something gets delayed or cancelled, he'll give us priority!"

Uberoi acknowledges that putting on a festival faces obstacles, like any business does. It's limited in performance space to the Thailand Cultural Centre's Main Hall and in the technical abilities on offer, which often fall short of companies' requirements, necessitating compromise all around.

Cultural Centre management has told Uberoi it will undertake 10 months of renovations after this year's festival, improving the facility for 2012.

"That's of course what they're hoping and we're hoping for. They view our festival as a major event for them because it draws a substantial number of people."

He does not see any major changes in the near future for the festival itself, however, due largely to the lack of support from the government.

"We try to do what we do with our limited resources," Uberoi says, "and we try to convince performing-arts companies that what we can't achieve in terms of performance fees, we can make up for in other areas, like hospitality."

Uberoi has been the festival's director for 13 years, longer than most people hang onto such jobs.

"I welcome it if someone wants to come in and take over, but the problem is that you need to pay a substantial salary, and find someone who understands the performing arts as well as financing.

"It's not easy as it looks - you're presenting more than 16 productions a year. And in my case, I don't draw any salary."

Now booking

- Bangkok's 13th International Festival of Dance and Music will be at the Thailand Cultural Centre from September 9 to October 16.

- Book seats at www.ThaiTicket|Major.com. Bangkok Bank cardholders get discounts.

- Visit www.Bangkok|Festivals.com.n Eight highlights you don't want to miss. 3B

The finest of the fest

Eight must-see shows at Bangkok's 13th International Festival of Dance and Music

Pawit Mahasarinand

Special to The Nation

The International Festival of Dance and Music in September and October - as previewed on Page B1 - is packed with great shows, but here are eight I recommend booking seats for now - yes, two months ahead.

Cia de Dana Bal de Rua

September 13

Described as "dance and percussion of Brazil", this high-octane show, with samba, hip-hop, African dance and capoeira, was last year staged at Sydney Opera House, the Biennale de la danse in Lyon and the Peacock Theatre in London.

British journal The Stage noted its "cultural poignancy, colour and vibrancy", and praised Wisney Gomes Mendonca, who "dances with ease and athletic vigour, and has a smile that lights up the entire stage".

Expect the stage and aisles of the Cultural Centre will be on fire, thanks in part to the Embassy of Brazil. Check out BaleDeRua.LeSpectacle.fr, in French and English.

Donlon Dance Company

"Casa Azul" - September 15

Ballet-Tanz magazine on Marguerite Donlon: "The cheeky Irish choreographer is tearing down the barriers between dance and bringing the 'man from the street' back into the theatre. Her work is far from all artistic ideology and simply incapable of boring her audience." Thanks to the German Embassy, we'll witness her take on Frida Kahlo in a contemporary-dance production that also features installation art and live music. Watch a video excerpt at www.Donlon.de.

The Mariinsky Ballet

"Le Corsaire" - September 20 and

21 and "Don Quixote" - September 24 and 25

I saw "Don Quixote" at the Hong Kong Arts Festival last year and was thrilled by their spot-on characterisation, as well as, of course, the dance skills of the whole company. I look forward to seeing it again, plus "Le Corsaire", which is rarely staged here by any company.

Too bad they didn't pick a less-presented and thus more exciting show from their repertoire. New York's Lincoln Centre Festival will this year have "Anna Karenina" and "The Little Humpbacked Horse". Find more at www.Mariinsky.ru.

U Theatre

"Meeting With Bodhisattva" -

September 26

After the immense success enjoyed here by Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre two years ago, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand is marking Taiwan's 100th anniversary by bringing another company that's thrilled audiences around the world.

With drumming, martial arts, chanting and operatic dance, this work - devoted to the God of Wisdom - shows "one man's chance encounter with a deity, whose only way to wisdom is through letting go".

This is the one performance you must not miss. For more, see www.UTheater.org.tw.

Katia Guerreiro

October 13

The Portuguese singer's compatriot Mariza has thrilled us twice in recent years. Now, to mark the 500th anniversary of Thailand-Portugal diplomatic relations, the Portuguese Embassy has selected the latest winner of the "Best Performer in Fado" award. You should not miss her sole performance. Her website, www.KatiaGuerreiro.com, is in Portuguese, English and French.

The Vienna Boys' Choir

"Songs Along the Silk Road and Time" - October 12

One of the world's oldest and most-loved choirs offers a selection of spiritual and folk songs from China, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and other places. Their visit to this part of the globe is quite rare. Listen to samples at www.WSK.at.

Ballet Nacional Espana

"Flamenco!" - October 15 and 16

Flamenco again closes the festival, but this time it's a two-part programme with more than 50 dancers and musicians from Spain's national company, brought here by their embassy.

One part is "Dulia", choreographed by Rojas and Rodriguez - the same duo who thrilled us last year. Visit BalletNacional.mcu.es, in Spanish and English.

Win tickets

You can win a pair of tickets, courtesy of International Cultural Promotions, to one of the eight shows we've singled out on Page 3B.

Explain in 50 words or less why you want to see it and send your submission to xpnation@gmail.com by Tuesday.

The winners will be listed on July 8.