2 / 07 / 2024
Revived Version of “The Idiot” Will Feature One of the World’s Biggest Ballet Names
Dance performance “The Idiot”, one of Anželika Cholina’s direction and choreography gemstones, is planned to make a smashing come-back during the season of 2025-26, after several years of absence from the stage, and is already expected to become an international sensation.
Originally premiered in 2017 and performed numerous times, this time “The Idiot” will return with Olga Smirnova, Principal dancer at the Dutch National Ballet and one of biggest names in contemporary ballet, leading the cast as Nastasya Filippovna. Her partner on stage, as Rogozhin, is still to be confirmed, but is already known be one of the Principal dancers from the same theatre in the Netherlands. The rest of the cast, including the lead Prince Myshkin aka the Idiot (played by drama actor Donatas Švirėnas), will remain unchanged from the original production, with acknowledged Lithuanian dancers and actors.
Olga Smirnova & Valerij Suanov
Based on the novel by world literature classic, Fyodor Dostoevsky, “The Idiot” by Anželika Cholina is a complex psychological drama put into dance with much of direction skill and talent — it’s easy to follow and relate to, it’s deeply emotional and breathtaking. Prima ballerina Olga Smirnova, who once flew to Lithuania to watch the original performance, said she would love to have a role in it, and now this international project is in the process of becoming reality.
Smirnova has already danced a short miniature from Cholina’s “The Idiot” in 2019, during the International Ballet Award Gala Concert “Benois de la danse” at Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, where Cholina presented four of her choreographic miniatures.
The revived full-length production of “The Idiot” is set to premiere in Lithuania next season (2025-26), with Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre actively looking for international partners willing to book the performance for tours abroad, Europe and worldwide.
With inquiries please contact arnoldas@ach.lt.
1 / 05 / 2024
Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Premiere: Miniatures from “Fairy Tale of the Kings” Performed to Lucky Viewers
Anželika Cholina’s latest work, “Fairy Tale of the Kings”, is in full-speed production at the moment and is set to premiere in summer of 2025, but lucky viewers already had a unique opportunity to sneak peek a piece from the upcoming premiere – it was performed for the ballet gala in Kaunas, Lithuania, to celebrate the annual International Dance Day (April 29).
@ Domas Remeika
Based on dramatic love story of globally most well-known Lithuanian artist and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and his wife, Sofija Kymantaitė, and put on best of his music, “Fairy Tale of the Kings” commemorates the 150th anniversary of his birth (in 1875). According to Cholina’s vision, performance follows Čiurlionis’ key lifetime events, since childhood to death (in 1911), with romantic storyline and love for Sofija being in the centre of the entire piece. The performance will once again feature Cholina’s young students from the Juniors Class, after their impressive debut in “Youth” (2023).
During the ballet gala on April 29th, three miniatures from the performance, all danced by young dancers from the Juniors class, were introduced to several hundred viewers and received loud ovation. The full-length premiere is yet to be completed and ready for the big stage by the summer of 2025, to become the main highlight of the 25th anniversary season for Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre (established in 2000).
30 / 03 / 2024
“Youth” Named Most-Attended Dance Performance in 2023
@ Martynas Aleksa
Always sold-out and always received with standing ovation, Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre’s latest premiere, “Youth, or the ways parents and children live”, was recently named the most-attended dance performance in Lithuania.
According to ticket sales results from the largest ticket distribution company in the country, bilietai.lt, “Youth” placed number one among most popular dance performances in 2023. “Youth” premiered in July of 2023 and has since been played more than 30 times all across Lithuania, in major cities and the regions.
Phenomenally successful performance features appearances by the biggest names of Lithuania’s dance scene, both professional ballet and modern dance, as well as junior dancers, all trained by director and choreographer Anželika Cholina in her Juniors class, established by the theatre in 2022.
@ Martynas Aleksa
“Youth”’s storyline, written and directed by Anželika Cholina, spins around parent-children relationships, mostly complicated and typical to many families, and is put on majestic music by all-times classic, Johann Sebastian Bach.
21 / 03 / 2022
A message to Lithuanians who have taken refuge in Ukrainian families fleeing the war!
April 25 At 19:00 in Girstutis, Kaunas, we will show the latest A | CH theater dance performance “The Queen of Spades” and we will dedicate part of the tickets to your foster families.
Let this information, with the help of all of you, reach those who are relevant, useful, and at least slightly enlighten and rejuvenate the exhausted hearts and minds of the events of recent days.
© Karina Meck
For free invitations sign up by e-mail: teatras@ach.lt.
WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE!
#strongtogether #supportforukrainians
22 / 05 / 2019
Triumph at Bolshoi theatre in Moscow
© Michail Logvinov
Anželika Cholina was invaited to present four pieces from her performances at Ballet festival and international ballet award Gala concert “Benois de la danse”.
“Liza's monologue” from up comming A|CH theatre premiere "Queen of Spades". German - Nojus Bartaška, Liza - Ana Buchovskaja, Count Jelecky - Rokas Spalinskas (world premiere)
Finnal scene from Vakhtangov theatre dance performance "Anna Karenina", Anna - Anastasija Kuimova, Count Vronsky - Dmitrij Solomykin and theatre's actors troupe
“Jago monologue“, excerpt from Vakhtangov theatre dance performance "Othello", Jago - Viktor Dobronravov, Desdemona - Anastasija Kuimova and theatre's actors troupe
“Nastasija Filipovna and Parfion Rogozhin duet” with Olga Smirnova ir Valerij Suanov(world premiere)
© Michail Logvinov
“Nastasija Filipovna and Parfion Rogozhin duet” from performance "The Idiot", theatre critics was named as the most prominent Gala-concert piece, in the first place with a great breakthrough from others presented.
13 / 11 / 2018
"The Idiot" was presented at prestigious Vakhtangov theatre
Choreographer Anželika Cholina presened her dance performance "The Idiot" to the Russian audience, to the spectators that can read Dostoyevsky by heart. It was a big challange and a test that was held in a perfect way - with enormous applause and bravo!
18 / 12 / 2015
A. Cholina received ‘Carry your Light and Believe’
‘Carry your Light and Believe’
On December 18, 2015 minister of culture Šarūnas Birutis, after musical "Legend of Zygimantas Augustas and Barbora Radvilaite", in front of 10 000 spectators awarded Anželika Cholina with the main state prize to the cultural work in Lithuania ‘Carry your Light and Believe’.
8 / 12 / 2014
A. Cholina received “Star of the Theater-goer” prize in Moscow
"Star of the Theater-goer" is the only Russian award in the field of theatrical art, which has the status of an independent Audience Choice Award. This year theatergoers from 85 countries all around the world participated in the voting of the 7th annual award season.
On December 1st Anželika Cholina was honored at the gala evening in Moscow and awarded for her “Othello” in the Best Musical Performance category. The set designer for the performance is Marijus Jacovskis, costume designer is Maria Danilova, light designer is Tadas Valeika.
The award ceremony was streamed live online. The choreographer appeared on stage accompanied by stars of the performance - Gregoriy Antipenko (Othello) and Victor Dobronravov (Iago).
Gregoriy Antipenko
“I want to thank Anželika for her patience, because nothing would have happened without her patience, belief and her ingenious directorial ideas and decisions. In am grateful to Rimas Tuminas for an opportunity to perform on this honorable Vakhtangov stage. Thank you, spectators, for the prize!”
17 / 02 / 2014
Cholina’s performance announced Year’s Best in Cuba!
Anželika Cholina’s dance performance “Anna Karenina”, created at Vakhtangov Theatre with Russian drama actors, was awarded prestigious Cuban theatre prize “Villanueva 2013”. The prize is established by National Cuba Writers and Creators Union (UNEAC)
In October 2013 “Anna Karenina” opened International Havana Theater Festival (Cuba) that showcased more than 40 performances from foreign countries. “Anna Karenina” was
“Ana Karenina” ran three times in the the hall with capacity of 2,5 thousand people and each time it was a complete sell-out.
On January 31st 2014 “Anna Karenina” was announced to be the best foreign performance and awarded at the gala ceremony "Villanueva 2013". The head of theater criticism and discovery department N. Espinoza, who was delivering congratulatory speech, reminded everyone about the play’s premiere in Cuba and noted that “The dance performance which is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classical novel impressed our audience. We acknowledge this show’s undisputed directorial value, high professionalism, impressive artistry of the actors, creative and technical complexity of this work. This story told by dance and movement is a definite artistic masterpiece”.
Russian attache in Cuba for press and culture S. Oboznov recollected that no other prize winner received such applause as “Anna Karenina” did. “The award ceremony was broadcasted by Cuban national TV, there were a lot of diplomats present as well as those working in Cuban culture and art scenes, renown performers, famous artists. I am very proud of Vakhtangov Theatre success”.
11 / 11 / 2013
Anželika Cholina’s “Othello” premiers at Vakhtangov Theatre (Moscow)
Vakhtangov Theatre and Anželika Cholina are enjoying successful cooperation: after “the Coast of Women” and “Anna Karenina” choreographer presented her thirst work for this theatre - dance performance based on Shakespeare’s “Othello”.
Russian dramatic actors appear in this performance and the role of Desdemona went to Olga Lerman who has already worked with Cholina on numerous shows. Costume designer Maria Danilova separates Desdemona from other darkly clothed actors placing her in snow white dress symbolizing her innocence. Her movements are light and graceful. The actress says that Desdemona was the one that taught her to be open and sincere.
There’s no defined space nor time in Cholina’s performance. The directors is telling a story that is relevant in any times - the story of love, jealousy and distrust. Fervent Othello transforms from the sensitive young man to the green-eyed brute; Iago is always by his side, always filled with dark thought and always plotting; Desdemona is the only one that stays harmonious, young and beautiful.
Marijus Jacovskis created a minimialistic set design. The only construction there becomes a ship, an anchor or a simple lamp. It’s abstract and symbolic. Black dress is a presentiment of an impending disaster.
“I wanted to show how jealousy destroys a person. If you asked people about emotions they feel, they would almost certainly mention this destructive feeling,” says Cholina.
Articles about the performance (in Russian) at: vmdaily.ru, vakhtangov.ru, and 1tv.ru.
5 / 10 / 2012
Star of Cholina’s performances Olga Lerman (Moscow) received Crystal Turandot prize
Vakhtangv Theatre actress Olga Lerman was awarded First Theatre Prize “Chrystal Turandot” for her role of Anna Karenina in Anželika Cholina’s performance. We will have an opportunity to see this young and talented actress in Vilnius when Cholina’as “Carmen” will premiere Ūkio Bank Theatre Arena on October 24th. Lerman will take the lead role and other roles will be played bu Russian actors only from various theatres of Moscow - Vakhtangov, Nation, MCHAT and others. That will be their only show in Lithuania.
12 / 09 / 2012
“Anna Karenina” nominated for The Star of Theater-goer Prize
The Star of the Theater-goer awards will take place for the fifth time. This prize is special, because nominations are proposed and the winners elected by spectators and not the professionals. Vakhtangovo Theatre performances are nominated in 6 categories. Two of the are - “Best Supporting Actor” - Evgeniy Kniazev (Karenin, “Anna Karenina”) and “Best Musical Performance” - “Anna Karenina”.
The winners will be announced after the votes will be counted. The voting takes place on “Theater-goer” magazine website until the end of November.
31 / 08 / 2012
After the premiere in Vilnius, Moscow is waiting for “Carmen”
Anzelika’s Cholina’s dance performance “Carmen”, remade for the third time, was presented for spectators in Vilnius on October 24th. The story of love and passion was danced by Russian drama actors with the new sense and feeling.
“I think, that finally I told the story as it suppose to be,” – saying choreographer.
It was the sole show in Vilnius – the premiere of this performance will be presented for Moscow spectators on November 12th and 26th at A. Pushkin drama theate and will keep going on only in Russia.