Call of the steppe: exploring unique modern nomadic ballet with rich heritage
Ballet is often associated with grand theaters and even grander cities, but it also holds a deep connection to the vast and untamed landscapes and histories of the world. “Call of the Steppe” encapsulates this connection, weaving together the elegance of ballet with the raw beauty of nomadic life and culture, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The Astana Opera Theater presented on March 26 the ballet “Call of the Steppe” staged by the famous choreographer Patrick de Bana. At its core, “Call of the Steppe” celebrates the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature, Kazakh mythology, and deeper universally personal understanding.
The script portrays the story of the inspiring dream of a brave Master, told in the language of modern choreography. The unique performance of intertwined past, present, and fate allows the viewers to build their own plot. However, the legend of Samruk, a golden bird that supports the skies, is traceable through the performance as a symbol of fate watching over the hero. The cycle of dance demonstrates a child becoming man through the difficulties of life, and then a man becomes the Master.
Each movement of the dance displayed not only the precision of elements but also the beauty of the steppe spirit. Lead ballerina Aigerim Beketaeva, an honored worker of Kazakhstan, mesmerized viewers with her graceful movements and a lightness of performance of difficult elements. Playing the role of Muse, Aigerim has embodied the role not just on the stage but also in life.
A ballet performance is accompanied by thematic stage decorations, light play, and snow falling on stage. However, despite the technologies used, the stage mostly remained minimalistic, which allows the viewer to focus on the spirits of the dance rather than on the decorations.
Musical accompaniment is fittingly unique to the ballet, without orchestral play. The ballet uses works by Kuat Shildebaev, Renat Gaisin, Tolegen Mombekov, and Carlos Pino Quintana, as well as musical compositions from the repertoire of the folklore and ethnographic ensembles “Turan,” “Khassak” and the ethno-jazz group “Steppe Sons.”
