Coppélia by Leo Delibes - new production by Alexander Sergeev in Mariinsky Theatre

Choreographer Alexander Sergeev and designer Leonid Alexeev have crafted a family-friendly ballet spectacle that reinterprets a story penned over a century and a half ago about the creation of a doll eerily akin to humans, infusing it with a touch of magic. “We wanted the performance to remind one of a children’s book, hence we strived for a watercolour painting effect in the scenic designs,” the creators explain. The vibrant performance features dancers, dolls, kittens and even a teddy bear! Sergeev endowed each character with his unique choreographic language, offering the performers a mixture of intricate classical variations, spirited character dances, and elements of pantomime.