Introduction

Set in the exotic royal India of the past, La Bayadère is a story of mystery, fate, vengeance and eternal love of a temple dancer (called Bayadère), Nikiya, and a noble warrior, Solor.

Natalia Makarova's version of La Bayadère entered The Tokyo Ballet's repertoire in 2009. At the Company's premiere, the famous scene of "The Kingdom of the Shades" depicting the pure love of Nikiya towards Solar has amazed Makarova herself and was highly acclaimed by the critics.

We are pleased to present our evolved performance of La Bayadère with the Company's richly gifted dancers, Mizuka Ueno, Mamiko Kawashima and Dan Tsukamoto to name just a few. Daniel Camargo, a fantastic dancer with strong technique and a great stage personality, will also be performing as a guest artist. The beautiful corps de ballet as well as sumptuous costumes and sets made in Milano will also feasts your eyes.

Photo: Kiyonori Hasegawa

Mizuka Ueno Principal
(as Nikiya on 30 June and 2 July)

She joined The Tokyo Ballet in 2004. Ueno's repertoire includes leading roles of Don Quixote, Boléro, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Giselle. She was chosen to dance as Nikiya by Natalia Makarova at the premiere of The Tokyo Ballet's La Bayadère.

Daniel Camargo Guest dancer
(as Solor on 30 June and 2 July)

Brazilian dancer Daniel Camargo joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 2009 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in season 2013/14. With the company, he danced a wide range of leading roles of ballets such as Cranko's Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Don Quijote, among others. In the summer of 2016, he came to Japan to perform at the Ballet Gala "Princes of Ballet". In August 2016, he joined Dutch National Ballet as a principal. A rising star with dynamism and virtuosity.

photo: Nobuhiko Hikiji

Haruka Nara First Soloist
(as Gamzatti on 30 June)

She joined The Tokyo Ballet in 2001. Nara's repertoire includes the leading and solo roles of The Kabuki, Le Sacre du printemps, Études, Paquita and Don Quixote. She also danced Gamzatti at the Company's premiere of La Bayadère.

photo: Nobuhiko Hikiji

Mamiko Kawashima Principal
(as Nikiya on 1 July, as Gamzatti on 2 July)

She joined The Tokyo Ballet in 2006. Kawashima's repertoire includes leading roles of Études, Spring and Fall, Vladimir Malakhov's The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Don Quixote.

photo: Nobuhiko Hikiji

Dan Tsukamoto Principal
(as Solor on 1 July)

He joined The Tokyo Ballet in 2008. Tsukamoto's repertoire includes leading roles of La Sylphide, The Kabuki, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, La Bayadère. He also danced as Escamillo of Mats Ek's Carmen with Sylvie Guilleme.

photo: Nobuhiko Hikiji

Akimi Denda Soloist
(as Gamzatti on 1 July)

She joined The Tokyo Ballet in 2008. Denda's repertoire includes solo roles such as Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty (The Tokyo Ballet's reconstruction version for children), Ursula in John Neumeier's Romeo and Juliet and In the Middle Somewhat Elevated. She also performs the Spanish Dance and Mazurka in Swan Lake.

Fri. 30 June 2017 Sat. 1 July 2017 Sun. 2 July 2017
Nikiya Mizuka Ueno Mamiko Kawashima Mizuka Ueno
Solor Daniel Camargo Dan Tsukamoto Daniel Camargo
Gamzatti Haruka Nara Akimi Denda Mamiko Kawashima

Conductor: Valery Ovsyanikov
Orchestra: Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra