Coppelia

We had a private box at the Opera House and saw Coppelia.

It was absolutely delightful.
My favorite ballet to date.

And the prima ballerina was everything you would imagine a prima ballerina should be - talented, graceful, engaging, beautiful and HAPPY! She smiled throughout the performance and we all believed she was actually enjoying herself.

 She was truly inspiring and Anne and Ella have been dancing to Coppelia ever since.
In fact, I think my favorite part of attending these performances is watching Ella and Anne re-create the show at home.

Swan Stuff

We attended Swan Lake Saturday at the Opera House. It was fantastic - second row seats, we could literally look into the orchestra pit, and see the make-up on the dancers. 

The conductor was incredible, the music inspiring. 

The dancers were mesmerizing ... and I'm pretty sure the prima-ballerina swan is part bird because a human biped can't move, or float, that way. 

Ella and Anne were captivated.

Here are a few more photos from inside the Opera House - appropriately there was a swan on the ceiling. I love the ornate details, and gold finishings throughout the building.    

As great as the show was, we somehow missed dinner before it began, and thus we were all a bit hungry. So when the first act ended (an hour and 20 minutes), we snuck out to find something to eat.

Good news is, Swan Lake is playing throughout the summer, so we'll go again ... and catch the rest of of the program.

Anne was most touched and took the show to heart. On her own, while we walked to dinner, she began twirling down the cobble-stone street - arms in fifth position! I see a future for little Anne Catherine.

Yesterday we went to a real swan lake and fed the swans. Interestingly there was a fence around the lake, but our driver insisted it was okay to hop the fence to get closer to the swans - when in Rome...

Back to the night of the swan lake ballet ... on our way home we passed the book bazaar. I would perhaps love this used book sale even more if I read/spoke Ukrainian - but even as illiterate as I am in this country, I couldn't help but appreciate the charm of old used books for sale in suitcases.

Our next ballet - Coppelia!

The Creation - In 2 Acts

Last night we saw the Lviv ballet perform the Creation - In 2 Acts at the Opera House.

The performance was fabulous, and the Opera House is beautiful.

Ella, Anne, and Mary were enthralled. Initially we hoped to "make it through" the first act, but Ella and Anne loved it so much they insisted on staying through the second act as well (and Mary was truly entertained).

This was a new ballet for all of us - besides incredible dancing, I was impressed with how triumphant Eve was portrayed as being - she was the heroine of the show. The orchestra was marvelous. The music was so inspiring - and there was a choir that came in on various parts (mostly when Eve danced) that was truly angelic.

While Ella and Anne did enjoy the dancing, they were a little disappointed in the costumes ... a lot of nude leotards.

So, to make up for the lack of tutu's, we are going to Swan Lake tomorrow!

I love Lviv.

The Accordion Lives On

If, perhaps, you were under the same erroneous idea that I was, and thought accordion playing a dying talent, here is proof that the younger Ukrainian generation has embraced this musical art - and an even younger American generation loves it!

Ella's Ballet Tap Combo Class

Here are a couple of pictures and video clips of Ella in her dance class.

Can you see why she won the "graceful gallops" award?