Proclaimed by audiences and critics alike as the greatest of all the folk dance troupes, the Moiseyev Dance Company is a unique theatrical phenomenon. Spectacular displays of agility and physicality are intertwined with an opulent palate of costumes, music, and storytelling. Founder Igor Moiseyev continues to pay tribute to the folk traditions of the world, melding them with the refined artistic virtues of classical ballet, and setting ever higher standards in the performance of folk dance.
About the Company
In 1936 Igor Moiseyev was asked by his government to organize the first National Festival of Dance. Having immersed himself in Russian folklore and a vast treasury of music and traditions, Moiseyev was well suited to this monumental task. By February 1937 a core group of dancers versed in both traditional and classical forms of dance were being led by Moiseyev in the development of a new physical art form that refined existing national dances and transformed them into breathtaking theatrical vignettes. After the end of the cold war, a new era of touring began for the troupe, allowing it to bring a unique tapestry of dance and folkloric representation to over 60 countries worldwide. Today, the Moiseyev Dance Company has amassed more then 200 dancers, has added a wealth of world folk traditions to its repertoire, and continues to be propelled into the future by 98-year-old founder Igor Moiseyev.
Critic's Comments
“It is a grand mix of theater, dance, cultural anthropology, silent film comedy, operetta, and Eisenstein film epic all rolled into one…quite simply breathtaking.”
-Chicago Sun-Times
“…a superb group of highly trained dancers with an eclectic repertoire that blends pedestrian folk dances with theatrical flair.”
-Herald Tribune
Performances at Northrop
1986, 2005