Press Release
Only a few weeks remain before the start of the new LNOBT season. The main highlight of the upcoming season will be the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian ballet. To mark the occasion, the theatre has unveiled an extraordinary video clip, captivating audiences with a ballerina’s courage: Olesia Shaitanova dared to dance en pointe160 meters above the ground, on the sloping edge of the Vilnius TV Tower roof.
According to the Ukrainian ballerina, who will be starting her tenth season at the Lithuanian theatre, the height did not cause fear, but rather an indescribable feeling of freedom.
Dancing above Vilnius
“We ballet artists are used to extreme experiences. So I wasn’t afraid — I just needed some time to understand the space I was in. It felt as if I was suspended between earth and sky. Then came a sense of freedom, and it seemed I could fly like a bird. That feeling was wonderful, and I’m very happy to have been given this opportunity,” says O. Shaitanova.
The breathtaking panorama of the capital stretching below added an extra rush of adrenaline to the ballerina’s graceful dance. The video’s soundtrack features the music of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The 150th anniversary of this composer’s birth is another important focus of the upcoming LNOBT season.
Ballet centenary program
“On December 4, 1925, professional Lithuanian ballet began its history by presenting Léo Delibes’ Coppélia. One hundred years later, on the same day, we will also present a premiere of Coppélia — but this time, it will be a version reimagined through the eyes of a contemporary audience, choreographed by Martynas Rimeikis.”
“This premiere will open the program of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian ballet, which will feature performances not only by LNOBT ballet artists but also by their colleagues from the Klaipėda and Kaunas State Musical Theatres, as well as future stage stars from the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts. Finally, we will present another ballet premiere from our troupe — Rooms of Time, a production by renowned Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor,”says LNOBT General Director Laima Vilimienė.
The video clips introducing the new theatre season will also showcase other scenic locations across Lithuania, where LNOBT ballet soloists will demonstrate their artistry. These clips serve as a reminder to theatre audiences to prepare for the approaching 100th anniversary of Lithuanian ballet.