Bolshoi Ballet: ‘Spartacus’

Ivan Vasiliev's startling physicality drew comparisons to the late Rudolf Nureyev when he took the title role in the Bolshoi Ballet's production of Spartacus a few years back. This may be the last chance you get to see him play it, though: the dancer recently moved to the Mikhailovsky Theatre, complaining about being limited to a few signature ‘great’ roles at his former home. Vasilev will reprise his Spartacus for the Bolshoi's Tokyo performances (January 31 and February 2 only), although the PR material has chosen instead to emphasise Alexander Volchkov as Crassus. Note that Pavel Dmitrichenko and Yury Baranov will be playing those roles for the February 1 performance.