The former Bolshoi Ballet prima ballerina and a guest principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre, Nina Ananiashvili made a shooting-star appearance at Cal Performances last weekend. Currently the Artistic Director of the State Ballet of Georgia, Ananiashvili thankfully remains an active ballerina, as weightless and expressive as ever in her tried and true role of Giselle. Uncharacteristically for a classical dancer, she acts not only with her graceful body, but also with her girlishly charming face, which reflects every emotion of her character. She is as highly believable in her falling in love scene—all bubbly and innocent, as she is in her heart-breaking mad scene—with the strands of her hair falling over her face, her hands movements changing from flowing to broken. After the first act, one remains wondering how ghostly can such a lively ballerina become in the second act, when her character is dead. Not surprisingly, she is still perfect—appropriately cold, bitter, aloof, yet assertive in Giselle’s determination to protect her unfaithful lover even from behind the grave. Adolphe Adam’s score was excellently performed by Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, with Robert Cole, conductor.
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