Hundreds treated to ‘finest performance to date’

Glushko’s Academy of Performing Arts delivered anew a wonderful holiday treat to hundreds of community members with its staging of one of the greatest classical ballets of all time, Swan Lake.

Opening the production was the presentation of the main characters, led by Russia’s Natalia Kolosova and Daniil Kurynov of the Saratov State Ballet Theater as Princess Odette/Odille and Prince Siegfried, respectively; local talent Guo “Mike” Hao as the evil genius Von Rothbart; and the role of the Queen played by Helen Ann Bucher.

The academy’s interpretation of Swan Lake was enhanced with performances from its 45 young and enthusiastic students.

With better synchronicity and supreme choreography, audiences of the two-night ballet show agreed that this year’s production from the island’s premier dance school is billed as the finest to date.

“We do feel like it’s out best performance so far because we have the best team,” said Anna Glushko, the creative force behind the academy’s annual Christmas production, after Saturday’s show. “We finally got it perfected but it’s never easy. It gets harder every year because we always raise the bar high and we want to make it better each time for our audience.”

Glushko noted that the great reviews for this year’s show will only encourage them to surpass them in next year’s production. “Every year, we’re going to try to beat this record.”

Dr. Gene Eagle-Oden, academy president, said the $40,000 production was painstakingly designed and arranged by Glushko herself—from needlework for the vibrant costumes to music editing—for about two months. The dance routine itself took a year of training and rehearsal to make it flawless, he added.

“Anna had to do it herself and we’re relying on her unique talent. She is the only person on island who can have 45 students perform with professional ballet dancers. Saipan is very lucky to have Anna,” Eagle-Oden told Saipan Tribune.

Their annual productions only break even, making them a “real labor of love,” Eagle-Oden revealed. “It’s Anna’s passion for dancing and her love for her students that brings her to put this show together year after year.”

The excerpts of Swan Lake was followed by the Concert of the International Ballet Stars. Kolosova and Kurynov performed Adagio from the ballets “Legend of Love,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Coppelia.”

Universal Ballet Academy in Seoul, South Korea was represented by Joo Won Ahn, who performed Variation from “Tchaikovsky’s Classical Pas-de-deux” and “Paquita,” and Su Ji Ki who performed Variation from the ballet “Talisman” and “Paquita.”

Both Glushko and Eagle-Oden thanked all those who made this year’s show a success, including the platinum, gold, silver, and bronze level sponsors and donors; local artist Joe Weaver who made the stunning stage backdrop; DAVE Electronic Center for the stage lighting and sound; emcee David Bucher; the guest international dancers and students.