The Renascence national ballet company is opening guest performances in Yekaterinburg, tomorrow. It will offer its latest endeavor, the ballet "Rasputin", with Nicholas II, Russia's last Emperor, for one of the central heroes.
People of the Urals ardently worship the now canonized Royal family, who were martyred in Yekaterinburg, principal Ural city. They regard the ballet as blasphemous. Father Maxim, senior priest of the Church on the Blood-on the site where the Royalty met their death by the firing squad in 1918, says he had a delegation of close on a hundred indignant parishioners. They demanded the performance banned. "Orthodox Christians feel insulted-His Majesty Nicholas, whom they revere as saint, is dancing on stage! When Russia was a monarchy, it was taboo to show saints even in the drama!" Things have gone really far-Father Maxim does not rule out litigation with tour organizers.
Galina Piskunova, manager of the Cosmos concert hall, where the ballet will be shown, appealed to the city's stage reviewers for advice. An expert team have watched a "Rasputin" footage, and said the ballet was not shocking or sacrilegious in the least. "It's a fine classic-style ballet. True, Czar Nicholas performs several picturesque pas there-but then, no ballet can do without that," remarked Ms. Piskunova.
The Ural clergy made many sensational moves within the preceding six years. Bishop Vincent, for one, required last year a ban on using makeup and wearing trousers by women. This year, he anathemized all who drop a kopek by chance-another blasphemous outrage, as the coin represents St. George. In his latest initiative, the bishop called his flock never to watch TV serials and shows. Prayer and edifying reading is the best pastime for young people, he insists.
