Olga evreinoff bio

The Arizona Republic, by Richard Nilsen

Among the Bamana peoples of Mali, in West Africa, there is a ceremony in which dancers dress up as an antelope – called Tsi Wara – and imitate the movements of the animal.

The dance shows a keen observation of the behavior of the antelope.

In Guadalupe, south of Phoenix, the Yaqui have their deer dance.

The imitation of animals is a universal practice, from the Ute Bear Dance to the Chinese Lion Dance to the Inuit Loon Dance – and let’s not forget the Funky Chicken.

This is what came to mind watching the amazing performance of Paola Hartley in Ballet Arizona’s Swan Lake and her evocation of the physical presence of a water bird.

Her performance is not merely a technical achievement, but an achievement of empathy and identification with the swan.

Her first appearance jolted me out of my balletic complacency.

Tchaikovs Celebrating World Ballet Day 2023 - The Royal Ballet School RUCUR