The Moscow Festival Ballet returned to the Balboa Theatre last night with Petipa's iconic "Swan Lake," almost a year to the day after another Russian company presented the same program.

Cue the tinny, choppy recording of Tchaikovsky's score and scratch your head. It all feels so familiar. No, you haven't lost your mind. This troupe also tours under the name Russian National Ballet with the same dancers and directors, Sergei and Elena Radchenko, both former Bolshoi soloists. It's not bad ballet. Much of it is quite exciting, but be warned, it is packaged for one and two-night stands.

Moscow Festival Ballet dancers as the Swans

in "Swan Lake." Founded by Sergei Radchenko

in 1989, the troupe focuses on Russian ballet

classics. Photo courtesty of MFB.

Dancers are young, trim, and well trained, and the women are generally stronger and wiser than the men. There were moments in the bride section when long-legged men in boots totally missed the beat. The Swans were elegant and unified, but the illusion wasn't sustained. Their eyes suggested this was tiring work. Just imagine listening to that recorded score night after night!

The exceptions were Ekaterina Egorova as Odette/Odile, a spider-thin beauty who danced the quivering swan princess and evil seductress, and Toley Mukanov as the Jester, an expressive dancer/acrobat packed inside a small frame. Delicate, yet solid, Egorova was deftly bird-like. She flited slightly and folded her flexible spine in half. Her arms fluttered from the shoulder. As the Jester, Mukanov nailed difficult landings and aerial jumps. He made traditional mime more than bearable.

Prince Siegfried (Vladimir Statniy) was athletic and a suitably emotional partner, but seemed to weaken near the end. Marianna Chemalina, a lovely dancer who portrayed the dual swan role last year (under that other company), was memorable in the Pas de Trois in this production. A commanding Alexander Daev also returned as the sorcerer with angled sideburns and burning stares, a cross between Dracula and Raw Wrestling.

As this is a touring company, sets were simple painted backdrops of a castle and lake, along with a scrim to tie the four acts together. Costumes were attractive, especially Odette's icy white and Odile's charcoal tutu. The final symmetrical image - a sea of white swans and good conquering evil - was satisfying, but also left me wishing for a live orchestra.

Moscow Festival Ballet continues at the Balboa Theatre today with "Sleeping Beauty."

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