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Diana Vishneva mystery & mystique: she stars with top companies around the globe, but now finds artistic freedom in an evening of world premieres.

Article Excerpt
When Diana Vishneva danced the role of Titania in Ashton's The Dream, for the first time with American Ballet Theatre last summer, she offered a vision of the Fairy Queen that stopped even die-hard Ashtonites in their tracks. A creature of gossamer and steel, her sinuous, fluttery arms, pliant upper body, and exquisitely articulate footwork made Ashton's beautiful choreography ring out in such clear tones that it was hard to believe that Vishneva hadn't been dancing the role for years.

There's little question in anyone's mind that Vishneva, a graduate of the Vaganova School in St. Petersburg, Russia, and a principal dancer with the Kirov (Maryinksy) Ballet, is one of the great ballerinas of our time. An impeccable technician, with a gloriously supple body, she also brings a remarkable dramatic intelligence and theatrical savvy to every role, in conjunction with a passionate intensity that can be quite remarkable to witness.

Since joining the Kirov in 1995, Vishneva has won international renown in all the great ballerina roles, but has also performed works by Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Alexei Ratmansky to equal acclaim. With The Dream last season, she continued her characteristic search for artistic growth, showing yet another side of her ever-growing range.

But taking on the challenges of existing work (to say nothing of keeping up an international touring schedule and dancing with her home company) doesn't seem to have been quite enough for the ballerina. This month, at Orange County Performing Arts and New York City Center, she...

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