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limassolmunicipal.com.cy If a choreographer takes on the challenge of putting Leo Tolstoy’s novel into a ballet, he risks keeping the viewers stuck in the theater for months if he doesn’t do it right.

Boris Eifman, Russia’s renowned
choreographer, chooses to strip the story of Anna Karenina of all secondary plot lines and instead focus only on the main events of Tolstoy’s drama, which revolve around the love triangle of Anna, her husband Karenin, and her lover – Vronsky.

According to Eifman, dance is a perfect medium for expressing the passion behind the story, and the rebellion against the social norms of the time and the internal destruction of the heroine.

Anna Karenina is not Eifman’s first “literary” ballet; but has also adapted such philosophical works for the stage as Dostoevsky’s“Idiot,” and “Brothers Karamazov.” Eifman first emerged into public view with the creation of his own dance troupe called “New Ballet,” drawing mostly on out of work dancers.

But from these humble circumstances, Eifman made a sensational impression by modernizing academic ballet through various unorthodox practices. In particular, he decided against using point shoes and turning to Pink Floyd and other rock bands for musical accompaniment. Still pushing boundaries with gusto, Eifman continues to explore human relationships and psychology through movement.

Feb. 20-21, 7:00 p.m., National Opera of Ukraine, 50 Volodymyrska St., 279-11-69, tickets: Hr 250 -2,550.