Bolshoi Dancers Arrive for Israel Debut, Skip Diplomatic Issues

Bolshoi ballet dancers arrived Sunday for their eagerly awaited debut in Israel, deftly brushing aside questions about the future of diplomatic ties between Israel and the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union cut ties with Israel after the Israeli-Arab War in 1967, but in the last two years, relations have warmed with an exchange of consular delegations and increasing contacts. The Bolshoi’s performances this month are the first in Israel.

“It is very important that people will have the opportunity for contact and the contact with this language (of dance) helps other contact,” said Natalia Bessmertnova, the Bolshoi’s prima ballerina.

As for Israel, Bessmertnova said she is excited to be performing in a country rich in history and before a new audience.

Choreography director Yuri Papkov said the purpose of the visit is artistic rather than diplomatic, but he added, “We are very experienced dancers of the Bolshoi, and wherever there are beginnings of some kind of relations, the Bolshoi is one of the first (there).”

The company of 50 dancers includes performers from the Bolshoi as well as other troupes in the Soviet Union. They are scheduled for more than a dozen performances in Caesarea, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem this month, nearly two years after negotiations began for the Soviet dancers to travel to Israel for the first time.

Of the 36,000 tickets available for the performances, only 4,000 remain unsold. The first performance will be staged on Wednesday in a seaside amphitheater beside the ruins of Caesarea.