Ballet Manila is bringing India, in its era of shrewd royalty, jealous priests, forbidden romance, and divine vengeance, to the Manila stage with its production of La Bayadere this August!

The ballet will bring back Mariinsky Ballet luminaries and principal dancers Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim, who previously starred as Kitri, a lovely innkeeper’s daughter, and Basilio, a poor barber in the ballet school’s “Don Quixote” last year.

The story of La Bayadere

The ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, with music by Ludwig Minkus, tells the story of bayadere or temple dancer Nikiya, and her lover, a warrior named Solor.

The High Brahmin is also in love with Nikiya, while Solor is engaged to the daughter of the Rajah. Unaware of this arrangement, Nikiya agrees to dance at their engagement celebration.

Upon learning of Nikiya’s attachment to Solor, the jealous High Brahmin lies to Rajah Dugmanta in an attempt to have Solor killed off. He claims that Solor has already pledged eternal love to Nikiya over a sacred fire.

However, the plan backfires—the Rajah decides it is Nikiya who must die.

Overhearing this exchange, Gamzatti summons Nikiya and endeavors to bribe her into leaving Solor. Nikiya, in a fit of rage, tries to kill Gamzatti with a dagger. She is unsuccessful, and Gamzatti resolves to kill Nikiya.

After performing at Solor and Gamzatti’s engagement party, Nikiya receives a basket of flowers. Gamzatti had concealed a venomous snake underneath the blooms, which bites Nikiya on the neck.

The High Brahmin offers Nikiya an antidote to the poison on the condition that she give up Solor, but the dancer chooses death over a life without her lover.

Solor, heartbroken, dreams of Nikiya’s spirit at the mountain peaks of the Himalayas. When he awakens from the vision, preparations for the wedding are underway, but he is haunted by Nikiya’s spirit.

When the High Brahmin joins Solor’s and Gamzatti’s hands in marriage, the gods avenge Nikiya and destroy the temple, killing everyone in it.

Solor’s spirit is happily reunited with Nikiya’s.

La Bayadere first premiered on February 4, 1877 at the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Ekaterina Vazem danced as the first Nikiya, and Lev Ivanov and Pavel Gerdt were cast as the first Solor.