Natalia Osipova is typically found selling out famous opera houses around the world. But this month, The Royal Ballet principal is headed to the Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, to make her Central Coast debut. On Friday, February 27, at 7:30 pm, Osipova will star in her one-night-only Force of Nature program, a curated evening showcasing classical and contemporary repertory that displays her range. The show, which she has previously performed in the Czech Republic in 2022 and New York City in 2023, also marks the five-year anniversary of Carmel Dance Festival.
Natalia Osipova in “The Dying Swan.” Photo courtesy Carmel Dance Festival.
For this iteration, Osipova is expected to perform “The Dying Swan” and excerpts from Giselle alongside contemporary pieces such as Shahar Binyamini’s Beast and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Qutb. The program will also feature Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, a solo choreographed by Frederick Ashton and performed to live piano. International guest artists, including Royal Ballet principal Reece Clarke and dancer-choreographer Jason Kittelberger, will join Osipova onstage for select pieces.
Central Coast ballet fans may want to clear their calendars for this opportunity. Tickets and more information are available via the Carmel Dance Festival website.