Zidans at "Black Swan" Gala in Athens

Gala Ballet is a format of ballet performance where excerpts or best numbers from various ballets are performed. Typically, it is a one-time or seasonal event featuring renowned artists, soloists, and stars of ballet theaters. In a Gala Ballet, you can see both classical pieces and modern performances, and it often serves as a platform to showcase the skills of top dancers. Such events can take place in different countries and bring world-class stars together on one stage.

On November 8th, the "Black Swan" Gala took place in Athens, organized and produced by Mariana Gomes — a former Bolshoi Theater ballet dancer who spent 18 years on stage before moving to London, where she founded Mariana Gomes Arts Productions, a company specializing in organizing and curating ballet gala concerts and artistic projects.

 

Mariana Gomes by Sasha Gusov, Athens, 2024

 

Over the past two and a half years, Mariana has organized gala concerts and artistic projects in cities such as Berlin, Zurich, London, Dubai, Limassol, Athens, Almaty, and Astana. Her work focuses on bringing together leading dancers from the world’s most renowned ballet theaters and managing all aspects of the production — from casting and choreography to costumes, logistics, and artistic direction.

Mariana Gomes: “For the Black Swan Gala in Athens, I aimed to create something truly special. We showcased 12 principal dancers performing iconic pieces from the classical ballet repertoire, while also offering fresh perspectives through engaging contemporary works. The program honored Greek culture by featuring Maurice Béjart’s iconic Greek-inspired choreography, along with a dynamic selection of other captivating pieces.”

 

For the November "Black Swan" Gala in Athens, artists came from top theaters in Berlin, Amsterdam, Tbilisi, Zagreb, and Budapest.

Artists:

• Polina Semionova – Berlin, STAATSBALLETT BERLIN

• Martin ten Kortenaar – Berlin, STAATSBALLETT BERLIN

• David Motta Soares – Berlin, STAATSBALLETT BERLIN

• Anna Ol – Amsterdam, Nationale Opera & Ballet

• Constantine Allen – Amsterdam, Nationale Opera & Ballet

• Riho Sakamoto – Berlin, STAATSBALLETT BERLIN

• Nino Samadashvili – Tbilisi, State Ballet of Georgia

• Savin Pavel – Zagreb, Croatian National Theatre

• Oscar Chacon – Lausanne, Béjart Ballet Lausanne

• Tatyjana Melnyik – Budapest, Hungarian National Opera

• Motomi Kiyota – Budapest, Hungarian National Opera

 

A remarkable feature of this Gala Ballet was that both the rehearsals and the performance took place within one day. You can see the full schedule of the day in the video:

 

 

 

Warm-up and Rehearsals

At 11:00 AM, the artists arrived at the theater, changed into their rehearsal clothes, and began warming up. The warm-up and rehearsals took place directly on the stage where the performance would occur later that evening. Ballet barres were set up on stage for convenience. Since the theater was quite cold, the dancers layered up, wearing multiple pairs of socks, sweatshirts, vests, and even scarves to minimize the risk of injury and warm up their muscles. Each artist warmed up at their own pace and technique, dedicating about an hour to preparing their bodies for the physical demands of the day.

 

First Rehearsal of the Performance:

Since the performers came from different theaters around the world, naturally, some had not danced together before. After warming up, special attention was given to rehearsing these numbers: dancers repeated their parts multiple times to establish interaction, synchronization, and mutual understanding. At the same time, couples who had already performed together focused on adapting their movements to the size of the stage. They moved from corner to corner, making small hand gestures to outline the amplitude of their jumps and turns. This preparation helped them adjust to the space and align their performances with the new venue's characteristics.

Savin Pavel and  David Motta Soares rehearsing “Great Galloping Gottschalk” (1982).

 

 

What Dancers Wear During Rehearsals:

The theater space, where the rehearsals and warm-ups took place, was quite chilly, so the dancers remained in warm-up shorts, pants, socks, sweatshirts, and vests most of the time. 

 

Only after hours of warming up did some performers allow themselves to take off their warm-up clothing, remaining in leotards. For example, Anna Ol rehearsed in the 2 Sleeves leotard from the new Control Out of Control collection in sand colour.

 

Anna Ol and  David Motta Soares rehearsing "Penumbra" (2017).

 

Nino Samadashvili in Zidans Raglan Zip T-leotard, Anna Ol in Zidans 2 Sleeves leotard, and  David Motta Soares, Constantine Allen with Riho Sakamoto in Zidans sauna pants. 

 

Most of the dancers bundled up in warm clothes again after completing their parts. A note for fashion enthusiasts: some ballerinas added elegant knitted shawls and cozy scarves to their outfits. The rehearsal lasted several hours, with duets taking turns performing their parts. During breaks or while watching their colleagues, the artists would put their warm-up clothes back on. One of these items — Sauna pants from Zidans, worn by David, Riho, and Martin — helped retain warmth and keep their bodies heated even in the cool theater. Men preferred to wear sauna pants over their tights, while women used them as an additional layer under tutus and lightweight dresses.

 

David, Martin, and Riho wearing Zidans sauna pants during rehearsals in costumes. 

 

Sound and Lighting Setup for Each Piece:

As you might notice, a performance is not just about the carefully rehearsed dance parts, but also about the delicate work with lighting and background design. Since a Gala Ballet does not involve elaborate stage sets, the atmosphere on stage is created through lighting choices and background projections. For instance, for a piece from “Swan Lake”, soft blue lighting and a projection of a magical forest background were used to evoke the atmosphere of the night lake where Odette and the Prince meet. In the "Dying Swan" scene, it was decided to forgo a background: only a white spotlight was present, which was turned off at a precise moment to underline the drama of the scene.

 

Polina Semionova as White Swan by Sasha Gusov, Athens, 2024

 

The work with lighting and music plays a crucial role in shaping the overall atmosphere of the performance. The timing of the light's appearance, intensity, and departure is carefully coordinated with the music and the performers' movements. During rehearsals, the dancers actively participate in adjusting these elements to ensure the light and music are perfectly synchronized with their movements. For example, in the “Penumbra” piece, the dancers begin their movements slightly before the light turns on, so the audience catches them in motion, creating an element of surprise and a gradual immersion into the piece.

In some numbers, such as “Voorbij Gegaan”, the exact moment of turning off the light is critical. At the end of the piece, where the dancer suddenly falls to the ground, the light is switched off at a perfectly timed moment, emphasizing the conclusion of the movement and creating a powerful emotional impact.

Anna Ol explaining how to turn on the lights for the "Penumbra" part.

 

Gala Ballet Program:

The Gala Ballet program featured three pieces from Swan Lake, as well as famous duets from the ballets “Firebird”, “Don Quixote”, “Esmeralda”, “Romeo and Juliet”, and “Corsair”. The audience was also treated to more modern choreography such as “Penumbra” (2017), “Voorbij Gegaan” (1979), “Great Galloping Gottschalk” (1982). The program concluded with “Greek Dance” (1983), during which the audience in Athens began applauding even during the dance.

Technical schedule for the artists, "Black Swan" Gala, Athens, 2024

 

 

The Performance and the Joy Behind the Curtains:

The performance took place in two acts, with a short 15-minute break in between. But it was simply impossible to remain just a neutral observer that evening. Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Masha Mozgovaya, I do art direction at Zidans, and I was lucky enough to be part of this unforgettable event. Everything you read here reflects my personal impressions, shaped by the emotions and atmosphere of that day.

Throughout the day, I watched the dancers, initially rehearsing lightly, then more confidently and expansively, working on their parts. During rehearsals I had started to think that I was seeing the final version of the dances that would be performed that evening. But as it turned out, I was wrong. When I watched them from the audience that night, seeing the same parts that had been rehearsed repeatedly, I was still in awe of their grace, smoothness, and remarkable precision in their movements.

Anna Ol and David Motta Soares performing "White Swan" part, Athens, 2024 
Photo by Aphrodite-Anastasia Menegaki

Nino Samadashvili and Savin Pavel by Sasha Gusov, Athens, 2024

 

During the short break, we, along with Mariana and other event organizers, went backstage again. We encouraged the artists once more, offering a few warm words and wishing them good luck. It was an incredible feeling to be close to them in those moments, seeing them up close, and then returning to the audience to watch them transform into untouchable stars on stage.

After the performance, of course, we headed backstage again. We congratulated the artists, and it was so touching to see their happy faces, sincere smiles. They were glowing with joy, having spent the evening on stage, sharing their artistry and emotions with the audience. The backstage atmosphere was filled with warmth — hugs, laughter, conversations, and photos to remember. A particularly heartwarming moment occurred when the parents of some of the artists appeared backstage.

 

Photo from social media: 1: Nino Samadashvili and Polina Semionova, 2: David Motta Soares and Riho Sakamoto, 3: Nino Samadashvili, Savin Pavel, and Riho Sakamoto after the show

 

Photo from Mariana Gomes instagram page: Nino Samadashvili, Savin Pavel, Oscar Chacon, Polina Semionova, Martin ten Kortenaar, Constantine Allen, Riho Sakamoto, Motomi Kiyota, Tatyjana Melnyik, David Motta Soares, Mariana Gomes and Anna Ol, "Black Swan" Gala, Athens, 2024

Event Team:

The Gala Ballet team was small but highly cohesive. It consisted of the former Bolshoi Theatre dancer, producer, and organizer Mariana Gomes, lighting designer Andrew Ellis, and photographer Sasha Gusov. Back in the day, Sasha actively worked at the Bolshoi Theatre, photographing ballet artists, and published a dedicated book titled “The Bolshoi”, commemorating that time.

Zidans provided the rehearsal clothes for the dancers for this event, which gave us the opportunity to observe the process from the inside and share it with you.

Mariana Gomes: The support of Zidans made the experience even more memorable. They provided thoughtful gifts for the principal dancers and filmed a beautiful behind-the-scenes reportage, capturing the heart of our process. The dancers were touched by the warm welcome, and it was a joy to see them embrace Zidans' elegant clothing. Having worn Zidans throughout my own career as a dancer, it felt especially meaningful to now share it with the exceptional European principals I have the pleasure of working with today.