#russkibal

This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the Russian Ball here in Biarritz.  It was a fabulous evening with performances by the Symphony Orchestra of Bayonne, prima-ballerina Evgenija Obraztsova, Moscow Bolshoi Theater soloist Denis Rodkin,  Russian opera stars Veronika Dzhioeva and Evgenij Kungurov as well as Russian Ballroom Champions Inna Sveshnikova and Nikolaj Pantjuchin with music conducted by Russian greats Leonid Pletnev and Semen Milstein.

Guests arrived dressed to the nines and I found myself wondering if any of them were Russian tsars ;)  Fur adorned ladies and tuxedo clad gentlemen sipped champagne and tasted worldly delights served by the most efficient white-gloved team I have ever seen!  They managed to move an entire bar stacked two feet high with glasses in a matter of 3 minutes so I could shoot on the lovely entrance to the theatre at Casino Municipal.  Every now and again, a debutant would tip-toe by wearing a beautifully beaded white ball gown and elbow length white satin gloves.  Oh to be inside the mind of one of those beautiful ladies on such a special night!  I could feel the excitement in the air!  It truly felt like stepping back to a time where society ruled and everybody who was anybody would have been in attendance.  

Guests meandered into the ballroom to savour the four courses that had been carefully  planned and prepared for their enjoyment.  Dinner was accompanied by a powerful operatic performance, followed by dancing and more cocktails.  Dazzling ballroom and musical acts carried into the wee hours of the morning - with more cocktails keeping everyone on their toes.