Dance of too many sugar plum fairies

9:06am Friday 14th March 2008

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THE term alternative certainly applies to the Big Ballet.

The company - comprising 16 female dancers weighing an average of 20 stone - is likely to make a lasting impression when it performs at Malvern Theatres next month as part of the UK tour.

Hailed as a major success in 2007, the Russian dance company produces something unique - a combination of popular classical ballet parodies and fast-paced dance set to contemporary music. The dancers, who must weigh a strict minimum of 17 stone to join the company, perform on a black-box stage, wearing hand-made costumes, and move about the stage to a soundtrack of Robbie Williams, Tom Jones and Pet Shop Boys.

"Whether you admire the fuller figure or not, there is absolutely no denying the raw power emanating from the stage when 16 large ladies perform choreographed routines in sync to thunderous music," said Dion Clements, publicist for the Big Ballet tour.

"I've witnessed audiences go wild for this troupe."

The Big Ballet was established 14 years ago by Russian choreographer Yevgeny Panfilov, who was murdered in 2002.

Never one to shy away from controversy, Panfilov set out to challenge social standards in an industry - if not world - obsessed with slender bodies and beauty.

The result was proof that people of larger builds can move with similar grace, dignity and flair as traditional dancers. Dance captain Ekatarina Yurkova said: "We eat normal amounts of food and the same kind of food as everybody else - our size is in our genes.

"Either way, since Panfilov gave us the confidence, we all love to dance and look forward to putting on an even bigger tour than last year."

For tickets to see the Big Ballet in Malvern on Wednesday, April 2, call the box office on 01684 892277 or visit www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.