Eifman Ballet Brings Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' to Life Through Captivating Choreography

In December 2025, the renowned Eifman Ballet will perform their adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' at the NCPA in India. This will mark the first visit by a major Russian ballet company to the country since the 1987-88 tours of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Ballets during the Festival of the USSR.

The Eifman Ballet, founded by 79-year-old choreographer Boris Eifman, will bring Tolstoy's tale of illicit love to life through the medium of ballet, set to some of Tchaikovsky's most profound compositions. Eifman, who grew up in Soviet Moldova and trained in choreography in Leningrad, faced significant challenges in the USSR for his unconventional approach that prioritized embodying ideas and emotions over traditional ballet.

Unlike the socialist-era tours that allowed audiences across India to experience the world's greatest ballet companies, the Eifman Ballet's upcoming visit will be limited to the country's financial capital due to the constraints of capitalism. Nevertheless, this performance promises to captivate audiences with its unique blend of Tolstoy's literary masterpiece and the troupe's distinctive choreographic style.