The Russians are coming

It is sometimes said that we do not see enough top class dance shows here in Malta. Whether this is true or not is a moot point. But this month's return visit by the St Petersburg troupe Bize Lizu will go some way to satiating the hunger for quality dance. Russian dancers are particularly revered as brilliant technicians and totally disciplined in their art.

This time the company has intriguingly entitled their show French Kiss and it will be performed at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on June 14 and 15, then again for three nights under the stars and by the water's edge at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. For their performance at this latter venue, two custom-built stages will be constructed.

Bize Lizu was created by Ivan Koklyushkin in 1997 and the first performance of his dancing cast took place on December 20 of the same year. From 2001 Bize Lizu has been touring the world and has appeared in the US, Israel, Finland, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Estonia.

Their dance style gives a strong nod in the direction of cabaret and modern ballet and they certainly know how to entertain. Their dancers are also extremely athletic and have - what can only be called - attitude, yet pride themselves in delivering a perfect performance.