Bolshoi Ballet Cancels RITE OF SPRING

Emerging Pictures, the largest all-digital specialty film and alternative content network of theatres in the U.S., today announced that its scheduled presentation of the Bolshoi Ballet's new production of "The Rite of Spring" has been cancelled as the result of the attack on Bolshoi artistic director Sergei Filin. Earlier this month, Filin was savagely assaulted near his Moscow home by a masked attacker who threw acid in his face. He suffered third-degree burns and will very likely lose sight in one eye; his recovery will take at least six months.

A new production with commissioned choreography by Wayne McGregor was planned to celebrate the 100th anniversary of "The Rite of Spring." The performance was to have been screened as part of Emerging Pictures's Ballet in Cinema series in approximately 300 U.S. theatres beginning April 21.

Barry Rebo, managing partner at Emerging Pictures, said, "We very much regret this unavoidable cancellation. Our thoughts are with Mr. Filin and all his colleagues at the Boshoi, and hope for his fullest possible and speedy recovery. A suitable performance will be substituted for 'The Rite of Spring' in Emerging network theatres."

The official release from the Bolshoi read, in part:

"The Directorship of the Bolshoi theatre of Russia, with the production crew headed by the choreographer Wayne McGregor, has come to a joint decision to postpone the production of 'The Rite of Spring' due to the fact that the artistic director of the ballet company of the Bolshoi theatre of Russia, Mr. Sergei Filin, is hospitalized. The date of the production will be determined after the artistic director of the ballet returns back to the theatre."

Nationally, Emerging Pictures's Ballet in Cinema and Opera in Cinema performances are shown on movie screens in nearly 400 multiplexes, art houses, museums and performing arts centers throughout the U.S. and Canada.