Maxim describes the plethora of classes that the exclusive Russian ballet schools offer. Audience members listen to Irina talk about her role as Tatiana in Onegin. The two seemed especially inspired by the opportunity to dance Onegin . Based on a poem by the great Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, and set to a moving score by P.I. Tchaikovsky, Onegin is an emotionally intense ballet that has never been performed in Russia. Irina's description of the difficulties in portraying the heroine, Tatiana, especially the dramatic last scene in which Onegin, who had rejected her 10 years earlier but now returns to declare his love despite her happy marriage, was striking.
Every ballerina shows it differently.
Just as vivid was Max's response to his role as Lensky, who duels to the death with Onegin in the second act. He knows he is going to die. He knows this is the last time he will see the sun. The last time he will touch the ground. The last time he will breathe the air.