In 1872, Tolstoy witnessed a young woman cast herself in front of a freight train in a fit of jealousy. The writer continued to be haunted by the sight of the dead and mangled woman for a long time afterwards. He revised the work a total of 11 times before signing off on the final version, which would make Anna one of the greatest heroines in literature.
Velekei has more than a passing familiarity with the female psyche: his choreographies examining the motivations and souls of self-destructive and doomed women are all prominent parts of his creative oeuvre. Fitting into this series is the story of a successful and universally respected lady: Anna has everything, until one fateful day she meets Count Vronsky, a handsome young military officer with a brilliant career ahead of him. This married woman longing for a full life and true love is seized by a tempestuous passion for her young lover that leads to a tragic outcome. When their eyes first meet, Anna's fate is already sealed: from this point on, her downfall is inevitable.

Presented by: National Dance Theatre