Crime and Punishment

“I turn to literary masterpieces not so much in search of plotlines, but rather in a quest to enrich the production with philosophical and intellectual ideas – those that do not lie on the surface of the text, but reveal themselves upon a deep dive into the essence of the work.” This creative manifesto, as expressed by Boris Eifman, eloquently explains his enduring fascination with the works of great writers, especially Fyodor Dostoevsky, who stands as one of the foremost thinkers and artists in global culture.

The first ballet inspired by the work of the Russian author, The Idiot, was created by the choreographer as far back as 1980. In later years, choreographic interpretations of The Brothers Karamazov were born. The last masterpiece by Dostoevsky inspired two of Eifman’s creations: the 1995 production The Karamazovs and the ballet Beyond Sin, which premiered 18 years later.

Crime and Punishment is the third novel of the “Great Five Books” interpreted by the choreographer through the expressive medium of dance. Remaining true to his artistic principles, Boris Eifman does not merely illustrate the canonical text. Instead, he accumulates the expressive and exploratory tools he has honed over decades of creative work to offer his own answers to profound questions about the inner nature of humanity, the significance of universal moral compasses, and the consequences of their downfall.