Sunday evening we went out to watch the Russian Ballet perform at the Sava Center here in Belgrade. The Sava Center is a great place, it looks like a Sci Fi movie set from the 1970’s, ie Logan’s Run. The architectural style is a lot of cement, glass, and dark panelling inside.
It was built in 1977 as a convention center and concert hall in New Belgrade. It hosted an IMF congress when it opened. Wikipedia some nice photos of the place and a bit on the history.
We went out with friends for dinner first and had a great time. It was the first time I have seen ballet live. The dance form originated in the royal courts of France (hence the name) in the 1500 and 1600’s. It is kind of a stylized form of fencing. It is appropriate that I saw the Russian ballet performance, as that is the country that popularized it around WWI after it was declining for a long time.
I enjoyed the evening. A lot was lost with the format of the performances. It was a “best of” with short pieces from a variety of plays. I think with one full play with context, I could be engaged a bit more with the form. I like dancing and we hold periodic dance contests in the house with the kids. When I showed videos of the performance to Owen and Oliver, they thought it was a bit boring and they preferred the “free style” dance form of Michael Jackson videos. I will attend the ballet again, but will wait for a full performance of a piece.
The dancers were quite flexible which I admired. The outfits were a bit too much (see above) for my taste.
Bill's Blog 
I saw the “Taming of the Shrew” ballet in Budapest back in 1994 on my student trip of Europe and it changed me a bit. Ballets and musicals are excellent given they have both dancing & musical performances while I’ve yet to find an opera I didn’t want to leave after the first period.
Try to make time with Nadia & family and make it up to Budapest at the National Opera House for a ballet. You will never forget it!
Nice to hear from you again Bill. I’ll be in Sofia in February for a basketball tourney!