The kingdom of the shades

The second act provides us one of the most exciting scene of the history of the dance: the Kingdom of the Shades, in which 24 bayadères, dressed in white tutu and veils on their arms, rhythmically go down over a slipway till the stage. On a unspoiled technique exhibition over their pointed shoes, the dancers move forward slowly before the enraptured public, surrendered to every single step. Considered as a milestone of the White Ballet, this scene has even been said as: “If you don’t enjoy this scene, you don’t like ballet”. That’s it. (Act II, scene II)