Set or no set, the show goes on

The Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet was preparing Friday to open a three-performance run of “Giselle� at the Kodak Theatre with no sets.

The company brought with it traditional lavish scenery for the two-act ballet, but artistic director Dimitry Bryantsev said Friday that it would be traded for a bare stage because, according to Alfred Hernandez, assistant fire marshal for the city of Los Angeles, the “Giselle� sets did not pass a field test for flame proofing.

The Russian ballet company, which performed “Swan Lake� at the Kodak earlier this week, was refusing to pay for the scenery to be treated with sufficient fire retardant to meet state codes. A company spokesman estimated that cost at $40,000.

Said Bryantsev through a spokesman: “We came to America to satisfy the American people, and we will dance for them. Even without decoration, they will see our art.�