49 replies to this topic

[carbro]

One of the interesting aspects of this thread is the citing of features of less familiar ballerinas.  I have never seen Rojo but hope I have an opportunity some day.  If I do, I now know to expect special feet.

Glad you found us, Grissi.  Please visit our Welcome Page and introduce yourself!  

[ami1436]

carbro, on Feb 1 2006, 07:00 PM, said:

I have never seen Rojo but hope I have an opportunity some day.  If I do, I now know to expect special feet.

I find Rojo to be one of the most stunningly beautiful women out there - made even more so by her ability to transform herself.  And yes, then there's her feet....

[Grissi]

ami1436, on Feb 2 2006, 01:09 AM, said:

carbro, on Feb 1 2006, 07:00 PM, said:

I have never seen Rojo but hope I have an opportunity some day.  If I do, I now know to expect special feet.

I find Rojo to be one of the most stunningly beautiful women out there - made even more so by her ability to transform herself.  And yes, then there's her feet....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I do too. She's an actress of the first rate. I have seen her only live. Anyone knows of a film of hers?

[chrisk217]

Tamara Rojo is very beautiful from head to toes and a most remarkable actress. In the revival of "Five Brahms Waltzes in the manner of Isadora Duncan" she gave a nuanced fearless performance, precariously balanced on the edge between high art and camp, exactly what Isadora must have been. Amazing to see. IMHO, she should get to do all the hard-to-do-well Ashtons like "Marguerite et Armand" and "Month in the Country" and whatever Lynn Seymour excelled in. There is a video of "5 Brahms Waltzes"; it was broadcasted by the bbc in an Ashton tribute program. Maybe there are other videos also.

Some photos of Rojo (and feet):
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo04.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo05.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo03.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo06.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo01.jpg
(photos: Bill Cooper - I'm not very certain what the policy regarding links to photos is - please snip if inappropriate)

[carbro]

Thanks, Chris.  Gorgeous photos indeed!  I especially like the one of her in the low, supported arabesque.  The curves of her legs . . .  so RB!

And (Moderator speaking here) the links are fine.

[Grissi]

chrisk217, on Feb 3 2006, 08:19 PM, said:

Tamara Rojo is very beautiful from head to toes and a most remarkable actress. In the revival of "Five Brahms Waltzes in the manner of Isadora Duncan" she gave a nuanced fearless performance, precariously balanced on the edge between high art and camp, exactly what Isadora must have been. Amazing to see. IMHO, she should get to do all the hard-to-do-well Ashtons like "Marguerite et Armand" and "Month in the Country" and whatever Lynn Seymour excelled in. There is a video of "5 Brahms Waltzes"; it was broadcasted by the bbc in an Ashton tribute program. Maybe there are other videos also.

Some photos of Rojo (and feet):
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo04.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo05.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo03.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo06.jpg
http://balletbooksto.../pic/rojo01.jpg
(photos: Bill Cooper - I'm not very certain what the policy regarding links to photos is - please snip if inappropriate)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you very much Chris. The photos are wonderful. Thank you for the clue. I will try to find Ashton tribute.

By the way, carbro, when I last saw Tamara Rojo performing (last week, in Madrid, partnering opposite Julio Bocca), I realized that, although she has been leaving and dancing in England for ages, she cannot get rid of the trade mark of her first coach, Víctor Ullate. I was astonished. May be the curves are RB, but believe me, her head and eyes were Victor Ullate's.

She was incredibly elegant in Don Quixote pas de deux, not making the typicall tricks you suppose a Spanish dancer do, as quick movements of the head or of the hands. She was absolutely conscious of her porte de tête. Her retiré was incredibly high. Quality and technique. It was a pity that her fouettés were not good enough. But it was paradise!

[silvy]

Yes, those curves are gorgeous (shall I say "sexy"? - if that is allowed in this board, sorry!!      ).  Also I very much like the fact that she is not skinny, but very womanly, yet she does look a ballerina from head to toe. An example that you do not have to be anorectic to be a gorgeous dancer

[carbro]

For cheekbones (you can't really tell from this photo), NYCB corps dancer Ellen Ostrom.

[Geier]

Grissi, on Feb 2 2006, 01:15 PM, said:

Anyone knows of a film of hers?

I’ve seen very few films of Rojo: the already mentioned “5 Brahms Waltzes in the manner of Isadora Duncan”, her Kitri in a Don Quixote opposite Johan Kobborg (broadcasted by BBC in 2002, I think), Don Quixote pdd opposite Rupert Pennefather (from the “Tsunami gala”, in 2005), Black Swan pdd opposite Maximiliano Guerra (from a gala I don’t know), some Ullate works with Tamara still in the corps, and her Blancanieves (I was lucky enough to buy it in Spain… not a great work, to be honest, but nice to see).
I think that Spanish channels could have broadcasted something else recently.

She is a wonderful artist, with a very personal way to be on stage.
I think she has to be seen live to be completely appreciated … yes, this could be valid for all the dancers, but, I think, especially for her: her special energy and charisma cannot be captured entirely by a film.

[Choate]

Legs: the Kirov women (Lopatkina, Somova), Farrell, POB dames, Zakharova, Part.

Face: Altinai Asylmuratova, Farrell, Fonteyn, Kolpakova

Arms: Alexandrova, Terekhova, Mesentzseva. Guerin

Back: Asylmuratova

[ViolinConcerto]

For legs, don't forget the young Shura Danilova!  (They are on the cover of at least one edition of Balanchine's "100 ballets.")

[missvjc420]

Legs: Danilova, Guillem

Arms: Krassovska (I  noticed this in the movie Ballet Russe, when she is running through Giselle with another older dancer)

Face: Maximova, Dvorovenko

Feet: Rojo, Ferri,

Profile: Verdy, Franca

That's what comes off the top of my head- I'll probably think of more attributes and dancers

[ami1436]

Grissi, on Feb 3 2006, 08:21 PM, said:

It was a pity that her fouettés were not good enough. But it was paradise!

Belatedly responding - but Grissi, she must have had an off night if her fouettes aren't good enough.  She's known to do the Don Q fouttes with her fan, often adding in high-numbered multiples, usually ending with 5 or 6 rotations.

That is to say, when I've seen her do this, I've never thought she was adding 'tricks'.... Her multiples were always perfectly with the music, with loads of character.

[Kerry1968]

MakarovaFan, on 07 June 2004 - 06:28 AM, said:

I thought this would be a fun topic to explore.  Which ballerina has or had the most beautiful of the following features:

1)  Legs
2)  Feet
3)  Arms
4)  Hands

Feel free to add other features if you like.

My favorites are:

Legs: Maximova/Bessmertnova
Feet: Maximova/Ferri
Arms:   Makarova/Besmertnova/Plisetskaya
Hands:  Makarova/Fonteyn

The OP's list is the best one

I was just watching a clip of Bessmertnova in Chopiniana, and marvelling again at how beautifully proportioned she is.

[BocaBallerina]

This is such a great topic! There are way too many amazing dancers out there to write them all down!

Legs: Sylvie Guillem, Maria Kowroski, Alexandra Danilova
Feet: Alessandra Ferri, Svetlana Zakharova and... me!
Arms/Hands: Nina Ananiashvili, Sarah Lamb, Amanda McKerrow, Nina Ananiashvili