Victoria Teryoshkina: 'Coryphee-Ballerina'

[Natalia]

OK, OK...so she's still officially listed as a Coryphee (just one rank above Corps de Ballet)...but Victoria Teryoshkina (or 'Tereshkina' as it's spelled in the west often) is clearly a young dancer on the way up. The www.mariinka.com discussion club is full of wonderful praise for Teryoshkina's two performances this past Saturday, 18 december -- as the lead in 'Etudes' with Vladimir Schkliarov & Andrei Batalov and in 'Grand Pas Classique' with Anton Korsakov:

"Teryoshkina was simply splendid...I repeat, splendid." "

Teryoshkina was incredibly good, dancing with ease...confident, accurate, effective -- THIS WAS HER DAY!"

"Teryoshkina and Korsakov were the highlight..." wrote three different reviewers.

*****

It's been 1.5 years since this 'choryphee' danced her first Odette/Odile in 'Swan Lake.' She was OK then but seems to have really come into her own very recently. Perhaps a promotion is in the cards for this raven-haired, long-limbed dancer?

DC Tour alert: The very versatile Teryoshkina is well-known in St.Pete for her interpretation of one of the two 'Cinderella' Ugly Stepsisters (the taller, haughty one, Худышка). I can't imagine that we won't be seeing her here in DC, at least in that role. Then again, it's not good to hold our breath on casting, is it?

[Mashinka]

I saw Tereshkina dance Grand pas Classique in Germany a couple of days ago, again with Korsakov, and considered her quite superb. In the past week I've also seen her dance Swan Lake and Ballet Imperial.

What I admire about this girl is her total fearlessness, she tackles the big roles with the assurance of a seasoned professional and I tend to forget just how young she is.

In recent years I've felt some disquiet about the promotion of rather unremarkable young girls at the expense of older, more experienced dancers. Tereshkina is an exception though and I urge anyone who hasn't yet caught up with this wonderful girl to try and see her, as she is quite something.

[Natalia]

Thank you for the report, Mashinka. I'm glad that you share my admiration for Teryoshkina!

Who else has caught your eye during the current tour?

[Thalictum]

I am all for Tereshkina, but I am just worried that the Kirov's total immersion policy for dancers on the fast track, where they are assigned every possible role in a brief span, may backfire with her as it has with a number of others. Some dancers have survived and even thrived under this policy, but even Pavlenko, one of my favorites, can seem worn and a little ordinary at times and the problem is not she, in my opinion, but her workload.

[Natalia]

I hear you, Thal. However, I don 't get too upset with the Kirov managers because this is not unique to their administration. Mezentseva, Vishnyova, Volochkova, Ulanova (I think), many others were given major ballerina roles within their first year as members of the company...even as students, prior to graduation. All we can do is take note & report.

[Thalictum]

I think it's healthy to give major roles early, but not to overload.

Pavlenko in an interview talked about how difficult it is to shift styles quickly; I remember around the time of the 2004 Festival she danced Raymonda, Forsythe, the Lilac Fairy and Nikiya in a span of two weeks.

I don't know that this is the way you become great in any one role, although it's common in the American system.

Marc has posted the 2005 Festival schedule on his site; Pavlenko, Lopatakina and Vishneva will each have her own benefit evening.