70 replies to this topic

[canbelto]

I was disturbed by how she lowered her attitude leg so much to achieve those long balances. Holding that leg up in attitude while balancing is one of the joys of the Rose Adagio, and one of the challenges. Rojo's lowered leg gives the impression that she went for the trick rather than beauty.

[Jayne]

Watched the video of Ms. Rojo before reading the comments.  Agree she looks strained on stage, and I didn't care for her balances, or the finale, when she only went twice around on point.  Very surprising as the Royal Ballet places a premium on excellent acting.

[abatt]

Darn.  I'm too late.  The youtube clip was removed.

[jsmu]

You didn't miss a thing, abatt. If that were the only thing I'd ever seen Rojo do I'd never watch her again.
everything said above--strained, effortful, sloppy technique and lowered leg in the attitude balances
(more than one of which she fell out of), no warmth, no grace, no assurance.
The last balance was as if she were trying to do a circus trick to make up for the previous ones.
It's hard to believe she was that bad in something public. Aurora is NOT her role.

[Jayne]

If it makes you feel any better about the NYCB sets, when I see this set from ABT's Sleeping Beauty, I can only think "Thomas Kinkade, painter of light" - and that's not a compliment.

[sandik]

Jayne, on 27 February 2013 - 03:00 PM, said:

If it makes you feel any better about the NYCB sets, when I see this set from ABT's Sleeping Beauty, I can only think "Thomas Kinkade, painter of light" - and that's not a compliment.

Yeouch!

[cubanmiamiboy]

Poor Russian Prince in mauve gets rejected twice...

[Jayne]

rejected, but she came out of the balances so gracefully that you don't really notice unless you're looking for the missing final turn with Mr. Mauve.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Jayne, on 27 February 2013 - 08:33 PM, said:

rejected, but she came out of the balances so gracefully that you don't really notice unless you're looking for the missing final turn with Mr. Mauve.

Actually, I just realized that it is not Mauve who gets rejected twice, but only during the second set of balances.  The first time is White who doesn't get her hand.  Well...it is clear that the thing is aimed at showing a looooonger last unsupported balance by Valdes during the two sets.  Still, they both stand there offering their hand just in case she has an off night and really needs some support.  But...even being a strict showy sequence, it can't help but showing Aurora accepting the three first hands, as if saying to the last one "I don't need you, so leave me alone".  This is more Valdes than Aurora, IMO.. (or maybe a little rebellious princess..?)

[canbelto]

This is just lovely:

[hydraulix]

Great video of Novikova. She reminds me somewhat of Larissa Lezhnina; same beautiful doll face, bubbly/charming personality on stage as Aurora and a radiant smile.