69 replies to this topic

[Solnishka79]

Kristina Shapran is listen in the corps of the Stanislavsky Ballet in Moscow.
http://www.stanmus.r...ople.html?grp=3

[bianca]

From what I know Alexandra Somova is in Mariinsky but website doesn't confirm that.

[Cygnet]

Bianca wrote:  

Quote

From what I know Alexandra Somova is in Mariinsky but website doesn't confirm that.

Alexandra Somova wasn’t hired by the *Mariinsky, nor any of the following Petersburg companies:  The Mikhailovsky, The Tkachine Ballet (St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre),  Leonid Jacobson’s company, Boris Eifman, or the Hermitage. *(Mariinsky site was upgraded/reconfigured Tuesday).
http://www.mariinsky.../ballet/mimans/
http://www.mariinsky...ballet/reserve/  
http://www.mariinsky...let/kopsballet/
http://www.mikhailov...ballet-company/
http://www.spbt.ru/o...sts22/?lang=eng  (Tkachine & Kolesnikova’s troupe)
http://www.eifmanballet.ru/en/ensemble
http://rus-ballet.co...tic-corps-1.htm (The Hermitage troupe).
http://www.jacobsonballet.com/

Meanwhile in Moscow, Filin is beginning to push Olga Smirnova forward. Her debut performance with the company was in the pas de trois in “Swan Lake” on October 14:
http://www.bolshoi.r...ynid26=2680#dyn

She danced the second variation in the Grand Pas Espagnole to Obraztsova’s Bolshoi debut as Kitri in the “Don Q” reconstruction last Sunday, October 16:
http://www.bolshoi.r...ynid26=2682#dyn

Smirnova makes her debut as Myrtha in “Giselle” on Nov. 6. This will be her first major assignment:
http://www.bolshoi.r...ynid26=2716#dyn

After this, she’s cast as a maid of honor in the premiere of the new production of “Sleeping Beauty,” (Grigorovich’s version, with new scenery and costumes) on November 18.  This will be Zakharova and David Hallberg's performance:
http://www.bolshoi.r...ynid26=2704#dyn

Then Smirnova will upgrade to her debut as Lilac Fairy for Ekaterina Krysanova & Semyon Chudin's performance, November 24:
http://www.bolshoi.r...ynid26=2708#dyn

[Cordelia]

Olga Smirnova's Don Quixote variation is up on YT.  The user elga 1525 also has Obraztsova's Dulcinea variation from the same performance.  Smirnova fits in well with Bolshoi, her dancing is very authoritative.

[Natalia]

I found this lovely YouTube clip of an "Alexandra Somova" practicing a 'Paquita Pas de Trois' variation in class, presumably while studying at the Vaganova:



I could picture her dancing the Panaderos of Raymonda! Hopefully she'll get into a company.

[alexaa1a]

Alexandra Somova, in her own words, said that she is dancing now for Mariinsky Ballet.
She was hired by a company in St Petersburg, and the best company.

[vrsfanatic]

Thank you for posting this. Not the best I have seen unfortunately.    I don't mean to stir up controversy but that was not the quality I am accustomed to from Vaganova Academy nor Mariinsky (the studio is Mariinsky). Maybe she put it together without the benefit of coaching from a qualified person? It really bothers me that the music is completely wrong. Sorry to say, not a big   from me.

[Natalia]

vrsfanatic, on 24 October 2011 - 04:54 AM, said:

Thank you for posting this. Not the best I have seen unfortunately.   ....

Vrsfanatic, that's why I think that this variation -- albeit classical -- does a better job in showing her character-dance qualities. She has grown and seems to fit more of the character mold...Marie Petipa roles.

Alexaa1a wrote:
Alexandra Somova, in her own words, said that she is dancing now for Mariinsky Ballet.

Most reassuring.

[Lidewij]

I found another video featuring Smirnova rehearsing with Marina Kondratieva.

To watch it, go to this page, scroll to the right in the box of thumbnails, and click the one where you see a girl with a light blue top and white sweat pants.

[valentina11]

Smirnova looks more Bolshoi than Mariinsky!
I find it strange that Shapran went to dance corps in this company... but there you are!

[mumwang]

valentina11, on 28 December 2011 - 02:32 PM, said:

Smirnova looks more Bolshoi than Mariinsky! I find it strange that Shapran went to dance corps in this company... but there you are!

According to the Stanislavsky Ballet twitter person  Shapran is actually a soloist with the theatre. (in a reply to bellafigura's twitter, the stanislavsky twitter said that although she is listed in the corps she is actually a soloist "Some of the dancers listed as Artists on the website are actually soloists.")
Since Zelensky is now the director of both the Stanislavsky and Novosibrisk theatres, Shapran danced Sugar Plum in the Novosibrisk Nucracker on 23 dec.
http://www.opera-nov...e=4&caf:id=2762
She is also scheduled to participate in a moscow/petersburg gala alongside dancers like obtrasova, matvienkos, krysanova, osipova/vasiliev.
http://www.avito.ru/...7_fevr_50936235
She is also supposedly rehearsing Lacotte's Sylphide.

Smirnova recently danced the Thais pdd with Chudin at the Bolshoi gala to honour Roland Petit.
http://www.forum-dan...261935cac858292

Both young woman seem to be eagerly pushed by their respective theatres (perhaps thats why they chose to leave St Petersburg). Hopefully in the not too distant future both Shapran and Smirnova with their very different styles/talent well be able to make their mark.

[Lidewij]

Another video has turned up of the Little Humpbacked Horse.  In the description I see the names of Olga Smirnova and Kristina Shapran, but when I look back in the thread Shapran has not danced this?  So maybe someone else can recognise the dancers

I can't seem to find out how to embed a video in my post, so here's a simple link to the video.

[Natalia]

Thanks, Lidewij. Shapran did not dance this LHH Suite at all but she danced Nikiya in 'Shades' at the same concert. From my post #11 to this thread -- full casting of this, the 3d and final 2011 Graduation Concert -- the casting of this clip should be:

PART I: In honor of the 140th Birthday of Alexander Gorsky: Revival of the Underwater Scene of The Little Humpacked Horse (chor. Gorsky, staged by Yuri Burlaka/music by Pugni, Drigo & Asafiev)

Water Goddess - Olga Smirnova  
Water God - Nikita Nazarov

Ocean & Two Pearls pas de trois - Takano Enen, Arina Varentseva & Ksenia Ananieva

Two Corals - Yulia Kobatova & Anastasia Asaben

Little fish/sea urchins - ensemble of students

[mumwang]

Shapran was injured and did not dance the bayadere performance on the 26th. Smirnova danced in her place as well as her own thais pdd. Due to this,  Eliazaveta Kaukina danced in replacement of Smirnova for LHH. She is the dancer (water goddess) featured in the video.

I'm interested if Shapran ever danced LHH because in a Dancing Times review of the graduation performances Igor Stupinikov cited her as "splendid" in this piece. To the best of my knowledge she did not perform this role but I am wondering if she danced it at a rehearsal, or at another performance? Thanks

[Natalia]

The film of Shapran dancing Nikiya is on YouTube and was pointed out earlier in this thread. She was listed for Nikiya at only the performance of the 26th. Perhaps the YouTube film was made at a dress rehearsal?