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Yes! Anthony Dowell is a great one. I was also thinking of Manuel Legris from Paris Opera Ballet. Much of Nureyev's choreography for POB seems to allow for dreamlike dancing from men. But Legris, to me, always seemed to be soulful in his dancing.

This is an interesting topic! I agree with you that while the "Mariinsky and Bolshoi are artistic equals", the Mariinsky has more "grace and flow". I love both companies enjoy their differences immensely. Perhaps the Mariinsky is more dreamlike and Bolshoi is more expressionist. Bolshoi principal and former Mariiknsky dancer Mikhail Lobukhin is a favorite of mine. I bring him up as I would put him into the expressionist category. Vladislav Lantratov as well. Are there any male dancers that you would categorize as dreamlike?

Oh I think I figured out what you mean by "expressionist". Of course, how silly of me - a dancer who is very expressive - Maria Alexandrova or Diana Vishneva. I would put May Nagahisa in the dreamlike category. Bateova and Shakirova into the expressionist category.

Hello @Buddy For some reason, this is the first time I have seen this topic thread and like all of you other posts, I love it. I innately understand what you mean by a "dreamlike" quality. However, I'd love to know more about your "expressionist" type. A new favorite of mine is Elizaveta Kokoreva with the Bolshoi. Which category would she be in? I am guessing expressionist. Also I would like to know how you would categorize May Nagahisa, Nadezhda Batoeva, and Mariinsky's newest prima- Renata Shakirova. I so enjoy your insights.

WOW! This is fantastic news! Very well deserved. Shakirova is quite versatile and has proven herself to be a well-rounded and technical artist.

Indeed! Also several recent Vaganova grads have gone to Bolshoi and are already getting important debuts. For example, Maria Koshkaryova just joined Bolshoi as a soloist and debuted Gamzatti.

Agreed Danielle! They have a wealth of talent at the second soloist level, many of whom are ripe for promotion. Not sure why they hired from outside.

Hello fellow Ballet Lovers! The Mariinsky ballet website has a new dancer listed as a first soloist. https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/ballet/soloists/ Elena Svinko has joined and previously danced with the Mikhailovsky Ballet as a soloist and the Krasnoyarsk Ballet. https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/ballet/soloists/first_soloists/dancers1/svinko_elena1/ After watching a few Youtube videos of Elena, I see that she is a very talented dancer who has won numerous awards. While I do not want to detract from her excellent abilities, I wonder why management chose to hire her rather than promote from within. I have no doubt she will make an excellent addition, but there are several second soloists deserving of a promotion. Perhaps more promotions will be made soon.

Agreed! In fact Susan Jaffe was promoted after only a year or two in the company.

@Danielle Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful interview!

Thank you for the heads up that the casting has been posted. Here is a link: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/ballet/2022-2023/new-york-city-ballet/ I'll be flying to Maryland to visit my mother and we are going to the June 11 matinee performance. I am thrilled that Megan Fairchild is dancing Donizetti Variations with Joseph Gordon.

Whoops! For some reason I was thinking of Alexei Timofeyev when Sergeyev was mentioned as being promoted. But I do still believe that Stepin deserves principal status and Timofeyev deserves First Soloist status.

Congratulations to all of the newly promoted dancers! I'm especially pleased for Alexander Sergeev who has long been deserbving of this promotion. I would love to see Philipp Stepin promoted to principal.

Eleanora is now listed as a principal ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet! I wish her a huge congratulations! https://2011.bolshoi.ru/en/persons/ballet/soloist/

This is wonderful news! Congratulations to them both!