Janneke

I've also enjoyed reading your reports Birdsall, as I had been considering a Baden Baden trip myself. Of course, it wouldn't be the same as seeing the Mariinsky in their home theatre, but for those of us already based in Europe, it would certainly be much more convenient. Thanks for creating this thread.

I thought it was very odd that she made it so public about auditioning for other companies over the summer. That would be considered bad form in any industry. That and the negative comments about a teacher in another video, filming class every day, and all the other drama... I'm not surprised she's unpopular with her colleagues at all.

Anyone got wind of official word about Yulia's next move yet? I really hope we'll get to see more of her soon.

I don't think there has been anything much "leaked" at all. To the contrary, the Mariinksy press office gave the information that she was leaving soon. Stepanova does not run that Facebook page, and on her Instagram, she is nothing but gracious. I agree, all these fans urging each other to pester Mariinsky etc. is very annoying, but in general the story around her is simply "Why isn't she getting better parts? What a disgrace!" Hardly confidential.

I am so, so curious to know where she's going. I really didn't expect her to leave Mariinsky, as I had the impression she is quite loyal to the theatre. Yet from that email, it seems her departure is quite imminent, despite the season just starting. Curiouser and curiouser... Hopefully the suspense doesn't continue for too long!

Sometimes I wonder if they do things like this just to spite zealous Stepanova fans.

Hurrah hurrah! Another thing I love about this dancer is that she seems so very gracious. If you look around on her Instagram linked to above, you can see that she is very sweet in the way she thanks her supporters for their appreciation. I hope that her star will rise this season.

Agree. I find the English cover and titles a bit generic. It seems like a totally different story!

I've heard it being (unceremoniously) called a "ring leap".

Novelty? I've seen so much new media art with motion sensors though, that I'm a bit over it, but having said that, it could be used to create some fantastic effects and silhouettes onstage...

Great news! I hope someone in the audience will document and put it up on Youtube... In fact I am sure someone will.

I was looking for somewhere to share this lovely BBC documentary "Makarova Returns", about her return to St Petersburgh in 1989: I found her comments towards the end rather interesting, as she perceives a movement from the poetic to something more earth bound in dancers of the time. Although she's speaking more than twenty years ago, we seem to be saying the same thing repeatedly in 2013. (Mods: I did a search and wasn't sure whether it was more appropriate to create a new thread or add to the existing thread, as it is so old. Please move this post if necessary.)

Statuesque Skorik appears in next month's Harper's Bazaar: http://fashnberry.com/editorials/oksana-skorik-by-valery-katsuba-for-harpers-bazaar-uk-november-2013/

That is very funny! I love his sense of humour (and of course ballet humour is always great when the ballet is great).

I find it shocking, sad and very upsetting. The closure of the national television station is especially extreme (imo).

The audiences in Belgium (where I am at the moment) are very well behaved. Last week I went to see the Royal Ballet of Flanders and ended up sitting beside a family. I was a bit wary of the little boy, who seemed a bit edgy and not interested in the show about to start at all. I was expecting a lot of shifting in the seat and "Daddy, why is...? What is...? I'm BORED!" etc. But you know what? The kids kept totally still and silent for the whole thing. Really well behaved. Civilisation is still alive and well in some places!

Thanks Carbro! I have a similar impression, so I was initially a bit timid about joining in. Thanks for the warm welcome.

Hi, I've been lurking here quite a bit, but not contributing. I guess it's time to jump in and say hello! I enjoy reading all your reviews and opinions here, and I tend to lurk in the sub-forums of the Russian companies most. I have a bit of a St. Petersburg dream, but in the meantime I live vicariously through the words of those who are able to see these wonderful dancers regularly (or at all) in their natural environment. I'm all for artistic experimentation and pushing the boundaries of the form, so am in general more passionate about seeing new choreographies and new approaches, rather than over-emphasis on the classical heritage. I love the Swan Lakes and Hamlets of this world, but I also like to see living artists encouraged and contemporary audiences challenged.

Searching For Perfection is a short Russian documentary about Joy Womack and Nikita Pavlovich Ivanoff-Goncharoff. There's not a lot of information or a trailer yet. Here is the official website: http://searchingperf...about-the-film/ and there is also an official Facebook page.

Welcome Swanilda! I'm also intrigued by your research and jealous of your stay in Moscow! Looking forward to your contributions here.