MadameP

Here is Ksenia Zhiganshina dancing the Congo variation from the underwater scene of Pharaoh's Daughter. I was so happy to see this lovely young ballerina recently promoted to soloist!

She will not be forgotten by those she coached, or who saw her perform. I hope those awful people who caused her death get their just desserts...

Indeed, and all my comments concerning May Nagahisa were solely intended as criticism of promotion and sponsorship as it exists in the *Mariinsky* - not in any other company.

Here is Olga Smirnova in the beautiful "underwater" scene from Pharaoh's Daughter. I love her grace in this, the choreography, costumes, scenery, music - everything. I am very glad to see this fabulous ballet back in the current Bolshoi repertoire and hope they perform it again next season. In my opinion, it IS well worth its place in the repertoire, and far more so than some of the current horrors currently wasting space in the playbill!

Can only say, I completely agree with this - except perhaps your favourite casting, and we are all entitled to our favourites!

I just want to say that Pharaoh's Daughter is a wonderful ballet. Fabulous choreography, scenery, great spectacle, really good opportunities for soloists and corps

You are missing my point. I am talking about young dancers who were never corps and were immediately brought in at second soloist level, despite having no Vaganova training. At only 18 this very young ballerina was first a trainee and then brought in as a soloist. Shirinkina (Perm) was certainly a coryphee before she was promoted to second soloist and I think corps also, but her promotion to second soloist was after she had been in the company for many years. Skorik was certainly coryphee. Ostreikovskaya was corps and now still soryphee. I know of no Bolshoi dancers presently in Mariinsky who were brought in at second soloist level while in their teens. Are you talking about Bolshoi theatre here? With regard to Timur Askerov and a few others, again, none were 18 and brought in as a second soloist; they already had experience dancing solo roles for other companies. I wish that some Vaganova graduates could be given the opportunities and promotion of May Nagahisa.

I have said nothing about May Nagahisa's capabilities as a dancer. My point is that she is not a Vaganova trained dancer, and there are Vaganova graduates who never could get her opportunities or early promotion. And re the dire male principal ranks, I agree, and the fact that Ermakov, Zverev and Stepin have not LONG been principals is just ridiculous and tragic.

I had forgotten she had some early opportunities, and also rehearsed Giselle, but unfortunately did not dance because of injury. She is an outstanding adagio dancer in particular, the best Lady in Young Lady and the Hooligan I saw, and in Awakening of Flora, for me she was the outstanding dancer, notwithstanding Osmolkina was dancing as Flora!

Originally Petukhova was going to Tallin, but I subsequently heard she might go to Bolshoi. She is not on either roster at the moment. I liked her also, Buddy - she has a lovely soft, lyrical quality.

There are dancers still in the corps, such as Marchuk and Frolova,, and dancers who are still coryphees - Nikitina, Ivanova, Krasnokutskaya - MANY! - who never had roles at the age of 18 or promotion out of the corps at that young age. Where are the opportunities for these products of the Vaganova training system?

Yes. This is my point, CharlieH, and, as I said, I do not want to slap down a young dancer - but no matter how good she might or might not be, nevertheless it IS corruption and there ARE so many young and not so young dancers who have been completely overlooked because they did not have a sponsor.

I have seen her also as a shade and as Florine. I don't want to slap down a young girl at the start of her career, but I can't help wishing both her roles and her promotion had been given to a Vaganova graduate. Really her promotion is a slap in the face to all of them.

? She is one of the most musical ballerinas I have ever seen!

Kovalyova was injured.

Agree with Obraztsova and Osmolkina, and would like to add Stepanova and Novkova also.

I just read that ELEVEN graduates have entered Mariinsky this year! They are: Maria Bulanova, Anita Voroshilova, Anastasia Demidova, Lada Ivanova, Daria Ionova, Anastasia Nuikina, Maria Khoreva, Rustam Azizov, Ilya Mogilnikov, Ervin Zagidullin Vakhtang Herkhulidze.

Thank you very much!

I love that song!

Yes, that is Maria Petukhova at 17:30.

I believe Petukhova is going to Tallin. Edited, but now I was told Bolshoi - so not sure! I do like her very much though, although she doesn't have the best physique.

Here it is but what a shame they did not broadcast Paquita.

Please post the link!

Today May Nagahisa has been promoted to Second Soloist. She jumped from the Trainee position straight to Second Soloist, bypassing corps and coryphee categories.

It's difficult for anyone to give anything their full attention when they have two separate roles/appointments in different establishments! Hope we see Maria Khoreva in a principal role soon. She is off to a good start!