MadameP

It could even be a much nicer place to work? Yes, it could be. I just think it must be awful to be one of those Vaganova graduates doing the same corps roles over and over and knowing that is all their Artistic Director thinks they are worth. What kind of an atmosphere must that be? It is really wrong of him to denigrate those Vaganova graduates so publicly. The facts speak for themselves, particularly when one remembers all the great graduates who are not in Mariinsky for one reason or another. And, incidentally, it might be old news about "the ballerinas who fled", but I think it's worth bringing up here again just to show how erroneous Fateyev's comments are. In the past 5 years, these talented dancers have left, going by year they graduated (I have included male as well as female dancers): Sarafanov (not Vaganova graduate, but what a talent to lose) 2001 Elena Sheshina 2002 Obraztsova, Lobukhin 2003? Sisoeva 2005 Vasnetsova, Dolmatova 2006 - Chugai, Cheprasova 2007 there was no graduation class due to 9th year change 2008 - Spilatova, Lischuk 2009 - Stepanova 2010 - Zapasnikova an exceptional ballerina did not join MT. Outstanding Viktor Lebedev did not join 2011 - Smirnova, Shapran, Strelkov did not join MT 2014 - Zhiganhsina did not join I forgot to mention Kirill Safin (coryphee)! That is a pretty staggering list of dancers who left or did not join Mariinsky Theatre. That is a lot of IMMENSE TALENT for a ballet academy that apparently only produces corps worthy graduates ... Who is he kidding???

What happened to Vorontsova? Does anybody know? I love her - she is a beautiful dancer! Is she injured, or is she following in the footsteps of Shapran and Bondareva and going to dance for the Mariinsky?

That is exactly how I interpreted his answer to the question. I wanted to know if others felt he said that. Well, it certainly sounds like it. In any case, it was an irresponsible thing to say in a public place - i.e., The Dancing Times. Maybe he thinks that, but how must all those students and teachers at Vaganova feel now? And what about all the Vaganova graduates in the Mariinsky corps? He just blighted all their hopes for roles. Maybe this is political positioning, but I just think it's an awful thing to read. I think the Vaganova graduates are wonderful - as someone said further up this thread, they just need the opportunities to develop through the roles they are given. So, isn't he going to let them do this? I do think that he has failed in his leadership in saying that in the Dancing Times.

So - is he saying that no Vaganova student is good enough for soloist/principal status and that all they are good for is the corps? That is a terrible thing to say.

Not really. Russian SL, Bayadere and Nutcracker do not honor the original libretto, and this is in both Mariinsky and Bolshoi. Well, that is my opinion! My opinion is that Russia productions of the classics are the best ... Odette and Siegfried don't commit suicide, and instead she's turned into human form forever and ever. Solor doesn't die and instead ends up embracing a ghost. Clara becomes Fee Dragee and...oh well... You did not read the whole of my answer to you further up this thread, so I will copy it: Taking into account the quality of the dancing (actually, especially the quality of the dancing,) the staging, the choreography, the libretto, costumes, scenery, orchestra - the whole package, if you like, Russian productions are the best! For me there is no contest! :-) :-)

Actually, I have.

Not really. Russian SL, Bayadere and Nutcracker do not honor the original libretto, and this is in both Mariinsky and Bolshoi. Well, that is my opinion! My opinion is that Russia productions of the classics are the best - and I have seen countless Mariinsky productions, in particular, on the Mariinsky stage, as well as Bolshoi, Mikhailovsky, Paris Opera, Royal Ballet , and many other companies - as no doubt many here have! - but more Russian productions than any other. -Taking into account the quality of the dancing (actually, especially the quality of the dancing,) the staging, the choreography, the libretto, costumes, scenery, orchestra - the whole package, if you like, Russian productions are the best! For me there is no contest! :-)

Well - Russian productions of the classics ARE the best... :-)

Yulia and Kamil have not signed any contract with the Kremlin Ballet, and do not appear on its roster, although they appeared as guest artistes in Firebird.

I could not agree more. Why has Lopatkina been recorded in more roles? This great ballerina, adored by St Petersburg audiences and balletomanes worldwide, is woefully neglected in commercial recordings. I am so happy that at least I saw her perform live in this role on the Mariinsky stage. Of the recordings that exist though, Mezentseva/Zaklinsky with Terekhova as Myrtha was the first ballet video I bought, and I watched it every evening for a year - truly! This is a WONDERFUL Giselle!

There is nothing on YT that I can see, but Ksenia herself posted this tiny fragment: http://videos-h-19.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/10831121_637242769731199_1359502250_n.mp4 Unfortunately, it is filmed with an iPhone and there is a 15 seconds time limit, so this is all we have - but it is better than nothing! Well done, Ksenia!

Very sad news. Sizova had the most amazing elevation I ever saw.

I love the fortune telling scene in La Sylphide! The reactions of the girls to their varying fortunes are so funny! Igor Kolb is doing more and more of these character roles now that he is no longer so young, although he still dances the Prince in Cinderella, and also is performing Albrecht with Novikova as Giselle later in November. I saw his Carabosse recently, which was superbly acted and menacing as well as glamorous. He also was a truly sinister and weird Shurale. This month he is to make his debut as Tybalt, which I think will be perfect for him. I really applaud him for his excellence in all these character, demi character and more "acting" type roles that he is performing as his career progresses. So many male dancers continue dancing princes when they are really not able to do so any longer, yet they have much to give the company in terms of experience and acting and stagecraft. I think he is a great example of this.

Olga's professional debut at the Mariinsky takes place tonight - she dances Swan Lake with Semyon Chudin. The company is putting out a great cast for her, with Ermakov as Rothbart, and Batoeva/Selina/Stepin as Prince's Friends. It's sold out, of course - all St Petersburg must be waiting to see her! Will be interesting to read the reviews!

I love Kolegova's dancing! I have seen her many times at Mariinsky Theatre, and I do think she is a lovely Odette and bewitching Odile. She has to be the most beautiful ballerina in the company - her face is just exquisite and she is also very feminine looking. I think she has a great all-round technique, with especially nice ballon and exquisite feet and she also has lovely arms. I know when I saw her Swan Lake, I found her Odette very touching - I think she is one of the best Odette-Odiles in the company!

Sounds interesting.

Mariinsky of course still dance it - it is so magical, and I love the lighting, scenery, costumes, music - everything about it as well as the choreography of course! It is just like one of the lacquer boxes in the Russian Museum come to life!

The new corps de ballet members have finally been added to the roster, including Vitaly Amelishko, who made his debut as one of the Horses in Little Humpbacked Horse on 5th October. Also, the following dancers are no longer on the Mariinsky roster, so presumably have not renewed their contracts for various reasons: Yulia Kasenkova, Keenan Kampa, Tatiana Serova.

Ksenia has got off to a flying start with the Bolshoi! Her debut was as Neapolitan Bride in the second Swan Lake of the season on 20th September. She next danced one of the Furies in Flammes de Paris on 26th September, and she is scheduled to dance one of the Two Sylphs in La Sylphide on 11th October. I also spotted her dancing in the corps during the Legend of Love rehearsal in the recent Bolshoi broadcast. Congratulations and good luck to this talented young ballerina!