Danielle

No Swan Lake?

Masha has a new role! At least I believe it's a new one for her. April 2 she will dance as Aegina in Spartacus! https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/ballet_mt_women/bulanova/

Congratulations to Renata! Well deserved! Masha Bulanova needs to be promoted NEXT https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Np8Y4NwGJ/?igsh=YmhmenV0cHJuYWQz

I don't understand it either. Meanwhile, the Bolshoi is promoting young talents like Elya Sevenard to principal dancer. Maybe that's why more and more Vaganova grads are choosing Bolshoi.

I'm still amazed Maria Bulanova has not been promoted or even given new principal roles to dance.

"Why I Love Maria Bulanova" by Ballet with Isabella. 🥰

Welcome! The author posted it on her website when a magazine apparently refused to publish it, figured people might want to read her story (especially her experiences being in the corps!). I am still learning more about ballet so it was mind-blowing to learn that a dancer in the corps dances different parts in one production. That must be so tiring!

I tried finding the thread for Maria but couldn't find it anymore. I tried all search terms pertaining to her and couldn't find her solo thread, so I apologise if creating a new topic for this is wrong! But this is a wonderful interview with Maria by Vaganova Today, and I thought I'd share it with you. 🥰 https://www.vaganovatoday.com/interview-with-mariinsky-soloist-maria-iliushkina-june-2023/

Maria Bulanova performed "Leningrad Symphony" with Andrei Ermakoff. Still waiting for her to debut in a new full-length principal role. https://www.instagram.com/p/CsBYixTIpfF/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Hi all! I searched for a thread on Maria Bulanova but didn't find any, so I figured I'll start one! Masha is one of my favorite Mariinsky dancers, and I believe she has a bright future ahead of her. She has such a big energy and dynamic dancing, I'm surprised she hasn't been promoted to First Soloist! Anyway, recently she danced Odile at a gala with Nikita Korneev and she was amazing, as usual. I love what she did with the fouettes!

A few snippets of the production posted on Tony Candeloro's Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrJnV4xoiv-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= I don't have the translation but we get to a few glimpses of the dancing. The first shot looks pretty cool!

I suppose this is the official announcement from the Mariinsky. https://www.instagram.com/p/CqsoZncNNfJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Thank you so much for this!!! Do you know what she means by, "the direction of the general movement was preserved"?

Oh my bad, thought he was recently promoted based on the Instagram post. He's a wonderful dancer!

Do you mind linking the article or video to the commentator? I'd love to know more. I'm sure that Alexei Ratmansky invested a LOT in this production. I regret that we'll never see his full vision come to life! He's an incredibly talented choreographer and his love for his country is so inspiring and admirable. I wish this war never happened, and hope a peaceful solution is found soon. Side note, I was born and raised in a developing country that has good relations with both the US and Russia. Our ballet company has a Russian AD right now, but so far only one full-length classical ballet has been produced. From my understanding, Tony and Juan have been studying the original choreography for some time now, and it appears they put a lot of their own heart and soul into the production. It's hard to know the truth until we hear more from the people involved. I know Yuri has said none of Alexei's choreography has remained, but who knows. The Mariinsky should have given Alexei and his team more credit, while letting Tony and Juan's work shine through. But regardless, I'll enjoy whatever bits and pieces of this production I can find. The dancing is so lovely and the costumes and set design are to die for. I haven't seen the whole thing but I think I enjoy this more than the Bolshoi's.

Thank you so much! 💓 Fingers crossed for Masha B. to be promoted soon!

Hi all! It seems like there have been a few promotions this year! Evgeny Konovalov and one of my favorite male dancers, Alexander Sergeev, have been promoted to First Soloists. There are two other male dancers that were promoted with them, but I can't read Russian and I unfortunately do not know their names! However you can find it in the link below. Aaron Oh, who graduated from Vaganova alongside Misha Bark and Markus Juusela (both have left the Mariinsky), has been promoted to coryphee. I bet it won't be long til he becomes a Second Soloist, since he is dancing so much. The Mariinsky website seems to have been updated with the new promotions! Unfortunately, Masha Bulanova remains a Second Soloist, and is still stuck dancing the same roles over and over again. (She danced The Fountain a few days ago, I believe.) Instagram announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqlQtkUI1vZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I'm reading the previous posts, I really love the insight and knowledge I get from everyone here. 🥰 Buddy, Masha B. is my absolute favorite and I do hope that she gets bigger roles soon. I do believe she'll make a great Nikiya and Aspicia, but so far she has been relegated to secondary roles. 😞

I never thought I'd fine mime interesting...if it happens too much in a ballet it can get really boring. But Maria Iliushkina is such a mesmerising dancer that I can watch her facial expressions and graceful arms all day long. Well, maybe not all day, but definitely in a 3 hour production with some beautiful dancing thrown in! It appears that Oksana Skorik is going to dance Aspicia on May 1, with Alexndra Khiteeva as Ramze. I love them both, but again, wishing Masha Bulanova would get a bigger role! I feel like the Mariinsky doesn't know what to do with her.

Aww they took it down! I loved watching it! Not sure what the name of the dance is, but it's the one depicted on this picture: https://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbill/2023/3/26/2_1200/ Do you happen to know what it's called?

Mariinsky just announced they are going to perform the ballet in late April and May 1, maybe Oksana Skorik will be part of the new cast. I think she can also be enchanting in this role, pantomime and all. I really wish Masha will dance Aspicia, but I doubt it. Which is your favorite dance in the ballet so far? This has got to be my favorite (for now). Yes so many things are happening but I can't help it, I find it so enjoyable.

I just watched a minutes-long clip of Maria Iliushkina doing pantomime for Pharaoh's Daughter. I didn't think I'd care much for it but found myself entranced with her expressions and arm/hand movements. Ended up watching the entire thing! It was absolutely mesmerising. The audience cheered, so I imagine they loved it too! She reminds me of a young Ulyana, who also had graceful, mesmerising arms.

Thank you so much!! Here is the link to Maria Khoreva's YouTube video about the production of The Pharaoh's Daughter:

I'm not sure if it's OK to post links to videos here, but Maria Khoreva just uploaded a long video on her YouTube channel about her experience with this production! Lots of new information about the ballet and its history that I didn't know. (I'm a newbie!) She talks about Petipa, Pavlova, Kschessinka, etc. She says that both productions are grand (the original and the new reconstruction), and that the reconstruction was based on the original choreography but updated for the modern audience due to ballet technique evolving. She mentions that she started working with Tony and Juan a few months ago. She also talks about the costumes and wig she had to wear. There are clips of her dancing. Masha Bulanova also updated her Instagram, with new clips of her dancing a different part!

I think this is so right: "What might finally emerge is the realisation that both their efforts made this work a success and it might be a masterpiece." I just saw another magnificent clip from this ballet and the crowd really seemed to enjoy it. Nobody was doing any tricks or acrobatic dancing, just the whole cast performing superbly together. "A classic with an old flair" seems like a really great description for this production!