mohnurka

Tatiana Terekhova, Elena Pankova, Elena Evteeva

Yes, this tape is absolutely magnificent!! The dancing and the music are all wonderful.

One of our favorites

We also saw Makhalina dance Swan Lake live 2 years ago.

Another slightly annoying thing was in the last act, in the encounter with Rothbart, the angle of camera is changed all the time, and the whole part seems to lose it's "togetherness," but that doesn't affect too much...

I don't believe anyone mentioned this here. Actually the autobiography is written in Russian (I don't know whether it has been translated). It was written by Gabriella Komleva (Kirov). The title, (if translated into English word for word) would be Dance -- Happiness and Pain. (Sorry, I'm not very good at translating).

I think it just depends on the role or piece being performed. In some instances, very high extension may be appropriate, and at other times, it would not.

It also depends on ... don't really know how to call it... Some ballerinas are dramatic actresses and therefore amazing extension/flexibility isn't necessary for them. Others create a beautiful line in their dancing; hieroglyphics, if you will, and greater flexibilility would help.

Nina Timofeeva of Bolshoi also has a child.

Elena Pankova (who used to be in the Kirov) has a son, I believe.

Also, Ruzimatov has 2 sons.

Is there any way I could get a copy of Swan Lake as well? I'm in no rush, so any time would be fine... I've placed an order about it on Amazon, but haven't heard from them since...

Memorable Lilacs? Lyubov Kunakova (definitely!). Yulia Makhalina was also interesting to look at. Her lines are absolutely gorgeous when she dances after Aurora pricks herself... However, I don't think she is as "warm" as Kunakova (at least in that particular performance -- video with Lezhnina).

Also, in the scene where Aurora appears and dances a little with the Prince (for the 1st time) these two ballerinas do it a little differently. For example, when Aurora seems to escape from the Prince, and runs behind the corps de ballet, Kunakova seems to help the Prince capture her, whereas Makhalina almost tries to prevent him from capturing Aurora... I just thought it was an interesting observation.

I've also seen Giselle performed by the Latvian Ballet. The first time Giselle was danced by Z. Errs. It was her farewell performance.

Leaving the hair up looks better IMO. Yes, taking them down creates the feeling of terror and madness, but it's a little too much for ballet. Plus, a great ballerina is able to create the feeling of madness/sadness/sorrow with her acting.

I have seen 3 videos: with Kolpakova, Asylmuratova and Lezhnina. I would probably say that Kolpakova and Lezhnina were wonderful. They created the mood perfectly. On tape, Asylmuratova didn't look like the perfect Aurora; it seems that her acting was a little too deep for this role. However, performances are different so it may very well be just this one that isn't so successful.

I think Yuliya Makhalina would be in several of those categories. Also, the Kirov/Mariinsky is deservedly famous for their arms... Not only the principals and soloists, but the corps as well.

Unfortunately the recent arguing about G.M. looks more like a quarrel rather than a discussion. It’s a pity since the phenomenon of “M’s enigma” is worth trying to understand it, rather than only exchanging opinions of whether merits exist or not in M’s dance.

One side of the problem is rather simple; it’s related to reproaching M. in technical flaws and the like. A famous sculptor once said that anatomy must be learned and then should be forgotten. Both parts of this prescription are equally important. Without knowledge of anatomy, that is, mastering the technique, you do not have a language to express yourself even if you have something to say. But if you’re too concerned on technical brilliance, the language would overweigh the content and you get a technically perfect dance about nothing (examples are abundant). Surely M., as any other successful graduate of Vaganova Academy, has learned the anatomy of dance very well. However, as a great artist, she is ready to sacrifice the demonstration of technical brilliance and physical beauty when the logic of an artistic image dictates to do that. For example, her arabesques in the second act of Giselle are moderate, soft, and as people here have said “brittle”, because they are just adequate to a ghost of young girl who died from sorrow. Also, in general, understatement often says much more than overstatement.

Yes, it was interesting to watch Nioradze, Gumerova and Vishneva when they danced Nikiya on their tour... They visited Detroit in 2003, and performed La Bayadere 6 times... I was backstage and took part of the performance.. It was wonderful to be able to compare the 3 Nikiyas and see each one twice

Komleva

Yes, I know about that site, and in fact, have printed many photos But I don't think it mentions what she is doing currently...

Thanks Jasper! I wish we could have more information about such topics (where dancers are, what they are doing, etc). It'd be great to have a website where they'd list that... That would be hard to keep up on, but

Have any recent interviews with current, or previous Mariinsky dancers been published? If so, where?

I read the short interview with Vishneva in Pointe, but I'd like to read more!

Thanks for any info.

GabbyN, please tell us when you finish the difficult job of translating It'd be very interesting to read the article.

I'd really travel anywhere, just to see whatever would be possible! See the Kirov, Bolshoi, Latvian Ballet, etc, etc. :)

Where is Galina Mezentseva currently? She was in the Kirov-Mariinsky, then for a time was in Scotland, and now...? What is she doing?

Is Elena Pankova still in Munich?

I'm from Latvia (born there), so this is very interesting for me! Have they gone on tours anywhere in the US? Are there any videotaped performances?

By the way, I've seen their Swan Lake several times (although several years ago). Inese Dumpe was very expressive too!

Spokaite danced in Maya Plisetskaya's concert, when she was 70 years old. She danced Carmen. I am not sure whether the tape is commercially available, but you could try to find it. I believe it was around 1995.

Maris Liepa also danced in Valpurgis Night with Plisetskaya (it's an excerpt.) Andris Liepa dances an excerpt from Coppelia. Ilse Liepa dances Firebird with her brother.