Buddy

Thanks for your comments and insights, Duffster. I guess that I take things like Epaulement and Port de Bras for granted by now with the Mariinsky and other similar companies. The quality is so high. I singled out these several dancers as being even more special. I might add once again another personal young favorite, Anastasia Plotnikova. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHK8H181cr4 It has to do with training, for sure, but it’s also ingrained in the culture. Other companies in the world have other strong points, drama in the UK, energy and naturalness in the US, for instance. All have fine ability, but with companies such as the Mariinsky fineness and aura seem like the air that they breathe. I’d like to mention another Mariinsky dancer once more. She’s Renata Shakirova. I always say that I like sunshiny dancers and I always include her. Recently she quite surprised me by adding a depth of character in a La Bayadere performance that I’ve never seen from her before, or perhaps from anyone in ballet before. If she continues this she could become one of the most interesting and compelling ballerinas today.

Since we were just discussing Lada Sartakova, a young Vaganova graduate now at the Mariinsky/Primorsky company, it might be interesting to take a look at two other young dancers and make some video comparisons. Maria Koshkaryova is still at the Vaganova, but is also appearing as a Trainee with the main company, already performing Soloist roles. She seems destined to be a Star and an unofficial summary video was recently posted of her in various works. What has always been apparent is her command of detail, somewhat similar to the young Maria Khoreva. For me, there’s also a resemblance to Nadezhda Batoeva in overall ability. What’s appears more noticeable in this compilation video is her sunshiny vibrance. This is a quality that I like very much. Here again is another video glance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmuVFHL4iG0 Lada Sartakova has a softer loveliness. Once more, this is a quality that I like very much. And I’ll say what I’ve said before, that I think that she would do beautifully as a Soloist with the main company. [I appologize for removing this video. I thought that it was an officially posted one. It shows her as Princess Florine (from The Sleeping Beauty) in a recent Primorsky/Mariinsky performance at the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg and I think that she’s very lovely.] I’ll add one more name of someone whom I’m often mentioning these days, Valeria Kuznetsova, She’s at the Perm ballet school, not the Vaganova, but I consider her perhaps the current standard in graceful beauty among all the younger dancers and even worthy of including with the most beautiful of the mature ones. In this video, which I’m posting once again, as Duffster, a former professional ballet dancer, pointed out, she’s dancing a very difficult solo, and, for me, she just floats through it — a lovely performance. If she ever does appear with the Mariinsky, I think that that would be great. In the meantime she remains, for me anyway, a reference point for all young dancers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRbEp7XdAsA (These videos have officially been posted at the Competition site.)

Thanks very much for your post, Jan, and welcome to Ballet Alert! . I share your feelings about what a fine dancer Lada Sartakova is. I also feel somewhat the same about starting certain feats at such a young age. She’s now so gracefully lovely that I even sense that she decided that that was not going to be her only legacy, but this is just personal musing and conjecture. And, yes, it’s very good that she’s dancing so many fine parts at the Primorsky. Maybe she’ll be doing this with the main company some day. I think that that would be just fine.

Recently a video clip of Carmen Suite with Anna Nikulina and Artemy Belyakov was posted. I’m not sure when the performance was as I believe that the company is on vacation. I consider Anna Nikulina to be the most graceful and Mariinsky-like dancer in the company aside from the dancers that come from the Mariinsky theater or its school. This is what I’ve always liked most about her and is what has made her one of my favorite Bolshoi dancers. In this video clip she surprisingly gives one of the most sophisticated dramatic performances that I’ve seen of this role. Artemy Belyakov is also very good. This is a quality that I’ve never noticed in her before, but one that is characteristic of many company dancers. With the departure of Olga Smirnova, the very young and very talented Eva Sergeenkova is now perhaps the company’s best at this. Yet Ann Nikulina does a very commendable job. Another surprise that’s related in nature is the Mariinsky’s Renata Shakirova’s recent La Bayadere. She also gives a very sophisticated dramatic performance that I’d don’t normally associate with her. I’ve seen her do well dramatically, but not like this. If she continues at this level she may become even more special at the Mariinsky, making her perhaps the only one at the Mariinsky that excels at this and is worthy of a recognition that’s usually reserved for artists from the Bolshoi.

Thanks, Naomikage. Glad that Xander Parish (also Vasilii Tkachenko) has found a new home. This is a video from 2008 of Xander Parish’s recently deceased coach, Igor Yurievich Petrov, giving a class. It’s interesting to see faces from back then. At very quick glance I believe that it’s Diana Vishneva in the black and white striped top and Alina Somova in a red top practicing next to Leonid Serafanov. Viktoria Tereshkina is there, but I haven’t found her yet and many others. You might want to start watching around 10:00 to look for faces and things probably are more interesting when the spins and jumps begin around 40:00. “Today, August 21, [2022] was the death of one of my best Mariinsky friends, Igor Petrov. In honor of him, I am showing his class from 2008. including Diana Vishneva, Alina Somova, Viktoria Tereshkina, Leonid Sarafanov, Daniil Fadeyev, Irma Nioradze.”

Thanks to everyone for your ongoing thoughts and comments. In my statement about the ability of the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi being able to produce an exceptional number of “classically outstanding” dancers compared to other companies, I would also say that this is a particular kind of beauty, but one the I do consider to be perhaps the essence of ballet dancing. It’s something that’s rooted in a cultural devotion, as well, that can set such companies apart. And this isn’t totally based on technical precision, which I view as one way of accomplishing this, a very important one but not the only one. Also, there are companies that I’m more familiar with, such as the American Ballet Theater and the Miami City Ballet, that I like very much, but for different reasons. It’s an overall aura, fineness and sense of fineness, on the other hand, that make the Mariinsky, the Bolshoi and some other related companies so special for me and I believe for many others. Again, I’d like to call attention to Xander Parish’s loving praise for his former coach, Igor Yurievich Petrov, (above post) and, in addition to mourning his passing, be grateful that such persons exist in the world of ballet and everywhere.

For pure dance loveliness, she’s the one that I’m watching all the time at the moment. Similar linear beauty can also be found in Oxana Skorik and Alyona Kovalyova. One quality that I notice is her statuesque and lyrical verticality. Whatever shapes she’s composing, she always seems to be able to draw them into an ascending dreaminess. This is done with the alignment of her neck and her head. Compare this to the much looser positioning that Maria Khoreva uses in the above video clip. Valeria Kuznetsova’s head, and as a result her entire imagery, almost seem to be lifting and floating somewhere in the heavens.

Xander Parish posted today a message about the passing away of his coach of ten years, Igor Yurievich Petrov. It’s a very sympathetic one. “Igor Yurievich Petrov, my coach for 10 years in the Mariinsky Ballet, sadly passed away today. I cannot begin to describe what an amazing and wonderful person he was, full of positivity and encouragement to those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him. Igor Yurievich, thank you for everything you did for me, for always being there in the wings and always.” https://www.facebook.com/xanderparish/posts/pfbid0o4iZvVVKUrzdrtkSmUuqVp42HYt28LqaXXUbU4NrHqQWZa1mv5eRn3YzTFuJt8x8l (thanks to Sophia at Dansomanie)

I think that a bottom line to this discussion could be that while many of the world’s leading companies can produce one or two or a handful of ‘classically outstanding’ dancers, companies such as the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi can produce dozens and dozens of them. Added: Staatsballett Berlin: Polina Semionova (Russia) Iana Salenko (Ukraine) Does make you think (and hope).

Thanks, everyone, for these insights. Something that would certainly attract me to the Staatsballett Berlin would be the presence of this young woman. Evelina Godunova — Soloist (From Latvia. Gold medal winner at the 2017 Moscow International Ballet Competition (again thanks to Jeannette at BalletcoForum)) Delightful ! (All theses videos, I believe, are also officially posted at the Moscow Ballet Competition site) Added: Two other very good reasons would be Polina Semionova and Iana Salenko.

Thank you very much, Duffster, for your very nice and informative comments. It’s interesting to me that you’re so impressed that she’s doesn’t look like a student. I can certainly understand why you feel this way. Yet, for me, she does still look like a student but in the most positive sense. Her youthful vibrance is luminous and her dance ability is very impressive but not so technically refined as to lose this feeling. Being a former professional ballet dancer you see many things that I don’t notice and focus on. Thank you for the insight as to how difficult this solo (variation) is. Agreeing with you completely about her “absolute sense of calm” she appears to be the kind of woman with that remarkable female ability to smile radiantly through anything. You also mention that she makes even the simple look interesting. I don’t like to over-analyse but I do notice certain inflections in her motions, for instance, that could account for part of this. As for her training, the Perm Ballet does seem to be very high quality, and some very famous artists from its school have excelled beyond, such as Oxana Skorik at the Mariinsky. As with some other ballet dancers that I like very much, I hope that she can hold onto this youthful vibrance while excelling with her remarkably lovely, elevating and proficient artistry. This might make for a very interesting comparison. It’s a video clip of the Mariinsky’s young and highly talented Maria Khoreva doing another solo from The Sleeping Beauty. At first glance her always interesting and highly impressive proficiency is very evident, while Valeria Kuznetsova’s remarkable gracefulness is also very apparent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATC3J17uA-A (posted by Maria Khoreva)

Thank you very much for this information, Naomikage. She graduated the Vaganova in June 2020 (thanks to Jeannette at BalletcoForum for this information) and I was sure that she’d have a fine career at the Mariinsky. Does anyone know what the attraction of the Staatsballett Berlin might be ?

I’m totally enchanted by this young lady ! Here’s why. (Video also officially posted at the Competition site.) She’s a vibrant, highly expressive young dancer with absolutely lovely dancing. She’s still a student at the Perm Ballet School in Russia. She just won a Silver Medal in her Junior's category (no Gold was given) at the Moscow International Ballet Competition. She reminds me of the Bolshoi’s new Principal Dancer, Alyona Kovalyova (Mariinsky school graduate), because of her appearance and remarkable gracefulness. There isn't much information that I can find about her, but I'll try to follow her career as carefully as I can. I’d love to see her at the Mariinsky. I think that she’d really shine there, but I’m sure that wherever she goes she’ll be wonderful.

Hopefully she won’t be hidden much longer, ECat. Since this is the vacation month for the main company I’ll take the chance to focus on some other things. On more name that I’d really like to highlight is that of the young Anastasia Plotnikova, still in the Corps de Ballet. I’d love to see her given as much attention as possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHK8H181cr4 (posted by herself)

That’s quite something, MadameP ! Thank you for this information. Yet, what impresses me very much is her grace and loveliness. Here, by the way again, is the video clip of Valeria Kuznetsova from Perm, who I continue to feel would be a wonderful addition to the Mariinsky because of her remarkable loveliness. I'll continue to encourage this possibility as much as I possibly can ! (Also posted officially at the Competition site)

This is a name that I’d like to pass on. She’s a new discovery for me. Her name is Lada Sartakova. She’s actually with the Primorsky part of the company. (Thanks to Nastya at BalletcoForum for the insight). From a video clip of her recent performance as Princess Florine (The Sleeping Beauty) she appears to be very lovely. This is the performance that Maria Iliushkina debuted in as Aurora in Saint Petersburg. Lada Sartakova looks totally like a main company dancer. She has beautiful grace and long lines. She also has her own definite personality that makes her somewhat different from similar main company dancers and adds a nice interest and attraction. She’s getting some attention so let’s see if she stays in Saint Petersburg. I hope so as she would seem to be a fine addition. And since I'm talking about a far away dancer, Valeria Kuznetsova, somewhat similar and whom I’ve mentioned from the school in Perm, who performed at the Moscow Ballet Competition, would seem to be another fine addition if that were to ever happen. Yuri Fateev (Mariinsky ballet director) was a judge at the competition so she’s not an unknown. Still, nothing going on there that I know of for the moment.

Thanks, ECat. A few days ago someone posted about 15 minutes of Renata Shakirova, with Phillip Stepin, performing La Bayadère (July 20). It’s perhaps the most beautiful and sensitive performance that I’ve seen her give. For the first half she looked very much like the highly graceful and embraceable Maria Iliushkina. Her moves may have been slightly more animated but still very lovely and delicate, offering just the right amount of dramatic emphasis. In addition, she has a wonderful sensitivity and substance. Her overall drama is very nicely fashioned, heart-touching and appropriate. She showed a wonderful range and made it evident that she has a delicacy, substance and very personal identity that continues to grow and make her even more special. Good job !

This is fair enough, Drew. Thank you. And my comment may seem more abrupt that it should. My overall feeling is that folks go on leading their normal lives, or trying to, as best they can and this is what is most important to them.

And then there's the possibility that what most ballet dancers (and most Russians in general) do, has little or nothing to do with Putin.

This might be an interesting thing to follow. It was announced the beginning of June (thanks to FionaE at BalletcoForum) and according to this announcement from July 28 is still on. This is what I posted at another ballet forum: Not following Svetlana Zakharova's statements and actions for awhile, I'm still personally hopeful that it’s a good sign for the possible resumption of cultural exchanges and better things beyond that, but this is totally my own opinion and I respect and can sympathise with much different ones. Teatro Regio Torino, Italy July 28, 2022 (Google translation) Svetlana Zakharova & Vadim Repin Béjart Ballet Lausanne After the August break, we will return in September to the Cortile di Palazzo Arsenale with a program entirely dedicated to dance, a new entry for the stage of the Regio Opera Festival. All September shows will start at 8pm. The Regio Opera Festival is organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Culture and the City of Turin. Media Partner is Publitalia '80. Thursday 8 and Saturday 10 September at 8pm we will have the honor of hosting Svetlana Zakharova, étoile of Bol'šoj and of the Teatro alla Scala, beloved by the public, celebrated by critics and requested by the major theaters in the world, who will perform together with her husband Vadim Repin, acclaimed violinist and conductor, who will conduct our Orchestra. In the show Pas de deux for Toes and Fingers, Repin will perform solos of incredible virtuosity, some of which will see Zakharova's dance elegantly blend with the music. Alongside the "absolute prima ballerina", some well-known protagonists of international ballet: from Mikhail Lobukhin to Denis Savin, from Vjačeslav Lopatin to Artemy Belyakov, engaged in choreography by Marius Petipa and Asami Maki, Mauro Bigonzetti, Motoko Hirayama, Mikhail Fokine and Johan Kobborg with music by Paganini, Glazunov, Saint-Saëns, Händel, Frolov, Monteverdi, Massenet, Williams. An admirable dance show and a wonderful concert: a unique opportunity to enjoy great music and international ballet stars. https://www.teatroregio.torino.it/area-stampa/comunicato-stampa/le-star-della-danza-internazionale-protagoniste-settembre

From my reminisces of the Mariinsky Festivals. Maria Kowroski The evening before her performance they gave her the front box to sit in. They didn't need lighting that evening. With Damian Woetzel -- The Prodigal Son Year? Teresa Reichlen Prodigal Son 2012 What a delight she turned that work into.

What embraces me as I continue to rewatch her White Swan duet, is the emotional attraction, both in her face and in her overall physicality. For one thing, it’s believable. It’s a living experience as much as a performance. It’s part of the here and now. It’s a goddess-like statement of life, imagery and human relationship. Her physicality has a drama, a tension and release, that’s so well modulated and constructed. And it all moves along like a life being lived as well as an artistically fine and masterful work of poetry.

I see a lot of very fine resemblances between Renata Shakirova and the Bolshoi’s Elizaveta Kokoreva. Both are dance prowess firecrackers. Elizaveta Kokoreva does a leap into an overhead lift that has to be seen to be believed. Renata Shakirova is somewhat more softly lovely, whereas Elizaveta Kokoreva has a more linear, statuesque beauty, which is quite commendable in someone who doesn’t seem very tall. I know that Renata Shakirova isn’t. And both are innately bundles of sunshine and that can spell hope and good will.

Not much new, that I’ve found. This shows what she did in July (click back to July) and doesn’t have anything yet for August. https://www.olgasmirnovaballet.com/dates In light of what I consider her very sincere and courageous actions in the past year, I really wish her the best even more than before. In terms of artistry, she has great confidence, intelligence and ability. With these she has made very powerful and highly beautiful artistic statements. She may sense that she should learn others' methods and feelings, but I think that her real greatness could be when she’s found her own. In the same way that I’m hopeful for her, it would really seem wonderful if she could express a similar hopefulness in what she creates. In certain respects, I think that she might even be capable of evolving the entire art form.

She’s quite wonderful ! Thank you. I keep expecting to see Gavriel Heine on stage at the encores. Hopefully, once again, somehow, someday.