Buddy

This is another couple that I find very charming and entertaining. Felicia Rusu, 21 years old, Moldova, and Luciano Perrotu, 19 years old, Argentina, dancing Diana and Acteon, Esmeralda. Every so often she looks a lot like Yevgenia Obraztsova. He resembles an Argentine Hercules with all the delightfully consistant, physical attitude that you could ask for. 34:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WSPacN1Cfo Added: And of course, the Mariinsky's Ernest Latypov and Anastasia Matvienko (non-competing). 1:01:00

Having rewatched the video of Yekaterina Chebykina several times, I don't think that I've seen her dance more beautifully. I believe that folks in DC are in for quite a treat if she does appear. 22:20, Le Corsaire (and modern 1:49:15) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WSPacN1Cfo

Evelina Godunova, 25 years old, from Latvia (Giselle Act I, 44:00 and modern, 2:03:00) did indeed catch my attention, Drew. She might be a contender. She has a fine mix of airy gracefulness and virtuosity. Her jumps, for instance, are both floating and grand. She has a grace and interest that could work well at the Mariinsky or the Bolshoi. Her modern flexibility and expression are also quite impressive. From a Mariinsky perspective, as a modernist, she could join the grouping pretty much dominated by Yekaterina Kondaurova, but with Renata Shakirova and Yekaterina Chebykina showing potential as well. The reason that I mention the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi is that from the smiles on Yuri Feteyev and Svetlana Zakharova’s faces it’s not beyond my imagination to see her at the Mariinsky someday. The finals will be on Monday with the results to be announced around midnight Moscow time.

Once every four years. Although my choice as a winner might be Yekaterina Chebykina, 23 years old, (with non-competing ivan Oscorbin), at 22:20 and 1:49:15, there's other remarkable dancing and the contest isn't over. Here's another really nice one. 47:20 Terada Midori, 24 year old, Japan Olawa Koya, 25 years old, Japan, The Talisman. If you're into the space age keep an eye on him. She's absolutely lovely.

For anyone further interested in her, here she is (with Ivan Oscorbin) at 22:20, Le Corsaire (and modern 1:49:15). From my limited viewing she may well win this Moscow International Ballet Competition. There's also a lot of other good stuff on the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WSPacN1Cfo

Well, Drew, we meet once again in complete agreement. I just finished writing at the ABT Swan Lake topic that hers and Veronika Part's Swan Lakes were the best that I've ever seen. As a ballet artist, she is probably one of history's finest.

Today, Veronika ! She's performed, along with Ulyana Lopatkina, the finest Swan Lake that I've ever seen. She's performed Many of the best Swan Lakes that I've ever seen. I've seen about eight of hers. In fact she's performed some the best dancing and stage performing of any kind that I've ever seen. I don't live anywhere near NYC, but I try to see her if she's anywhere nearby, doing anything. Added: Hee Seo I haven’t followed some of what’s been said about her, but I have very nice and deep feelings about her. I’ve seen her twice at the Mariinsky Festivals. The first time she did Giselle and I was smitten. Last year she did Sleeping Beauty. She might have been somewhat tired and not at her technical best, but I still consider it one of the best and most memorable of those performances. Her ability to combine her beauty of dance with an agility of poetic drama both embraces and fascinates me.

Thanks for posting these. I've really enjoyed them. Edward sounds so mellowed and matured. His artistic sensitivity really shows more than ever. Some of his anecdotes are very interesting and at times very entertaining. Also his emphasis on giving meaning to the dance is very impressive as has been mentioned above. Peter Martin's in a video clip says something that remains with me. George Balanchine told him that he (Balanchine) was a sentimentalist at heart but tried to not let it show in his choreography. Edward also comes across the same but not afraid to let it show. Edward makes the point that George Balanchine was a very simple man who also happened to be a genius. I've read the same thing about Mozart. Edward is a bit of a street fighter, which may have been what got him into trouble at the Miami City Ballet. In public he jokes about being considered a beer drinker in a champagne world. Yet his artistic sensitivity and love of his art as well as his artistic intelligence and ability are compelling. I do hope that he and his family are doing as well as possible. He seems to have matured in his view of things. He's more reflexive. Perhaps there will be another opportunity for him to accomplish what he did artistically at the Miami City Ballet, if he would wish to pursue it. I've said it often, that no matter what his personal limitations may have been at times, the Miami City Ballet, for me, had a feeling of warmth and family when he was there. The quality of the company was highly acknowledged. Hopefully there will always be a place for him there.

Drew, I agree with most everything that you've written. It won't be the first time. In regard to Yekaterina Chebykina, I've always been very impressed by a certain ability that she has. That's to be able to change from an almost animated expressionism to absolute refinement in an instant. This year I thought her performance of Diamonds was probably the best that I've seen her do. I considered it one of the best at this year's Festival. I think that she's also developing more depthful characterisation. I think that she has a chance to be an excellent Nikiya in DC. As for this version of La Bayadere, I've seen it year after year. I'm just fine with it. Yekaterina Kondaurova, in my mind, can do anything. I'm in total agreement with what you wrote -- "....video of her most recent Nikiya seemed breathtaking to me." Although I can sympathise with others' point of view, I remain a big fan of Oxana Skorik. She's simply one of the most beautiful human beings in motion that I've ever seen. I would also include Yekaterina Osmolkina. I join, I assume, everyone here in hoping that the Kennedy performances continue. I think that they're a great idea and I've enjoyed the ones that I've seen very much.

Natalia, I've only seen a brief video clip of her "Etudes." She does have an "Aristocratic elegance." The works that I've seen her perform can vary in emphasis. At the moment I tend to like her best in ones where she has really achieved her nuances of character and style. In this respect, I like very much her 'lyrical and poetic classics,' such as "Swan Lake," "Giselle" and "La Bayadere." I also really appreciate such things as her Bianca, partnered by Semyon Chudin, which, for me, is a fine counterpoint to the aggressiveness and by far the best part of as much as I've watched on video of Jean-Christophe Maillot's "The Taming of the Shrew." Sometimes I think that she takes large chances in her interpretations and acting highlights. Almost all the time she's very successful. But as she says, 'she never stops.' She never stops evaluating and developing. She has a fine sense of appropriateness and beauty. And whatever she does, she does with exceptional ability.

For the time being the replay can be seen here. YouTube may have it also. http://www.ontvtime.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view_record&id=1490&start_record=2017-05-19-15-55 [Thanks as usual to Sophia at Dansomanie]

Here's something. http://www.ontvtime.ru/live/russiak-2.html

It should be here, but so far I'm not getting anything. http://live.russia.tv/index/index/channel_id/4

Today at 8:55am EST TVKultura (in russian) will take a look at this year's Festival. http://tvkultura.ru/anons/show/brand_id/20874/episode_id/1498581/ [thanks once again to Sophia at Dansomanie for this info]

She and Semyon Chudin did indeed perform Swan Lake twice in Vienna, the 14th and the 17th. Really wish that I could have been there. She’s an artist who seems able to bring inside herself all the beauty that she views and feels, make it part of herself and radiate it back to us through her exceptional artistry and remarkable physical beauty. Here’s a curtain call video clip with a very nice comment from Manuel Legris, the Artistic Director. https://www.instagram.com/p/BUFs5t2A9W5/ Interview with her, January 19, 2017 What kind of thoughts and feelings would you wish the audience to take home from “Sleeping Beauty” on Sunday? The fairy tale brings hope for some good things to happen in life, of which love is probably the most important. I’d wish our spectators would leave ensured about this and that their hearts are filled with hope. Hope that beauty, kindness and love would remain the main pillars of our lives or, at least, that they are something to aspire to. https://www.ilona-landgraf.com/2017/01/olga-smirnova-on-the-sleeping-beauty/

Today at 8:55am EST TVKultura (in russian) will take a look at this year's Festival. http://tvkultura.ru/anons/show/brand_id/20874/episode_id/1498581/ [thanks once again to Sophia at Dansomanie for this info] Added: For the time being the replay can be seen here. It's about 40 minutes long. http://www.ontvtime.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view_record&id=1490&start_record=2017-05-19-15-55 [Thanks as usual to Sophia at Dansomanie]

Yes, she's the same person. She's "Corps de Ballet." "Prima Ballerina" -- probably, but you may have to wait until next year to make it official. http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/persons/ballet/all/ To see her and Myriam Ould-Braham (Emeralds) ,Saturday, July 22 at 2:30 pm, and then Olga Smirnova that evening at 7:30, I'd really recommend doing. Added: At a very quick glance it looks like excellent casting everywhere.

I’ve just finished reading an interview with Makhar Vaziev by Catherine Pawlick. It has a few interesting comments that relate to Alyona Kovalyova. http://www.vaganovatoday.com/interview-vasiev-2017 Who are some of the promising young stars at the Bolshoi today? Alyona Kovaleyova, Ksenia Zhiganshina, Elvira Ibraimova, Margarita Shriner, Anastasia Denisova. I am moving them forward and helping them to grow. I think that it is well known. She [Olga Chenchikova, Makhar Vaziev’s wife] worked as a pedagogue at the Mariinsky. Is she working here at the Bolshoi now? Yes, as a pedagogue. She works with Alyona Kovalyova, Anna NIkulina [who I also feel has Mariinsky resemblances] and the very capable Nastya Denisova. So Olga Chenchikova, former Mariinsky ‘pedagogue’, is coaching her. Something that I would have hoped for. I wish that this all works well and that Alyona Kovalyova is as happy as possible in the process. Remember, there’s still the Mariinsky. Added: I would want to say that in my opinion it's to Makhar Vasiev's credit that he's recognised her ability and beauty and has taken such an interest and been so encouraging. She seems to be a sensitive, lovely and beautiful young artist who I hope will always be treated as such.

The more that I think about this the more excited I get. Alyona Kovalyova Absolutely Belongs at The Mariinsky ! She could be their next Flagship Ballerina. But she isn’t. So for the moment I would reiterate my hope that Artistic Director Makhar Vaziev, formerly Mariinsky, recognises this and encourages her to develop in this manner at the Bolshoi. Let her grow and perform in her own Mariinsky greenhouse. If this doesn’t seem to be happening I think that She, primarily, and the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi should start thinking about a change. Maybe they could arrange a trade. Dancers from the Vaganova/Mariinsky, such as Svetlana Zakharova and Olga Smirnova, have thrived at the Bolshoi and this is great. Hopefully Alyona Kovalyova, in her own very special Vaganova way, will do the same. But if it’s not happening, if she starts to develop 'edges' instead of flow — Think Mariinsky ! If I knew whom to write some letters to, I would. I just wish her the best and will try to follow and comment on her development as much as possible.

Evgenia Obraztsova is listed as Shireen the 21st. That's one I'd love to see. "Historic Stage" as well. Have a great visit !

I've been doing a lot of comparative viewing today and I'm somewhat wowed by what a beautiful Mariinsky dream Alyona Kovalyova is. I hope with Makhar Vaziev, formerly Mariinsky, in charge that she never loses this. The closest I've seen recently at the Bolshoi is Anna Nikulina. Yekaterina Krysanova is also capable of this when she's at her delicate best -- an absolute dream. Alyona Kovalyova just floats like a cloud. That's until she does a jump that resembles a missile composed of a cloud.

Here is the most recent look. She won the First Prize at this III All-Russia Young Dancer`s Competition Russian Ballet as did her partner, Egor Gerashenko. (There was also a higher Grand Prize won by Denis Zakharov). I thought that she looked like a Mariinsky star about a year ago when I first saw a video of her. I believe that she graduates the Vaganova this year. I hope that the Mariinsky grabs her and makes her a star as soon as possible. If not the Bolshoi’s Makhar Vaziev looks very interested, which would be fine also. She can be seen at 1:29:00 http://tvkultura.ru/brand/show/brand_id/61817/ (posted by Kultura TV, the broadcaster) Added comment: To say that "the Bolshoi’s Makhar Vaziev looks very interested" is a bit of an understatement. During the second part he can barely sit still in his chair ! Two other judges that may effect her immediate future are the Mariinsky's Yuri Fateyev and the Bolshoi's Yuri Grigorovich ( age 90 ! ).

Thank you for the updates, Balletfreak. It's very good of Keenan to be doing this.

Thus to play.... Mearns: Diana Vishneva Tereshkina: Alina Somova Delgado: Ulyana Lopatkina

Natalia, I can't help you much for the moment but I have to say, "Thank you a million!" for bringing Eva Evdokimova into this. What an amazing * Artist! * she was ! If I knew/had known more about her it might possible realign my ballet universe. I think I know who she is here, but could you confirm this with a time location on the video. In fact if you could possibly do this for all of them along with who's performing who that would be great. The descriptions are a little confusing to me. By the way, I wouldn't say "Smirnova vs Skorik." I think that they're both wonderful. If I had to pick an "ethereal" for a Marie Taglioni for the moment I'd probably have to combine Ulyana Lopatkina with Olga Smirnova or Alina Cojocaru or Alina Somova or Diana Vishneva or....