87Sigfried87

It seems odd that a dancer could lack musicality... for me they are in a very real sense a silent musical instrument of movement.

I think that talking about musicality has sense only in Nureyev's Choreographies,as They are world known deemed not to be very musical.I don't think a company can dance always without musicality.Maybe there's a dancer in a precise moment of the ballet who loses the exact connection between the steps and the music.Or the "corps de ballet" is not synchronized,and in some companies unluckily is never synchronized.If We are talking about synchronism It is not musicality....

I've read that while both companies' dancers are technical experts, Kirov dancers have superior musicality than their ABT counterparts. Comments?

I guess I can say that the two companies represent the best of their category but they are very different in the substance.

Kirov is the symbol of the ancient russian ballet tradition: great deep interpretation,excellent lyrical dancers,perfecty-used arms,very thin and long lined bodies.

ABT is,on the other hand,the symbol of modern ballet with its brillant technique,the best You can find nowadays I think,nut maybe less felt interpretation.And then let me say that everybody now says russian method is over and old and instead American method is the actual one,the best....yeah but try and learn pure american method without the basis of the russian one....It's hard and there's the risk to become tecnically dirty!

In conclusion Kirov is the best interpretation and old tradition ballet,ABT is the future of ballet and the best techique.It's not a question of musicality.I'd only add Opera of Paris for the best technique in Europe.

And what about your favourite Basilio?

I agree with you about Osipova....I really would like to see her performing DonQui...I've seen her only in Esmeralda and she's out of the world.....

Another tough question,I know.My personal bests are: Baryshikov and Sylvie Guillem.He's Baryshnikov,I guess ther's nothing to add: the best masculine technique all over the world.He was made to dance masculine variations.And his interpretation can be compared to a real actor one.Brillant is the word for him.Sylvie Guillem is my favourite ballerina,so I can't be impartial but She has the most gifted body and the biggest talent ever!In this role She's very sensual,very hot-blooded and for some aspects very earthy and in some moments a little bit bragging,which adds more thickness and credibility to the character.Nothing to say about the technique.Perfect!

They tell me that Sarafanov is now a brillant Basilio and I'd like to see another "bragger",Denis Matvienko that I like very much,in this role as I think it will suit him well.

The worst I'd say Svetlana Zakharova,as she's too moony,too lyrical,too trascendental to dance an earthy role as Kitri is; and the worst Basilio I think I'd say Roberto Bolle.I adore him but He's out of the role....It seems He is performing Swan Lake while He is dancing instead Don Quixote.Too lyrical and too "Prince" to be the son of a spanish barber;-)

Now It's up to you

You are right.This is a tough question.Actually the most beautiful Odettes/odiles I've seen are: Svetlana Zakharova,Lopatkina and Lucia Lacarra.The first one I mention is the one I know better as I saw her many times and also in different roles.I'd say She has the perfect body to be a charming Odette: long legs with incredible arch,beatiful developpés no less than 180°,very thin and white skinned,very long and I have to say well used arms(as the majority of russian ballerinas do).What leaves me a little bit perplexed is her interpretation...too standard...and She's very selfish on the scene: if She's dancing a pas de deux with her partner,and for Swan lake It is often Roberto Bolle,she absolutely dances alone..Her only aim is to raise her legs up to the sky and do her nice penchés and attitudes and all of her steps but She doesn't even look at her partner or,whether she does,it is just a superficial look of circumstance.Then Lopatkina.I only saw her on YouTube so I can't really judge her properly but she's been awarded "Best Odette ever" in Russia and I have to admit that the pas de deux I saw was great and of big interpretative thickness.About Lucia Lacarra I can say almost the same.I'd like to find a good dvd with her performing Swan lake.

I am very happy that Alexandra Ansanelli has been recently promoted principal dancer of the Royal Ballet.I had the chance to talk to her for an hour in the backstage of La Scala Theatre during the "Gala des Etoiles" last January and I have to say she's first a great person,very sweet and very kind towards us,who are only young ballet students.Also on the scene,she gives back the same sweetness you feel when she talks to You.She's the symbol of grace,she looks like a pretty little doll.

Congratulations and good luck to Alexandra Ansanelli!!!!