Solnishka79

I have not seen her either ,except in videos in you-know-where-site, but that blonde seems to be her. She looks very tall.I hope this won't be a problem in the ballet company that she will eventually join. Yes, that's Whitney Jensen. I believe the dancer in the next set of photos is Cristina Terentieva.

I also recently finished her autobiography and like the rest of you, completed it in a day or so. I found it so intriguing and candid! Her personality really came through the pages and I felt as if I were listening to her recall her life and times sitting next to her in a coffeeshop. I'd love to re-read it soon!

Both Mathilde Kschessinska and Tamara Karsavina wrote autobiographies that have wonderful descriptions of the Imperial Theatre as well as society. (The names escape me at the moment) Also, "Alexandra" by Carolly Erickson. She is a marvelous biographer that focuses a lot on social history. "Natasha's Dance" (can't remember the author...sorry! Going by memory here) is also a great social history.

Okay a few past/present partnerships: Divas- Rudi Nureyev and Anastasia Volochkova. Which ego would outshine the other onstage? For pure pyrotechnics-Osipova with Baryshnikov or Soloviev. Romanticism-Evdokimova with Igor Kolb or Kirkland with Tsiskaradze. (I don't think of Tsis.. as romantic but I think Gelsey would pull it out of him) Kirkland would have been adorable with Sarafanov.

This may have already been said-Maria Alexandrova is a dead ringer for Sandra Bullock.

Konstantin Zaklinsky in his younger years. Ruzimatov for exotic and sensual appeal. Gomes Stiefel for a "boy next door".

[ "I wanna talk about a horrible practice affecting millions of Americans. For years we've known how dangerous it is. It stunts your growth and it's marketed to children! Shouldn't this apply more to gymnastics than ballet?

Now wouldn't that be an interesting plot? And unfortunately, I'm sure it would die a fast death at the box office.

That's the one! He told me that after the film, many of the Sakharova's graduates accused her of abuse and really put everything out on the table. Apparently, it was quite the scandal! Does anyone know where I can find a copy of Terpsichore's Captive? I'd love to see it!

Okay, I talked to my hubby and he said that there is some formula for weight/height but boys usually aren't subjected to it because there usually isn't any weight problems aside from not enough muscle. The girls are different; he remembers them always dieting, "doing stupid stuff to make their weight goal". (He graduated from the Seleznev Choreographic Institute in AlmaAta-was a partner of Nadia Gracheva before she went to Moscow) He did say that there is another documentary of the Perm School from the late 80's or early 90's-he can't remember the name-that really "exposed the school and showed what really happens at Perm". He worked in Yekaterinburg with many Perm graduates; he said many had issues with weight and eating disorders, more than graduates of the other schools. My husband said that the Perm school is well known in the Russian ballet community for being "crazy about weight-more than Petersburg or Moscow. The director (not mentioning any anmes) used to base tour casting on weight-who was skinnier or lost weight faster got to go on tour." We're both interested in seeing this film and will be ordering it this week. Like Natalia, I will be following the careers of these girls in the future.

I must admit that I do find humor in the Kirov's "happy, good prevails over bad" with Aliev as Rothbart. I have to chuckle when I see his wing get torn off by an impassionate Zelensky and writhe on the ground like an earthworm in the sun. Sorry for my twisted sense of humor...not enough oxegen in ballet studios. Seriously, I like the Odette and Siegfried drowning version best (primarily the ABT). It shows absolute love and devotion. It also demonstrates how sorry Siegfried is for his Odile mistake-he is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to Odette to prove his love. Odette accepts and joins him through forgiveness and adoration. They both understand the spell will only truly be broken through death-death is the one state where mortal and magic is same.

Now I'm going to have to find it and watch it again! I can so vividly remember the "Nureyev Angst" face through the waves.

My perfect weight was 102 lbs and I am 5'5. (I'm not great with metric conversions however) My husband graduated from one of the Soviet Choreographic Schools-I'll ask him tonight if he knows about this "perfect weight" calculation.

Big time yikes. I also saw that "calculation"...my perfect weight was scary! (I was never that small in my dancing days, nor would I care to be)

How about Le Corsaire, Chopiniana,Raymonda. Paquita is nice also. If you're trying to learn as much as possible, there are many videos with excerpts or famous pas like Satanella, Flower Festival in Genzano, Esmeralda (Diana and Acteon). I wish more people would try to learn about repertoire-congrads for your efforts! (I'm still half asleep-I'll add more later)

I just checked my Bayadere playbill, not there. Ever since I saw the clip on youtube, I've been interested in her career progress. I'm glad to hear that things worked out for her. I'll keep a look out! Thanks for getting back to me!

I also cannot wait to see the full version. I've seen it on youtube many times and although it casts so much negativity on the Perm school (Russian choregraphic system in general), it is fascinating. Why is Skorik not listed on the corps section of the Mariinsky website yet?

It's been about 10 years since I've seen the video....how about the version with Nureyev and Fonteyn? I remember the billows of blue silk "drowning" Siegfried as he jumped around looking for Odette. (I could imagine him yelling, "help! help!")

If she joined ABT, I'd become a season subscriber.

Welcome InkGypsy! Welcome to motherhood as well! I also am an exdancer and fulltime stay at home mommy...no matter what life brings, I also always find "stress relief" with dance. It's also nice to hear from an aspiring dance writer. We need more of you! (Another similarity-I wrote my thesis on the Revolution of Russian Ballet) I can't wait to read your writings.

I looked at the gallery a few hours ago and am in complete agreement. Their faces look contorted and bizarre-I understand good live action shots are difficult to shoot but come on. Young dancers in their early twenties look retirement age....I don't get it. If I were a dancer captured in these pictures, I would be distraught and upset.

I'm re-reading a lot of Carolly Erickson's historical biographies and historical fiction. Currently "Royal Panopoly" and "Josephine, Bird of Paradise".

My husband and I staged our first production of Nutcracker this year for our school-the audience member that got the most attention was our three year old son. He seems to be sensitive to music; he cries in our car to opera, dramatic "big" symphonies, and certain sections of Nutcracker. He cried everyday to Snow, Chinese, Arabian, and Flowers while I listened and tried to think of ideas. (It wasn't very productive) Anyway, my parents brought him to the performance and besides him yelling "My Pappy!!!Paaaappppyyy" when my husband was onstage as Drosselmeyer and "Want to dance with Momma!"while I was Mrs. Stalhbaum, he cried on cue throughout (guess what) snow, chinese, arabian, flowers. My students began to recognize his cry....

Oh my goodness! Thank you for making my day!! This is a wonderful thread-I'm having a brain dead day, when I think of some, I'll let you know!

I'm waiting also-two of my students attended the yagp workshop and the Gala. They'll be home tomorrow and will be full of information, I'm sure. I'll let you know what I hear. (Not surprised about Hernandez-I saw him at the Philly regional and was amazed. He's so talented and as cute as a button!)