Nanarina

I know that Aurelie Dupont has been mentioned before in this subject, but I wanted to say that I feel she should have a special place in the list of Beautiful Dancers. For anyone who does not already know, Aurelie is an Etoile (Star) at the Paris Opera, where she appears in many different types of Roles. She is an equisite Dancer, very musical, and with a marvelous technique and presence on stage.

As a woman (35 years) she is very beautiful, with dark brown hair and brown eyes full of expression. Beauty is not just in ones "eye" but comes from within, and Aurelie is very natural, kind and down to earth. Her successful career does not seem to have gone to her head, she can be seen in some interviews sitting on the stairs at the PariS Opera, or simply sitting casually cross legged on the floor in her dressing room, with a pile of new pointe shoes at her side.

She is reputed to be very approachable, although perhaps a little shy, she seems to be happy to talk with people who wait to see her at the Stage door, where she is considered by her supporters to be someone very special. Both in France and abroad, in countries such as Japan, she is admired like a pop star. And yet she still stays humble, quite willing to talk about her career and life.

Recently Aurelie has annouced that she is expecting her first child " A dream in her private life" which she told Ivan Sebastini in a interview in Dance magazine in December 2003, when asked about life in the future, she said "She would very much like a family, hopefully before the end of her career, as she could not imagine herself without children".

Papa is, Jeremie Belingard, also a Star Dancer at the Opera, and their little star is expected in early summer 2008.

A BEAUTIFUL DREAM COME TRUE, FOR A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE. HE IS LOVELY TOO !!!

Hello Kiwidancer.

Just a little advice, as I am retired, and can suggest the following, It is very important to choose a Dancing School, where the Teachers are fully trained and belong to a accredited Dance Organisation. In the UK, we have the RAD(Royal Academy of Dancing, ISTD ( Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance), BBO (British Ballet

Organisation. They all start with Nursery Classes, then go on to Primary, at about 5 years, depending on the childs ability. From this grade onwards is much more regulated. Ask to visit the studio's to see the children working, and choose the best you can find in your erea.a

I feel sure there must be similar schools in France, and suggest you go on the Internet to find out., there must be

equivalent arrangements as in the UK.

I worked for many years in the professional world of Dance, but now my interest is to sit back watch and enjoy.

although I occasionally still design and write for Ballet.

I think of all of Nureyev's adaptations of the classics it's my least favorite. It's really creepy. There's no other word for it.

Reply from Nanarina re: Nureyev Versions of Classical Ballets

I find the majority of his work to be fussy and complicated, and does not represent the original productions in In Paris, many of the POB Dancers find his choreography difficult. Whilst their version of Don Quixote is one of the better productions, comparable with Barish. ABT version..

Raymonda seems very little like the original, for instance the wonderful Bolshoi one, Abra. is a true Warrior, not a seemingly weak animal like character as in Nureyevs version. The Court dances and character dances are just that. We know that in Russia these roles are played by specially trained dancers, and they certainly excell in their performance.

I found the recently released DVD of POB Swan Lake to be most disapointing, I liked the fact that the Princess actually appeared in the first Act, before she was taken by Von Rothbart, and also enjoyed the two extra Solo's for the Prince. The final act was also beautiful, particularly the Corp de Ballet variations.

However I felt that Act 3, was a complete let down, for someone who grew up in Russia, and whose first introduction into dance was in native National/Folk Dance, the Character Dances in this part of the Ballet were a disaster. No clear cut lines, a muddle of steps, which were far too balletic and danced in the air, insteadof down into the ground. Mostly featuring ballet steps, instead of the required elements of true Marzurka, Czardaz, etcl

In this sense give me the Bolshoi or Kirov, in preference every time, w ho I have seen live and on DVD.