bart Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 In the latest Danceview Times, Nancy Dalva has a review of ABT' new run of Twyla Tharp's "In the Upper Room." (See today's LINKS.) During the course of the review she makes the following comment about two of the dancers, and about "speed" in ballet in general: QUOTE: Maria Riccetto and Laura Hidalgo take on the twinned ballerina roles as independent creatures, and in a much more modernist—shall we say Balanchinian?—mode. No visible preparations, and enough speed to get where they are going just a bit before they need to. This speed is a deep Tharpian necessity ... Which dancers today, or in the past, are most gifted with this quality of speediness? -- getting "where they are going just a bit before they need to." And, are there speedy dancers who are also at capable of profound dancing at more moderate or even adagio tempos? Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Just so I can get there before anyone else does: Merrill Ashley. Link to comment
Hans Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Alla Sizova! and she combined it with a haunting, delicate, lyrical adagio. Link to comment
bart Posted October 31, 2005 Author Share Posted October 31, 2005 Farrell Fan, Ashley was also on my mind. Not only speed, but the ability to articulate each movement so that you can see it (observe it, really) precisely and in detail -- despite the speed. What a gift. Link to comment
MakarovaFan Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Vladimir Vasiliev Melissa Hayden Link to comment
canbelto Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Maya Plisetskaya Judging from the videos: Tanny LeClercq Link to comment
drb Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Ashley Bouder, Natalia Osipova. Before the early injuries, Darci Kistler. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Who are the speediest dancers? Those who are fired unexpectedly. Don't get between them and the unemployment line. Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Tina leBlanc, SO clear, and so fast, and able to modulate and phrase and place accents deftly in the midst of it all.... Patricia McBride Kyra Nichols, for a big girl, is very fast..... Antoinette Sibley was very fast, and like Sizova, she was little but moved large and with incredible freedom in the upper body...... Link to comment
carbro Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Hey! I was gonna add Patty McBride! Also Gelsey Kirkland. And Ib Andersen. FarrellFan, I am surprised you didn't mention your muse, who was pretty fast by most standards, but particularly for such a leggy dancer! drb, I would have to take issue with your mention of Kistler. Even in her strongest, younger days, I often saw her struggling to keep up -- failing to fully develop a leg in the time given, fudging. Still, her fidelity to the music and her display of heart made these secondary. Link to comment
bart Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Tina leBlanc, SO clear, and so fast, and able to modulate and phrase and place accents deftly in the midst of it all.... This is a quality I really prize. You have to be able to see what is going on, despite the speed. This kind of speed actually heightens one's awareness of the deteails of movement. On the other hand, there are fast dancers who create something of a blur. This can be dramatic, even thrilling, but it hides more than it reveals. Link to comment
fandeballet Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Nureyev was one of the fastest dancers going around the stage. Jean Claude Gil was extremely fast also. Link to comment
Helene Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 At PNB now, I would say Carrie Imler. The strange thing is that she often doesn't look like she's moving quickly, because the preparations are invisible. Then another dancer in the same role will work very hard to do all of the steps, and you realize how fast Imler is. (She also has that Fred Astaire quality of having a still upper body, while her legs are doing something amazing.) I agree about LeBlanc. She has the same quality. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 If we are to believe the motion pictures, some of the speediest dancers in the world were in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9 Link to comment
carbro Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 At PNB now, I would say Carrie Imler. The strange thing is that she often doesn't look like she's moving quickly, because the preparations are invisible. . . [and she has] a still upper body, while her legs are doing something amazing.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> You've just described Judith Fugate in her prime! Serene on top, and not looking rushed, but some pretty quick stepping of those feet. She did one Ballo della Regina in New York. I'm sorry I missed it , sorrier that she never did a second one. Link to comment
Michael Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Tina leBlanc, SO clear, and so fast, and able to modulate and phrase and place accents deftly in the midst of it all.... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The description of LeBlanc would also apply to Ashley Bouder. The specific part about the ability to "modulate and phrase and place accents" in the midst of the flow is probably the most distinctive thing about Bouder as well. Interesting about this quality is that both LeBlanc and Bouder were trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Surely not a coincidence I'd guess. Link to comment
Helene Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Interesting about this quality is that both LeBlanc and Bouder were trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Surely not a coincidence I'd guess. As was Imler. Link to comment
sandik Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Interesting about this quality is that both LeBlanc and Bouder were trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Surely not a coincidence I'd guess. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As was Imler. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cue the sound effects! Link to comment
carbro Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Abi Stafford, another CPYB alumna, displays exceptionally neat footwork. I don't think I've ever seen her speed challenged, but she may very well fit this category. Link to comment
Hans Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Having seen Stafford in class numerous times, I can attest that she is indeed very fast and, as Carbro states, exceptionally clean. Link to comment
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