richard53dog Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 -- gorgeous classical lines and a big floaty jump. Sounds like a job for Alina Somova!!!!! Link to comment
Natalia Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Sounds like a job for Alina Somova!!!!! BINGO, richard53dog! The scary thing...she is at the front of the rehearsals for the premiere. Maybe Kurgapkina's Soul may intervene? Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Sounds like a job for Alina Somova!!!!! BINGO, richard53dog! The scary thing...she is at the front of the rehearsals for the premiere. Maybe Kurgapkina's Soul may intervene? Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Nureyev learned a lot from Kurgapkina. From Julie Kavanagh's *Nureyev*: "Almost immediately Rudolph began preparing for his debut with the virtuoso ballerina Ninel Kurgapkina in *Gayane*. Nearly a decade older than he, and renowned for her spitfire temper, Kurgapkina proved more than a match for the brazen young star. First rehearsals took the form of a contest of wills until Rudolf realized he had met a fellow fanatic, and converted his initial combativeness into compliance and respect. Without protest, he repeated at least a dozen times a lift in which, crossing the stage, he carried Kurgapkina balanced on one hand above his head--until he had won her confidence. 'He was a little bit afraid of me, but he liked my attitude to work and life. I was obsessive in rehearsals but a normal person outside.' It was not long before the pair really had fun dancing together. Kurgapkina's 'amazing quality of earthliness and energy' excited him, and he admired her autonomy (during supported pirouettes she turned herself, and if ever he was overattentive, she would snap, 'Don't mess!'). 'He saw real professionalism in Kurgapkina. She gave him a lot of advice, and he listened to her, whereas there was nobody among the men that he took any notice of.'" ------------------------ There has been a report this morning of the passing of Ninel Kurgapkina at the age of 80 in a car accident near St. Petersburg. Nothing available in the news yet. Anyone with further news - it would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 VIENNA WALTZ IS BACK UP ON Youtube shown here: unforgettable. Link to comment
richard53dog Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 VIENNA WALTZ IS BACK UP ON Youtubeshown here: unforgettable. Paul, Thanks. I've already commented on this film twice on this thread but let me go for three! It's an absolute delight! Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 An obituary from the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries...Kurgapkina.html Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 From television: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LAy4eyd_bs Link to comment
rg Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 the scan shows a souvenir postcard of N. A. Kurgapkina issued in Leningrad, 1960. Link to comment
toeprints Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Thank you, RG, for sharing the beautiful photo of Ninel. In the only photos I have ever seen of her, in her younger years, she was in make-up and costume. She was quite lovely. Link to comment
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