Dance This Week

I am writing to you to say that I'm sorry but I will not be attending dance (except maybe Jazz) this week. As some of you know I'm in a show (Bye Bye Birdie) that opens Thursday night and goes through Saturday (text me if you want ticket information and such...I'd love it if some of you came!).

Also the next week I will be missing dance on Tuesday and maybe Wednesday, depending on what time I get back from a school trip.

If teachers ask where I am, could you tell them based on the information given? I've told a few but for those that I missed that would be great if you could let them know.

I will also continue to post this week...if I'm not too busy. :P

I'll miss you guys and dance while I'm gone!!! ...But at least now I have a chance to heal my knee (sort of) and my newly bruised tailbone (be careful skiing guys...) D:

<3

Yet Another Background Change!!!

As most of you can see, I've changed my background again! It's still Svetlana Zakharova, but this time shes either in the ballet Giselle, La Sylphide, or Les Sylphides (or Chopiniana as they call it in Russia). Since shes smiling, I'm guessing its either La Sylphide or Chopiniana but tell me what you think! :)

I also have a Natalia Osipova video. This time shes 19 and doing the Don Quixote Pas de Deux variation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxFTrbLHEs

Look at the height of her jumps!!! AHHHH!!!

<3

The Not-As-Common Classical Ballets

We all know the "main" classical ballets; the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, the Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Don Quixote, to name a few. When we hear the words "classical ballet" chances are that you think of one of these.
However there are other, less-common ballets that are nice as well. Ones like A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cinderella, Harlequinade, La Fille Mal Gardee (etc). Ballet's like these are what I would like to dedicate this post to, seeing as they often do not get the recognition they deserve.

To start off I found a version of the ballet Sylvia, danced by Darcey Bussel and Roberto Bolle (<3), that I thought was very good (Royal Ballet Version)! Sylvia is a ballet made in 1876 by Louis Merante, music by Leo Delibes (the guy who composed Coppelia). I will post the link to Wikipedia, seeing as I think they give a good description of the plot line...and I'm too lazy to type it out hehe...

Plot Line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_(ballet)#Act_I:_A_Sacred_Wood

Ballet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69mQboarQ3o

I would also like to take a moment to acknolege the ballet Paquita. While most of us know the ballet (seeing we danced it a few years ago) I still think it does not get the recognition it deserves. The most famous part of Paquita are the numerous variations (some of which we will be learning in 6/7 class :D). Again, I will post the plot line on the Wikipedia page because I am too lazy to type it all out. Oh and I'll post the most famous variations (performed by the Mariinsky Theatre [Kirov Ballet]) as well as the full-length ballet (Paris Opera Ballet version).

Plot Line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paquita#Plot_Outline

Full Ballet (POB): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gOMvTPYLLU&feature=related

Variations:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpMhaWKWVvs&feature=related
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMP2kxeUh2g&feature=related
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xz7HnXoBvQ&feature=related
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNsCDMqlUBI&feature=related

Le Corsaire is a fantastic ballet that sort of border-lines the mark of a Common Classical Ballet, and a Not-As-Common classical ballet. I will post the full length ballet (performed ABT...its in a playlist form, so as the last video finishes the next starts) as well as the famous Pas de Deux (with Svetlana Zakharova).

Full Length:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV0jT1Do6NQ

Pas de Deux:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQvyQc68-u4

Finally, I would like to pay my respects to two other ballets, La Esmeralda and Harlequinade. I have the Natalia Osipova La Esmeralda variation (I know I've posted it like 100 times already...I just cant get over it!!!) as well as the adagio from Harlequinade.

Harlequinade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_unI7E5ZS8A

La Esmeralda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV0jT1Do6NQ

There are so many other great, not as well known ballets...these are just some of my favorites. What are yours?

<3

Yay for Ballet Videos!!!

I have three videos for you guys to go check out! One I think I've posted before...but it's so good I'll do it again! Its Svetlana Zakharova training at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSZyZoB6y8&feature=related

The next two videos I have because (1) they are both performed by Svetlana Zakharova and (2) have VERY different styles. The first one is the Pas de Deux from La Bayadere (shades) and the second is the Pas de Deux from In the Middle Somewhat Elevated. If you have no idea what In the Middle Somewhat Elevated is....please watch it! It's the best contemporary ballet ever!!!

La Bayadere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG9Q_2RXjdY

In the Middle Somewhat Elevated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHCUpEEqPSU

Enjoy!!!

<3

Sylvie Gulliem and Elisabeth Platel

Here is a video of Sylvie Gulliem and Elisabeth Platel performing the Grand Pas Classique Variation. Sylvie Gulliem is first, followed by Elisabeth Platel. It's interesting to see two different but still very good ballet dancers in the same role back to back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9Yms5Q3Gg&feature=related

<3

The Highly Anticipated 100th Post!

I would first off like to say how sorry I am for not posting this sooner. I have been incredibly busy, and just haven't had the time.

Now for the fun stuff!!! I'll start off with a video which I have already posted before, but I love it so much I'll post it again! It's 17 year old Natalia Osipova performing the variation from La Esmeralda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV0jT1Do6NQ

Also, those of you who went to Don Quixote with me last week know that my friend was there writing a review for the teen tix blog. I'll post the link to it here.

http://teentix.blogspot.com/2012/02/only-word-is-wow.html

Now, for my own review of Alexei Ratmansky's Don Quixote, performed by the dancers of PNB.

I will confess, Don Quixote was one of the only ballets I hadn't seen start to finish. Needless to say, I was very excited when we drove up to the theater. I started off sitting in the balcony with my friend (who I mentioned earlier, the reviewer for teen tix). We were both disappointed, seeing we were reviewers and we thought we were going to get better seats. Then, right before the curtain was going to go up, someone came up to us and gave us new tickets which were in the Orchestra level. While we were excited, he said that we could not go down into our new seats until after intermission, seeing that the show was about ready to start. I was slightly disappointed, but still happy to be seeing the show.

Act I

When the curtain rose, I knew I was in for a real treat...I could already see the sets and costumes were fabulous. Tom Skerritt was fabulous in the role of Don Quixote, and his squire Sancho Panza, played by Allen Galli, was also quite funny.

Carla Korbes and Karel Cruz (my two favorite PNB principals) were dancing the roles of Kitri and Basilio. Another thing I noticed is that Ms. Korbes seems to have dyed her hair brown instead of her usual blonde. Whether it was just for the role or if its permanent will be determined at a later date. Either way, blonde or burnette, her dancing was still phenomenal. My highlight of Act I, Kitri's variation, was definitely done justice. Karel Cruz was also fabulous and fit the part of Basilio perfectly. While watching him dance, one cannot help but notice he has legs that go on forever!!!

Maria Chapman, also one of my favorite PNB principal dancers, danced the role of Mercedes. Not only do I want her feet, but her dancing was fantastic. Finally, to top it all off, the Toreo's cape work was quite good as well.

Act II

For Act II we got to move down to the Orchestra level! Yay! In the opening scene, Basilio and Kitri, having run away from Kitri's father, run into a group of traveling performers. When Kitri's father and her suitor Gamache come trying to find her, Kitri and Basilio hide in this little box together. Having met both Karel Cruz and Carla Korbes, I can say that both stand around the six foot mark. Needless to say, I have no idea how they fit those tall lanky people into that little box. Another highlight was the moon, which smiled and made faces. That sounds really weird and creepy, but it was actually awesome!

I mentioned earlier how I loved the set for this particular ballet, but my favorite was from the "dream scene" in Act II. The audience literally gasped when the curtain went up. It was the most beautiful set I have ever seen. The dancing was just as good as the set. I found myself liking Cupid's variation, performed by Rachel Foster, quite a bit. The acting done by Don Quixote in this act was very nice as well.

Act III

While I loved each act for its own individual traits, I will say Act III is the one I rave the most about. Act III contains the Grand Pas de Deux...and...a faked death scene. The "death scene" was quite funny, and I laughed through the whole thing. The acting done by Karel Cruz (the "dead" one) was very good and it just reminded me why I love to watch him perform so much. The Grand Pas de Deux was, of course, fabulous. The dancing and passion in it were unmatched. Carla Korbes' 32 fouette turns were amazing, and I loved the fan work she incorporated in it. The whole performance got a standing ovation. I left the performance feeling satisfied, as well as wanting to become a dancer that much more.

Speaking on Don Quixote, I have a few videos I would like to post in regards to this particular ballet. First, we have the Act I excerpts from PNB's performance. Followed by Svetlana Zakharova doing the Act I Kitri variation. And finally a discussion with Paloma Herrea about Don Quixote and being a dancer.

Act I Excerpts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPwyLay0duo&list=UUU5vi19eKPwC1DG6NgqGHEA&index=1&feature=plcp

Svetlana Zakharova: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59bVZvjt1NU

Paloma Herrea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9vc1xlAkPM&feature=related

I also have some more videos of principal dancer for ABT, Veronika Part. One is of her on the David Letterman show when she was first promoted to Principal, and the other is of her as a young girl dancing in St. Petersberg.

David Letterman show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mxoml6lOLc&feature=related

Young Girl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=GCJUoCCwmOI

I also just found yet another video of someone performing La Esmeralda. This time it's ABT corps de ballet dancer Elina Miettinen as a young girl performing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=5sOOjb1nx40

Finally, I will conclude my 100th post with another Natalia Osipova video. It's her as a teenager again, this time doing the Le Corsaire Variation and Coda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=zLNW3aioL1w

So that's pretty much it! I will try to post more and I cant wait to see you all at dance!!!

<3