I do have a question for you, Katie... You mentioned that if you are "off" or off balance in a performance, it's better to adjust the step rather than fall over, which makes total sense! BUT, I was wondering... What would the repercussions be at NYCB if/when dancers do that on stage? I'm sure it's less pressure on gigs, but at NYCB if you have an "off" performance or make choreography adjustments, is there a lot of pressure or do dancers get spoken to/reprimanded? Just curious! Thank you :)
Great question - little things like that are fine (I did it all the time) and actually Peter Martins complimented me on it. Many dancers did NOT do that when things were off and they stumbled (which is not good). Why go for the harder ending if you are just going to fall out of it? I remember people were impressed that I thought to change things. I remember many times changing the ending pose of variations if I was "off" on a turn and no one ever said a thing. But they would NOT be happy if you stumbled.
I’ve seen versions where Caraboose gives Aurora a bouquet of flowers with the spindle hidden inside. And as she dances the flowers fall off and she accidentally pricks her finger not realizing that the flowers turned into a spindle.
Exactly! Nutcrackers have always creeped me out. I guess that's why Clara/Marie is the one role I don't mind I never did. Of course, a lot of ballet plots don't make a whole lot of sense lol, but we love them anyway!
When you first started these commentaries I was a little unsure, because I didn't want it to be preaching negativity, but once I watched it I realized that it was very helpful for my performing, knowing that even professionals can't do everything perfectly and sometimes have to tweak something if it's not working out on stage. Thank you for all the helpful tips and humour in these videos!
Hi Katie, I'll be honest, Sleeping Beauty has never been my favourite ballet and I've often found it stilted and lacking in characterisation and emotion, sacrificing the story to focus on 'pretty pretty' dancing. My pet hate was always the scene where she pricks her finger for this exact reason. Watching you dance this role has turned my perception of this ballet on its head. In my opinion you are the best Aurora I have ever seen -bar none - and I wish I had been able to see you dance the full ballet. Thanks for sharing this video, I loved your performance and your characterisation was simply perfect.
Nicola Foxfield You should try seeing Myriam Ould-Braham’s performance. Her acting was superb. There’s a video of her Act I Variation and Aurora Sleeps by Ewaasia
You are the image of beauty, innocents and regalness --- a perfect Aurora!! The dancing is lovely, but it is your arms that have a voice of their own!!
this is very nice my mother is a professional ballet dancer and she passed away your very inspiring girl your amazing my mother Will Shure be amazed by you
Katie, you are my favorite dancer. The eye contact and careful attention to character acting make an enormous difference, it adds life and interest. Thanks for these videos and also for the ballet workouts. I danced ballet for 20 years and missed it so much. Now I have been rediscovering my love for the daily discipline and exercise. I even dug out my old point shoes for display in my "ballet barre" room.
i love these commentaries, watching you dance on pointe reminds me why i continue to do my best in my ballet class, even when i get frustrated and want to quit.
I love these! So great to get the commentary, as someone who's never done lots of ballet its great to have some insight on performances and how they aren't as perfect as they would seem to a non-dancer
Love these videos! So interesting to hear what is going on in the mind of the dancer, plus it's great that you use humor! Thanks so much for posting! 😊
Kathryn, I really love your videos because they comfort me at a very fearful and depressing time of my life. They are both energizing and calming at the same time for some reason. 😂
usually I can't make out that much of a difference between different dancers, but you look sooo elegant dancing, it amazes me. and really helpful videos on your channel, thank you :) I'm just starting ballet as a young adult and fulfilling myself a dream.
Really enjoying this series! If you do more barre videos in the future I would love another beginners' with more passe' and relive's and less 5th position. :)
omg i never thought you'll reply me!!thank you !!!and i like your ballet tutorial videos too,it can helped ballet beginners like me to get better knowing of ballet^^keep going!!!
First of all I wanted to thank you so much for what you do, you're such a huge inspiration to me and have helped me so much! You're probably my favorite person on the internet. Anyways I was wondering if you had any tips on choreography?
You are so talented and you dance beautifully! I'm so glad I have the chance to see you dance even in an video! For our spring performance we are doing Snow White and I'm going to be dancing soon white something that I'm really excited about! I know you have done that ballet before! Could you please do a tutorial on the makeup look you wore? ❤😊
Omg I love these and hearing your insight and explaining some of the things going on and your mistakes and things you had to adapt to and change and which steps you live and how you were feeling at the moment,
I am in love with these videos! Could you please do a commentary on the Sleeping Beauty fairies variations ( I believe it is the prologue)? POB has an amazing video of all the fairies as well😊Thank you so much! xxx
Watching this makes me really want be Aurora one day. I originally didn't because I learned the wedding variation at my summer intensive and my feet had so many blisters my toes were so bruised that it just kind of ruined it for me but now watching this kind if inspires me to work to get that part one day
I think you would be great for Tchaikovsky Pas!! just saying haha i watched a few other dancers do them and I just think your quality and training will fit well, hopefully able to see you do it one day yay
Hi Kathy! First of all, I wanted to say that these videos are probably my favorite on youtube, and I love your channel. Now, I need you advice on something. When I dance, I feel like my hands and my wrists always look weird, and because they don't look good, it "breaks" the line of my arms (if you know what I mean). Do you have any tips to fix this problem?
I have one thing to say about the spindle: Aurora hasn't ever seen a spindle because in the prolouge the king bans needles from the kingdom. So not only has she never seen a spindle, but it's shiny. Princesses are surrounded by glitter so to her it probably just seemed like some sort of room decor or something.
I have a question for your next q&a: I've noticed in many videos that female dancers are always wearing pointe shoes for center during company class. Is this just an expectation or standard for female company members regardless of rank? Are they just expected to wear pointe shoes for center? Thanks and love your videos!!
Hey, I LOVE the spindle I got on my 16th birthday! ...... haha 😜😂
Hah right? Ballet is occasionally weird...
Kathryn Morgan another weird ballet moment a ghost girl trying to kick her ex boyfriends head off
Yep - and a prince not being able to tell the difference between white feathers and black feathers.
Kelly Or the prince in Swan Lake showing off his crossbow.
TheMagdalenaBB He can't even tell the difference between black and white! He doesn't know any better!
I find it hilarious how she points out all her mistakes. I wouldn't have noticed at all. 😂
"what am I doing oh.. well make it cute!" that part made me laugh hahah
these are my fave vids on this channel !
Thank you! xo
“Even though you’re dead you gotta hold your tutu down.”
I do have a question for you, Katie... You mentioned that if you are "off" or off balance in a performance, it's better to adjust the step rather than fall over, which makes total sense! BUT, I was wondering... What would the repercussions be at NYCB if/when dancers do that on stage? I'm sure it's less pressure on gigs, but at NYCB if you have an "off" performance or make choreography adjustments, is there a lot of pressure or do dancers get spoken to/reprimanded? Just curious! Thank you :)
Great question - little things like that are fine (I did it all the time) and actually Peter Martins complimented me on it. Many dancers did NOT do that when things were off and they stumbled (which is not good). Why go for the harder ending if you are just going to fall out of it? I remember people were impressed that I thought to change things. I remember many times changing the ending pose of variations if I was "off" on a turn and no one ever said a thing. But they would NOT be happy if you stumbled.
Kathryn Morgan awesome! I'm not surprised! You're just that good. 😊
Kathryn Morgan well obvi ur amazing😘😘❤❤
You inspire me so much to dance thank you a lot plz never stop posting cz ur videos make me so happy
Kathryn Morgan r
I’ve seen versions where Caraboose gives Aurora a bouquet of flowers with the spindle hidden inside. And as she dances the flowers fall off and she accidentally pricks her finger not realizing that the flowers turned into a spindle.
'sorry Bobby in the green' hahaha cracked me up, love this commentary series!
Your commentary is the best! "every 16 hear old gets a spindle" bahaha! Love these.
Haha thanks. It's true though... kind of like the old man doll for Christmas... (Nutcracker). Ballet has some odd storylines. :)
Kathryn Morgan in a way it makes sense, the King banned all of the spindles so it's like "OOH pointy thing. what is THIS?"
Haha true Allie! However, if it were me... I'd rather get jewelry haha
Exactly! Nutcrackers have always creeped me out. I guess that's why Clara/Marie is the one role I don't mind I never did. Of course, a lot of ballet plots don't make a whole lot of sense lol, but we love them anyway!
I'm not sure if it varies between companies but I watched a performance which they used a bouquet of flowers with the spindle inside.
When you first started these commentaries I was a little unsure, because I didn't want it to be preaching negativity, but once I watched it I realized that it was very helpful for my performing, knowing that even professionals can't do everything perfectly and sometimes have to tweak something if it's not working out on stage. Thank you for all the helpful tips and humour in these videos!
Hi Katie, I'll be honest, Sleeping Beauty has never been my favourite ballet and I've often found it stilted and lacking in characterisation and emotion, sacrificing the story to focus on 'pretty pretty' dancing. My pet hate was always the scene where she pricks her finger for this exact reason. Watching you dance this role has turned my perception of this ballet on its head. In my opinion you are the best Aurora I have ever seen -bar none - and I wish I had been able to see you dance the full ballet. Thanks for sharing this video, I loved your performance and your characterisation was simply perfect.
It was great to see an Aurora who danced beautifully, whilst also conveying the story and Aurora's emotions and attitudes.
Nicola Foxfield
You should try seeing Myriam Ould-Braham’s performance. Her acting was superb. There’s a video of her Act I Variation and Aurora Sleeps by Ewaasia
God know one cares 🙇🙇🙇
Thank you for posting these commentaries! It helps us really appreciate what you make look so easy to do on stage! 💐
Thank you Vanessa!
You are the image of beauty, innocents and regalness --- a perfect Aurora!! The dancing is lovely, but it is your arms that have a voice of their own!!
this is very nice my mother is a professional ballet dancer and she passed away your very inspiring girl your amazing my mother Will Shure be amazed by you
Awww thank you so much
Thank you ! You give so much insight into this ballet. I enjoyed it, hope to see more :D
Thank you! I will definitely be doing more!
Lovely performance, very well danced and acted. Dear Kathryn could you please do an "Advanced barre workout"?
Yes - I will definitely work on that
And also a Beginner's center workout would be great. The easy one is still to hard for beginners.
Love these comentaries! Thank you for letting us into what it takes, what it was like.. for those of us who cant be balerinas this lifetime ^^.
Katie, you are my favorite dancer. The eye contact and careful attention to character acting make an enormous difference, it adds life and interest. Thanks for these videos and also for the ballet workouts. I danced ballet for 20 years and missed it so much. Now I have been rediscovering my love for the daily discipline and exercise. I even dug out my old point shoes for display in my "ballet barre" room.
i love these commentaries, watching you dance on pointe reminds me why i continue to do my best in my ballet class, even when i get frustrated and want to quit.
I hope you always look at these vids in awe of yourself and your accomplishments✨. You are an absolutely stunning dancer.
Oh my goodness your emotions and expressions are so perfect!!!
These are so amazing to watch! Waking up to see that you uploaded another one was the best! Love your videos 💜
Thank you Rachel!
I love these! So great to get the commentary, as someone who's never done lots of ballet its great to have some insight on performances and how they aren't as perfect as they would seem to a non-dancer
I really really do like these commentaries!!!
You danced this beautifully! These commentaries are so enjoyable, please do more!!!
your dancing is goals!
Thank you!
Love these videos! So interesting to hear what is going on in the mind of the dancer, plus it's great that you use humor! Thanks so much for posting! 😊
Getting the notification I was as excited about this video as Aurora was about that spindle :) I absolutely love these videos! ❤
Kathryn, I really love your videos because they comfort me at a very fearful and depressing time of my life. They are both energizing and calming at the same time for some reason. 😂
I've already watched this video 3 times, not only because of your amazing dancing, but also because I absolutely love your hilarious comments, haha.
Kathryn you are such a beautiful dancer! So gifted, so talented. Love it!
I keep coming back to this--I just love your commentary!
I LOVE watching you dance! You are a true artist. You encompass the whole package: beautiful technique with artistry. Thank you for sharing ❤️
usually I can't make out that much of a difference between different dancers, but you look sooo elegant dancing, it amazes me.
and really helpful videos on your channel, thank you :) I'm just starting ballet as a young adult and fulfilling myself a dream.
Love your commentaries while watching you dance.
This is completely gorgeous!! All your positively make me cry and oh my goodness you are beyond talented. Thank you so much for sharing🌸💖
Hi Kathryn! Are you able to post the full length Sleeping Beauty? Your dancing is flawless and I would love to see the full ballet. Thanks!❤❤❤
Really enjoying this series! If you do more barre videos in the future I would love another beginners' with more passe' and relive's and less 5th position. :)
Thank you for posting this, I love watching your commentaries!
Thank you Sophia!
Love these commentaries!!!!😍😍😍😘😘😘
Thank you Daniela!
I love these so much please do more of these!
talented queen i stan
i really like seeing you dancing Kathryn^^
Awww thank you Shirley
omg i never thought you'll reply me!!thank you !!!and i like your ballet tutorial videos too,it can helped ballet beginners like me to get better knowing of ballet^^keep going!!!
love these videos! can you do an updated version of how you sew and prepare your shoes?
Cheers Kathryn! Believe it or not, from 5:45 to 6:00 is my favourite section.
First of all I wanted to thank you so much for what you do, you're such a huge inspiration to me and have helped me so much! You're probably my favorite person on the internet. Anyways I was wondering if you had any tips on choreography?
Yay, loved it again Kathryn!
Very helpful for understanding the little details in ballet, I love it, keep making these please! :)
I love these videos sooooo much
I love your videos so much!! You inspire me to be a better dancer and you are such a great dancer!
My favorite videos of yours as of right now!
You are so talented and you dance beautifully! I'm so glad I have the chance to see you dance even in an video! For our spring performance we are doing Snow White and I'm going to be dancing soon white something that I'm really excited about! I know you have done that ballet before! Could you please do a tutorial on the makeup look you wore? ❤😊
Omg I love these and hearing your insight and explaining some of the things going on and your mistakes and things you had to adapt to and change and which steps you live and how you were feeling at the moment,
love these! love your acting ability and musicality. a delight to watch!
love you kathryn! would be lovely if you did a video on dancers that started late 💖
I love the choreography, and you dance it beautifully!!
I can't get enough of these!
so interesting listening your take on your own performance. Love it!!
I LOVE these!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this kind of videos!
Your description of Aurora's reaction to getting pricked made me laugh so hard I squeaked!
Just found this channel, and I"m so glad I did. :)
I love these videos so much! You're the best commentator ever!
I love these commentary vids!! My favorite!
your acting is so amazing to watch!
I love this so much. These are SO informative
I am in love with these videos! Could you please do a commentary on the Sleeping Beauty fairies variations ( I believe it is the prologue)? POB has an amazing video of all the fairies as well😊Thank you so much! xxx
These are my favourite kind of video you make! I love them😍
this was beautiful✨love you Kathryn💜
Gorgeous performance, WOW!! Love the commentary too!
Love these!!
I love these videos!
I love your commentaries! great idea! so helpful!
can't wait for the next one :-)
Beautiful!!!!! I love these videos!!!❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Madeline!
I love your videos! You are a huge inspiration to me!!
I really really love the tips on acting in these! Excited to see more. What other ballets do you have footage of?
Thank you for this video...I love the commentary!
Love these, Katie, thank you so much!
I love these! I would love to see more!
Your such an amazing dancer can you please post more videos like this?
Yes indeed!
I love these types of videos!!! You always look so beautiful!!!
Omg you're absolutely adorable!!!! 😍 I'm so glad I found your channel
You are such a gorgeous Aurora ! I think my favourite Aurora ever ! Xx
Who filmed all your performances Kathryn? How wonderful to have such an archive.
Watching this makes me really want be Aurora one day. I originally didn't because I learned the wedding variation at my summer intensive and my feet had so many blisters my toes were so bruised that it just kind of ruined it for me but now watching this kind if inspires me to work to get that part one day
Thanks for posting this video, Kathryn! Very informative and great tips. Do you have a commentary for Act II??
yay I really enjoy these!!!
Aww thank you!
I really love these Katie!!
your mistake where you were stuck was so cute! it looked totally intentional hahaha
yay! i love watching these!
I'm doing a recital, and in jazz, my teacher just says to stare into a random audience member's soul since we're supposed to be a creepy forest 😂
Yay! LOVE THESE! Thanks Katie! :D
Turned 16 in april! I got a rose gold spindle 😍
Trying to find act 2😢 it’s so interesting and beautiful!
You are AMAZING ballerina! It´s really art:-)
I think you would be great for Tchaikovsky Pas!! just saying haha i watched a few other dancers do them and I just think your quality and training will fit well, hopefully able to see you do it one day yay
Hello, could you make the same thing with kitri's variation ? I really really love those type of video, you're such an inspiration
Hi Kathy!
First of all, I wanted to say that these videos are probably my favorite on youtube, and I love your channel.
Now, I need you advice on something. When I dance, I feel like my hands and my wrists always look weird, and because they don't look good, it "breaks" the line of my arms (if you know what I mean). Do you have any tips to fix this problem?
You are gorgeous. Please continue with your great work.😊
I have one thing to say about the spindle: Aurora hasn't ever seen a spindle because in the prolouge the king bans needles from the kingdom. So not only has she never seen a spindle, but it's shiny. Princesses are surrounded by glitter so to her it probably just seemed like some sort of room decor or something.
I have a question for your next q&a:
I've noticed in many videos that female dancers are always wearing pointe shoes for center during company class. Is this just an expectation or standard for female company members regardless of rank? Are they just expected to wear pointe shoes for center? Thanks and love your videos!!