I Love how descriptive and articulate you are when you narrate. As someone not in the ballet or dancing world, I can really see and understand so much better when I watch your content. And I so appreciate it! From the history, to todays technical skill and so many amazing dancers, it’s so interesting. Thank you 🙏
I'm honestly so happy about the variety of techniques. I love them all in some way. Seeing Marrinskys dancers lines, I'm so mesmerised. Then again The Royal Ballet has a very different charm, especially in artistry. Each ballet company is so special in their own way ♥︎
Although I have other favorites for specific ballets, Svetlana is my overall favorite dancer by far-she looked more natural in pointe shoes than out of them, and balanced her extreme lines with strength and artistry. I don’t think it’s possible to surpass her.
"...as their birthright." As in, they grew up seeing that level of technical work, emulating their predecessors, and were trained in pursuit of that new, higher standard.
They were amazing for sure on many levels, there was a huge change in technique post Sylvie Guillem. Things became much more extreme than they had ever been on the Alonso/Farrell generation.
@@theDanceLens Sophie could merge the extreme with musicality and artistry. Now the circus over extension has overtaken everything and there is not the focus on musicality and artistry
Personally not a fan of this trend. Ballet is an art not a sport, some of these modern dancers like Khoreva need to remember that. No point in raising your leg as high as possible if you can't act out the character properly and look like you are suffering through the choreography half the time. If you want sport, there is rhythmic gymnastics for that.
I don't have a problem with ballet being a little more physically demanding, but I can totally agree with you on the lack of good acting and performance. Ballet without the artistry and expression of emotions it's just a series of gymnastic movements.
I agree. This is my problem with master ballet academy lol. They can turn for days but they lack severely in artistry or musicality. I personally find it boring to watch as a ballet viewer
I agree with what you are saying but I disagree with singling out Maria Khoreva. I remember that Maria had commented about how having your leg too high breaks the line (she was getting a graduate / pedagogy degree from Vagonava not that long ago) and she has been very critical of treating ballet like a stetching exercise. I would say that she is very smart with her extensions and I think that she respects ballet as the art that it is and her performances show that. I cannot say the same for a lot of the up and coming ballet dancers, especially here in the US, who DO treat ballet like competition dance.
@sheeniebeanie2597 I didn't single her out, I clearly said those dancers like her. She has significant media clout, so it makes sense to use her as an example. No point in bringing up dancers in small private companies with little to no funding; she is with a very big, publicly funded company that has a reputation/tradition to uphold. She is also very media savvy and appeals to international audiences, especially since she can communicate well in English. But what she says and what clips she shows on her social media don't make up a full performance. I watched her performances and found her quite underwhelming. To me, it didn't seem that her artistry was her focus, especially when compared to her peers in Mariinsky or other big companies. Whether consciously or subconsciously, she can appear like she is just going through the motions on stage.
Now don't get me wrong, I love to see both female and male dancers with phenomenal technique and with great physical qualities. But there are limits.... Elegance, ease, musicality, expression, personality and stage presence should always be at the core of a performance. If we're just watching a body execute steps flawlessly, or just exhibiting physical prowess, I actually het bored......
When Ulyana Lopatkina danced, we were moved. She had beautiful extensions but it was not as high as some of the others (which is crazy to me because I thought her extensions were very high!) but she interpreted the lines and danced with artistry and musicality. I feel this way about Olga Smirnova, Olesya Novikova, Marianela Nuñez, Natalia Osipova, Dortohée Gilbert, Svetlana Zakharova, Evegnia Obrastova, and, of course, Diana Vishneva, just to name a few.
Agreed. The musicality and spirit of the dancer matters more than technical ability. A less technical dancer can capture attention if she has those other gifts. We all know there is a price paid.
Comparing Sylvie to this mechanized technically brilliant “dancers” like Khoreva has really diminished my respect for your analysis. Firstly - no one has a birthright to this level of technique but that’s besides the point. Khoreva may have the same flexibility and extensions as Sylvie - and maybe her feet come close - but Sylvie had proportions to her body that were incredibly unusual. Her torso was long as well as the longest legs. She had heft to her body despite her being extremely thin. Her technique is so unusual and so profound that gives her a unique stamp like Callas or Fonteyn. She can out perform Khoreva technically while still acting her socks off. Her torso remains perfectly still while her head, arms, legs are doing the most amazing things with incomparable lines. It goes beyond this level of technicality (that Fonteyn didn’t have either but she had other one-off gifts that stamp her as unique(. Khoreva is a ballerina on a musical jewelry box. Her technique in its static shapes is impressive. It’s also academic and boring. She so over-prefers her right side it’s almost a handicap. She’s not much of a turner and her characterizations are tepid. Had you compared Sylvie to Lopatkina then you’d have two greats to compare. Lopatkina is a genius. Almost the genius that Sylvie is. Sylvie, like Nureyev her mentor, is a genius who cannot be compared to anyone.
She gets what I do not understand why is this not an Olympic sport or I don’t know what slot you would put this in, but this takes place grace strength, and your whole life
I Love how descriptive and articulate you are when you narrate. As someone not in the ballet or dancing world, I can really see and understand so much better when I watch your content. And I so appreciate it!
From the history, to todays technical skill and so many amazing dancers, it’s so interesting. Thank you 🙏
That really means a lot to me thank you 🥹🙏🏻 I started these accounts to give an opening to people not in the dance world so this is so appreciated 💜
I'm honestly so happy about the variety of techniques. I love them all in some way. Seeing Marrinskys dancers lines, I'm so mesmerised. Then again The Royal Ballet has a very different charm, especially in artistry. Each ballet company is so special in their own way ♥︎
I so agree with you ❤
@@theDanceLens I do as well. Each change over the centuries has its beauty and lyricism, wonder and awe.
Skorik has really improved and become a beautiful example of beauty, athleticism and technique.
I love Nagahisa's Sleeping Beauty ❤ just perfect
Indeed , I've seen dozens of Auroras but this ballerina is phenomenal ❤
I still haven’t seen a better dancer than Sylvie
So perfectly explained.
i adore miss may! her cupid rendition is so effervescent! ❤
Ooh I love May. She’s a wonderful dancer.
❤
I do too. Such a beating artist!
Absolute athletes as well as exquisite artists.
wtf are you talking about… “born as their birthright” with this level of technical excellence… ??
Remember that she was a gymnast.
I feel like Merrill Ashley was way ahead of her time technically.
Excellente’. Thank you. ❤
❤
Svetlana was that pinnacle. She was the best.
Although I have other favorites for specific ballets, Svetlana is my overall favorite dancer by far-she looked more natural in pointe shoes than out of them, and balanced her extreme lines with strength and artistry. I don’t think it’s possible to surpass her.
How can you be born with a level of excellence. This can only be achieved with determination , passion and sweat.
"...as their birthright." As in, they grew up seeing that level of technical work, emulating their predecessors, and were trained in pursuit of that new, higher standard.
Suzanne Farrell and Alicia Alonso. Tanaquil le cler. All had that technical abilities.
They were amazing for sure on many levels, there was a huge change in technique post Sylvie Guillem. Things became much more extreme than they had ever been on the Alonso/Farrell generation.
@@theDanceLens Sophie could merge the extreme with musicality and artistry. Now the circus over extension has overtaken everything and there is not the focus on musicality and artistry
The ballerina you show after the one in the red leotard….is this YOU (the content creator of this YT channel??)
Personally not a fan of this trend. Ballet is an art not a sport, some of these modern dancers like Khoreva need to remember that. No point in raising your leg as high as possible if you can't act out the character properly and look like you are suffering through the choreography half the time. If you want sport, there is rhythmic gymnastics for that.
I don't have a problem with ballet being a little more physically demanding, but I can totally agree with you on the lack of good acting and performance. Ballet without the artistry and expression of emotions it's just a series of gymnastic movements.
And keeping the RHYTHM, I’ve seen way too many ballet dancers show what they can do while totally ignoring the music
I agree. This is my problem with master ballet academy lol. They can turn for days but they lack severely in artistry or musicality. I personally find it boring to watch as a ballet viewer
I agree with what you are saying but I disagree with singling out Maria Khoreva. I remember that Maria had commented about how having your leg too high breaks the line (she was getting a graduate / pedagogy degree from Vagonava not that long ago) and she has been very critical of treating ballet like a stetching exercise. I would say that she is very smart with her extensions and I think that she respects ballet as the art that it is and her performances show that. I cannot say the same for a lot of the up and coming ballet dancers, especially here in the US, who DO treat ballet like competition dance.
@sheeniebeanie2597 I didn't single her out, I clearly said those dancers like her. She has significant media clout, so it makes sense to use her as an example. No point in bringing up dancers in small private companies with little to no funding; she is with a very big, publicly funded company that has a reputation/tradition to uphold. She is also very media savvy and appeals to international audiences, especially since she can communicate well in English. But what she says and what clips she shows on her social media don't make up a full performance. I watched her performances and found her quite underwhelming. To me, it didn't seem that her artistry was her focus, especially when compared to her peers in Mariinsky or other big companies. Whether consciously or subconsciously, she can appear like she is just going through the motions on stage.
Now don't get me wrong, I love to see both female and male dancers with phenomenal technique and with great physical qualities. But there are limits....
Elegance, ease, musicality, expression, personality and stage presence should always be at the core of a performance. If we're just watching a body execute steps flawlessly, or just exhibiting physical prowess, I actually het bored......
When Ulyana Lopatkina danced, we were moved. She had beautiful extensions but it was not as high as some of the others (which is crazy to me because I thought her extensions were very high!) but she interpreted the lines and danced with artistry and musicality.
I feel this way about Olga Smirnova, Olesya Novikova, Marianela Nuñez, Natalia Osipova, Dortohée Gilbert, Svetlana Zakharova, Evegnia Obrastova, and, of course, Diana Vishneva, just to name a few.
Dance is not a high leg.
In my opinion it is overreached. Ballerinas should not be acrobats. Feminity and expression is what Classical Ballet is standing for.
I understand! I address this on the full video attached to this one.
Agreed. The musicality and spirit of the dancer matters more than technical ability. A less technical dancer can capture attention if she has those other gifts. We all know there is a price paid.
What is Maria Khorava doing these days?
She is teaching ...❤
Comparing Sylvie to this mechanized technically brilliant “dancers” like Khoreva has really diminished my respect for your analysis. Firstly - no one has a birthright to this level of technique but that’s besides the point. Khoreva may have the same flexibility and extensions as Sylvie - and maybe her feet come close - but Sylvie had proportions to her body that were incredibly unusual. Her torso was long as well as the longest legs. She had heft to her body despite her being extremely thin. Her technique is so unusual and so profound that gives her a unique stamp like Callas or Fonteyn. She can out perform Khoreva technically while still acting her socks off. Her torso remains perfectly still while her head, arms, legs are doing the most amazing things with incomparable lines. It goes beyond this level of technicality (that Fonteyn didn’t have either but she had other one-off gifts that stamp her as unique(. Khoreva is a ballerina on a musical jewelry box. Her technique in its static shapes is impressive. It’s also academic and boring. She so over-prefers her right side it’s almost a handicap. She’s not much of a turner and her characterizations are tepid. Had you compared Sylvie to Lopatkina then you’d have two greats to compare. Lopatkina is a genius. Almost the genius that Sylvie is. Sylvie, like Nureyev her mentor, is a genius who cannot be compared to anyone.
Look as marionette
Robot
Let's them free
She gets what I do not understand why is this not an Olympic sport or I don’t know what slot you would put this in, but this takes place grace strength, and your whole life
I wish you saw Khoreva actually perform. No soul in her dancing, just sports. She is an athlete, and a great one, but not an artist
Dance is not a high leg. Some dancers are just that.