this ballet is insane. when it was first performed (in the 1920s or smth) the audience got so angry and they boo-ed so hard that they cut the lights, and the conductor yelled the count to the dancers because they couldn't hear over the roaring of the audience. this was revolutionary. stravinsky was a crazy fellow
I’m a violinist and the rite of spring is so so so really hard to play, but definitely not as hard as literally vomiting my way to death. Bravissimo to you Claudia. You’re amazing!!
You look amazing in the rehearsal video. A little point to think about. Put yourself in a small frame and the video you comment on in a bigger picture. A little note. I think it’s important to point out that the Rite of spring in this (1961) version was choreographed by Macmillan, but the original version from 1913 was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky to Stravinsky’s music.
Yes, Macmillan's choreography is partly a tribute to the original. Imagine how shocking that music was when Nijinsky choreographed his piece. No wonder it sparked a riot.
@@maryvandermolen8345 Yes I’ve seen McMillans version preformed quite a few times with different company’s over the world. My first time was when I was 10 and my mom gave me a book about Nijinsky and the Russian ballet of Diaghilev. I was obsessed about two things Stravinskys music to Rites and Nijinskys choreography. I’ve read and seen everything I can through the years even the audience and critics reactions. Just imagine how shocking many of Nijinsky’s dances must have been, just think about The afternoon of a faun with it’s very explicit sexual content.
As a violinist, Rite of Spring is extremely rhythmically intricate. I can’t imagine having feel this naturally enough to dance it without not having played this piece Before. Props to everyone!
I’m a musician who has studied & done sheet music analysis of this piece before, the counts are SO so difficult! Stravinsky did some wild things with mixed meter, I can’t imagine trying to dance to this so extreme props to you!!
I watched the original video several times now. I agree with you. Monica Mason is just lovely and sweet. The proud look on her face after she saw you dancing is so gorgeous.
How many of us have watched this rehearsal more than twice?! lol I was so excited when she pulled up this video because I’ve always wondered what she was thinking :) yay!! Claudia, you are a beast to be able to do that and then move the rest of the day!
I must have watched it three or four times! Claudia's simply amazing in it, and Monica Mason is just a brilliant coach, although she doesn't really do much coaching in this - she doesn't need to!
Teverell right?! It’s soo good! And you’re so right about Monica Mason, she didn’t need to say a word lol but isn’t it sweet that at the end when she’s with Claudia, you can just see how much she cares for her? Monica adores Claudia. Have you watched Monica do the rehearsal for Elite Syncopations? She’s awesome in that as well. I wish we could see more of Claudia’s rehearsals from her time with the company! She’s such a brilliant dancer
Amanda Collins I love watching Monica coach! She is so sweet and you can tell she really cares and does her absolute best so every dancer understands how to look their best. & hopefully we see more of Claudia’s rehearsals!
You SHOULD be proud of yourself, Claudia!! This was a Historical moment, you being gifted this role, having the baton passed on to you from Monica herself! I feel like perhaps this is one of those monumental moments that you don't really perceive the profoundness of it until afterwards! This was DEFINITELY a moment, and I'm happy you took a moment for YOURSELF to revisit it!
Omg! I religiously watch the Royal Ballet rehearsals, and I remember searching your name to find some sort of performance of yours, and I found this one a few weeks ago!! You are absolutely incredible!! Also...We love a fresh faced queen! 😘👑
@@kyra.brianne It's just incredibly bland, banal and boring. It's completely lost its individual style and the promotion of a lot of mediocre dancers. And it's HUGELY expensive now. Also its total abandonment of its heritage, particularly Ashton is just criminal.
@@kyra.brianne I saw Yasmine Naghdi as Odette, she's one of the pushed new ballerinas, she' technically sound, but absolutely nothing there. And then when you factor in I spent £140 for one ticket, it makes you pretty pissed off when you leave the theatre.
Omg the counts are so hard! I’ve played this in orchestra and it was so insanely hard to count, we had to put in symbols to remind ourselves of the counts and it was still so hard then. I feel like it’s one of those pieces you have to play/dance a lot and just hear/feel it rather than trying to count your way through it
Totally me. I love to watch ballet, and I appreciate the athleticism and training that goes into becoming a professional dancer. So watching vids like this is a wonderful glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world.,
you are so pretty with less makeup and thank you soooooo much for making this kind 0f content you are what inspires me to get better and better everyday. love you so much.
I love hearing about your Royal Ballet experiences!! What a phenomenal company and just so awesome that you are sharing your journey not only at the Royal Ballet but ballet in general!
I have just come across your utube. What a pleasure to view your first given role of The Rite of Spring and with presentation of dear Monica Mason along wirh D. McMillan! Royal Ballet tour arrived NYC's MET Opera house 1969 ( and maybe 1973). The NY audience's anticipation of Fonteyn/Nureyev and the surprise of so many new fresh talents was a stellar pleasure. I saw Monica Mason first time dancing her loose body character role flirting about the men and Romeo (Nureyev) and Juliet. She and Nureyev were having a lot of fun. I feel your thought she may have seen you as her is precisely what I thought. Mason was powerful in her presence and her character acting was electric. Her supporting roles gave a depth to the principal character leads. The audience could see well what was deliciously upscaling ballet performances. The choreography was beyond what anyone could even imagine to be staged. Thank you with addressing your late night counting over and over of Stravinsky's complex music to the choreography. That is a valuable fact of Stravinsky complexity and genius of music setting a 20th C. pace and progressive dance movement. Your observation of ballet to contemporary running together today is insightful. As Rite of Spring is chorography creation that was unforgivable to some then audiences having been accustomed to classical blanc ballet and with Stravinsky's sound made for an unsettling acceptance. How wonderful you didn't toss up while pushing through the piece. And just a side note, you have beautiful hands! Have you ever considered hand modeling, too? Thank you and keep on enjoying!
Wow Claudia...you were very young and under enormous pressure to perform a demanding principal role with very little rehearsal. A dancer truly epitomizes "grace under pressure. " You are such a level headed wise soul.
U dont look chubby. You're just more muscular for such a demanding role and your muscles were probably swollen a little due to the intense training, so maybe a little water retention. You look amazing. Your physique was and still is incredible 😊❤
Imagine how crazy it must have seemed in 1913! The Pina Bausch choreography where they dance on soil is on at Sadler’s Wells at the moment and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone in London - it is INCREDIBLE.
A bit late but as a violinist when Claudia was talking about the crazy counts.... the Stravinsky piece has the weirdest counts too so I assume it'd be a nightmare to dance to
I remember watching the video of you rehearsing this part way before you had a channel. I thought you were unreal! And then I found your channel a few years later and was like “Hey! I know her!” You were - and still are - so talented. PS: You should totally do a video of you recreating this 😊
OMG . Im studying at the royal academy of dance as a ballet teachers and we are doing your solo for our exams !! We have literally watched it so many times. I love it! It is so difficult to do, you make it look effortless !! Love from london
I like this thought-provoking postRite of Spring isn't my favorite piece of music, I have to admit. But I do think the choreography is really something special. Claudia is fantastic. Yet Claudia's vlog made think -- and I'd love to hear your opinions on this next. Including especially, Claudia and professional dancers/elite students. But also ballet fans who have never donned slippers, but love the art. Here is my question: I constantly marvel at how the art of ballet, like so many other physical efforts, has been evolving so quickly (a fast, short- hand comparison example to ballet in the sports world is gymnastics). In the ballet world, not that long ago, an extreme exertion role like this one could only go to a principal dancer like Claudia -- talent earmarked as someone to watch. The techniques required simply ldidn't exist in general. Only in a tiny handful of the world's most elite ballet companies were such subjects introduced. Today, ballet students are now required to master this level of choreography. Not that long ago, the ability to exceed 180 degrees on a lateral split, with just single- handed support, was considered a "circus" move. Now it's taken for granted at professional levels. Not that long ago, 32 single fouettes was a principal- level skill. Toss in a double on every 4th? Screaming applause. Add a triple at the end? Photo on the cover of Time Magazine. Now, consistent single, single doubles through the Black Swan fouette sequence is the minimum. Principals in mid-level companies, and corps dancers in the best companies, are required to master this skill. And then there are extensions, which get weirder-looking by the year. Forget the aesthetics of extreme overextentions, especially lateral (the "Chinese split"). If the choreography calls for it, that's fine. But pro- , and increasingly, pre-pro ballet dancers are now expected to have ear- level+ extensions a la seconde, without support, for everything Every day in class. And to maintain that 180 degrees not just a la seconde, but to sustain through ronde de jambe front-side- back (with a plie front or back). Back in my day when dinosaurs roamed the earth (late 1980s), I studied strictly in the Russian style. To my teachers, winging the non- supporting foot in arabesque, just to cheat that additional visual inch or two, was considered a cardinal sin. Now, it seems like every pre-pro or pro ballet dance -- boy or girl --wings their feet as a matter of course. Teachers encourage or even demand it. My Russian teachers always told us: a single pirouette was "only half a turn" (which is true, if you think about it - the prep takes you half around). But watching today's boys contorting themselves into knots to eek out that little "triple" is painful. Watching some pro girls try tha and land in an awkward fourth to face the backdrop as they fight for that expected triple is excruciating. Not in class -- that's where you learn from your mistakes. You should always go for it. But in performance, eek. This statement I'm about to make, does NOT apply to choreography where you are told what to do. Your job is to do what choreographers or choreologists tell you to do. But in most classical roles, and in many contemporary, you are often told to "do as many as you can/ hold the balance as long as you can, etc". From an audience POV, a graceful double unsupported turn that lands in a calm, lovely 4th -- extended or not, sous-sous or not -- is a joy. That's compared to the hops, struggles, drops to demi-toe for an attempted fake it, and heel screwing, all "make it a triple. " I see this, and more, so often. From corps to principle, watching girls trying to sneak to demi point ahead of the beat (which the conductor has been told to accentuate for triple turns), just ruins the moment for me. What do you all think? In a related topic programs like "So You Think You Can Dance" have done an /incredible job/ of increasing the public's interest in dance of all kinds. I watch these showswith so much joy! I think Nigel Lithgow, etc, deserves multiple Emmies for his work raising awareness of dance, for encouraging kids to get off the couch and move, and for raising dance training standards around the country. But I do worry these shots are making audiences start to expect "stodgy old" ballet with "more exciting" things. Thing like acrobatic dance, or modern dance that requires an extensive gymnastics background. And are we failing to credit -- even missing or worse, dismissing -- the enormous attention, discipline, focus and work required of ballet dancers as they love and honor the technique? That same goes for dozens of types of dance. And there are so many fantasti dancing traditions out there. My personal main interest is ballet. But I totally love watching: modern, hip hop, jazz, step, ballroom, Native American, Bhangra, Irish dancing, tap, African, tribal, Belly dancin, Japanese and Chinese traditional dances, folk dances from everywhere. And I missed about a dozen in just that list. Or more. Dancers of the 100s of styles in existence have the priceless ability to make us think about our lives and our emotions. Without words, dancers can move us to laugh, to cry, to remember, to reject people who have die, and generally feel all the messy, complicated spectrum of emotions that makes us human. So. In the case of ballet -- can't we just focus on teaching students the best technique we know, so when they perform, they are liberated from their bodies' limitations? Whether they weigh 110 pounds or can overextend in 2nd; have feet with arches that can curve to meet the ground; a reliable 3-turn pirouette? What do you think? This is a forum for both current and former ballet pros; students at all levels hoping to go pro; passionate lovers of ballet who are over our shelf life; those people whether or not they have ever taken a class, or never even considering in their wildest dreams they'll dance professionally some day. I'm really interested in hearing from you all, especially Claudia. She was and is a pro. With deep connections to that world. Discussion, anyone?
What a magnificent choreography! I loved the strength and fluidity you gave the character. I must say that the moments when you said that you had low energy, were imperceptible! 🙌❤️👏 Monica Mason! ❤️ And minute 22:29 🙌
I have to say , I was literally short of breath after watching this , and I said to my cat , Gracie we need to go to bed . I am exhausted ! What a awesome ballet, It was mesmerising ! You were outstanding.
this is so interesting to watch, i’ve watched that solo so many times and always wondered what emotions and thoughts she had on it and what it was like doing such a crazy solo! Would be so cool to watch claudia try and re create it now!!
This is crazy! I saw you in this ballet when I was studying music in London and I was so obsessed with it. How crazy to watch this from an inside perspective! What are the odds eh? Small world.
Omg I downloaded you dancing to RITE OF SPRING 2 weeks ago because I'm going to react to it on My Channel too!!! It was the first time I ever saw you dance and I didn't realize it was THEEE Claudia Dean until 2 years later watching your TH-cam Channel! This is actually my favorite Ballet piece of all time, Claudia! So happy you reacted to it!
Former dancer here, stumbled upon your videos while going down the TH-cam rabbit hole. Very good insights as to the life of being a ballet dancer. After watching this video, I think I would have also enjoyed seeing you perform Bejart's Bolero.
it gives me goosebumps! you are absolutely amazing! do you have any photos or videos of the spectacle? I would really love to see that! again, BRAVISSIMA!
i found you through this rehearsal video, have watched it about a 100 times! i just wish there was a recording of the actual performance available.. dying to see that
Just wow, Claudia! What an incredibly courageous and stunning performance! You gave everything and it shows on Monica's beaming face, she's so proud of you! Lovely to see Deborah MacMillan in the studio too! What a wonderful vid - well, all of them are! PS You look fabulous but I hope your skin complaint isn't too painful and improves for you. Love from London xx
It’s so funny hearing you speak about the counts. Yes us musicians have to really pay attention during this ballet because the counts change like every other measure lol
Claudia how amazing ur dance performance was, with a strong will to succeed (we liturally feel it) and achieve to do it! U were truly fantastic !! Luv u
The bit you said about dancers figures really helped me! I always struggle with not looking as bony or petite as other dancers. I’m more of a womanly figure but always see that as a set back in ballet. I wish people would look past the ‘perfect’, flat chested, small muscular build of a ballet dancer. In my opinion it’s passion and talent that counts!! U are honestly such an inspiration!!
I had one teacher that did things in really bizarre counts. All of her choreographed pieces were like that. Not hectic, but oddly counts of 9, 17. Somehow it worked out. She didn't know until I told her. The piece you did is exhausting.
Loved this video so much I can’t believe how amazing you are!! Also so inspiring how you talked about any body can dance I am self conscious about this but you’ve helped lots! 😁18.12 you are so hilarious😂you also look amazing with no makeup, so stunning :) I’m so so so excited for the London intensive aggghhh😍
Brava! That was so special. I'm so impressed. I understand that fatigue. I was a modern dancer, but ballet trained and I remember being taught to give my all, be floppy, big, sharp, whatever, and as a 20 year old, I too held back. But it was so fun. This was a great teaching moment. Thank you! 🤗💕
Now I wasn’t as fortunate as you to have performed in any Ballet Russes works from the 1913. However I sat and watch a tribute to the works from that era with Rudolph Nureyev performing with the ballet company. I was lucky enough to have sat next to with a woman who had watched the actual performance from that time in Paris, and shared the shockwave these dances created at that time of they’re original presentation. Which was far more chaotic than in the 60s. I’m not sure whose choreography you were doing, but I’ve come to like Pina Bausch’s staging over the original choreography of Nijinsky. Kudos to you for having been a part of the lineage of dancers to perform this ground breaking dance piece of choreography. Perhaps one day you’ll be fortunate enough to stage the dance yourself on a company there in your homeland.
Surprised no mention was made of Maurice Bejart’s most unique choreography of the “Sacre du Printemp”. That modern version set the standard for its performance.
I haven't done ballet but when you mentioned that when you watch your ballet videos and you start to sweat from it, it reminds me of when I watch my old cheer routines and I can remember how my muscles felt stunting and it's a weird sense perception thing, I'm not sure how to describe it
- Your skin looks great in this video! - You have the same reaction as me when I first watched you talking in this video! HAHAHA! I was like, WHAT? She has English accent now! - You looked great when u're dancing there. Couldn't tell you're exhausted at any point. Maybe because I am not pro enough to tell. Haha - Monica Mason is such a lovely and special lady 😍
This is a question somewhat related to this video - but having been a rehearsal pianist before, how many of the choreographers with whom you've worked read music? Are they able to look at a score and figure out what's there? Or do they choreograph completely to a recording? I've worked with both - as a pianist (and clearly NOT a dancer), I get a bit confused if the choreographer doesn't read music (as far as figuring out where we stopped, and where we start again, or "let's do this section again with (insert series of steps)."
i'm having my first ballet lesson tomorrow as an adult who lost the majority of their childhood to mental illness so i was wondering if you would be able to maybe do a video on what tips you would have for someone who is past development beginning ballet
4 months ago I got cast for rite of spring at 18 at the end when I got of stage I was so dehydrated from sweating so much i fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital
Yes, the counts are crazy! Stravinsky, right? Claudia, I remember having to "pace myself" on long pieces. If I "gave it all" from the beginning, I would NOT make it to the end. I would get goose bumps all over my body and not even feel my legs! Ouch.
the rite of spring is about a ritual where a girl literally dances herself to death
Ohp
Sounds like my childhood figure skating 😂 my toes actually grew into the shape of my skates.
Reminds me of that movie Midsommer...
giselle is SHAKING!!!
Elena Van Pelt same 😅😅
this ballet is insane. when it was first performed (in the 1920s or smth) the audience got so angry and they boo-ed so hard that they cut the lights, and the conductor yelled the count to the dancers because they couldn't hear over the roaring of the audience.
this was revolutionary. stravinsky was a crazy fellow
If that's chubby then I'm the size of a house
same
Fuckin same. I say as I'm choking on a little Debbie snack
Same
Same
She wasn't chubby, but most of the time dancers have an anorexic point of view.
I’m a violinist and the rite of spring is so so so really hard to play, but definitely not as hard as literally vomiting my way to death. Bravissimo to you Claudia. You’re amazing!!
Wait, someone died preforming it?! The character dies on stage at the end of the movement.
the fact that there are two pianist speaks to this hahaha
And playing the violin is hard already😅
You look amazing in the rehearsal video. A little point to think about. Put yourself in a small frame and the video you comment on in a bigger picture. A little note. I think it’s important to point out that the Rite of spring in this (1961) version was choreographed by Macmillan, but the original version from 1913 was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky to Stravinsky’s music.
Thanks - I was just going to note that!
Exactly!!
Yes, I've seen both versions. Love it!
Yes, Macmillan's choreography is partly a tribute to the original. Imagine how shocking that music was when Nijinsky choreographed his piece. No wonder it sparked a riot.
@@maryvandermolen8345 Yes I’ve seen McMillans version preformed quite a few times with different company’s over the world. My first time was when I was 10 and my mom gave me a book about Nijinsky and the Russian ballet of Diaghilev. I was obsessed about two things Stravinskys music to Rites and Nijinskys choreography. I’ve read and seen everything I can through the years even the audience and critics reactions. Just imagine how shocking many of Nijinsky’s dances must have been, just think about The afternoon of a faun with it’s very explicit sexual content.
As a violinist, Rite of Spring is extremely rhythmically intricate. I can’t imagine having feel this naturally enough to dance it without not having played this piece Before. Props to everyone!
You look even more beautiful with less makeup, Claudia!
I’m a musician who has studied & done sheet music analysis of this piece before, the counts are SO so difficult! Stravinsky did some wild things with mixed meter, I can’t imagine trying to dance to this so extreme props to you!!
I watched the original video several times now. I agree with you. Monica Mason is just lovely and sweet. The proud look on her face after she saw you dancing is so gorgeous.
How many of us have watched this rehearsal more than twice?! lol I was so excited when she pulled up this video because I’ve always wondered what she was thinking :) yay!! Claudia, you are a beast to be able to do that and then move the rest of the day!
Amanda Collins love you!
I must have watched it three or four times! Claudia's simply amazing in it, and Monica Mason is just a brilliant coach, although she doesn't really do much coaching in this - she doesn't need to!
Teverell right?! It’s soo good! And you’re so right about Monica Mason, she didn’t need to say a word lol but isn’t it sweet that at the end when she’s with Claudia, you can just see how much she cares for her? Monica adores Claudia.
Have you watched Monica do the rehearsal for Elite Syncopations? She’s awesome in that as well.
I wish we could see more of Claudia’s rehearsals from her time with the company! She’s such a brilliant dancer
Amanda Collins I love watching Monica coach! She is so sweet and you can tell she really cares and does her absolute best so every dancer understands how to look their best. & hopefully we see more of Claudia’s rehearsals!
Yes so amazing 😄
You SHOULD be proud of yourself, Claudia!! This was a Historical moment, you being gifted this role, having the baton passed on to you from Monica herself! I feel like perhaps this is one of those monumental moments that you don't really perceive the profoundness of it until afterwards! This was DEFINITELY a moment, and I'm happy you took a moment for YOURSELF to revisit it!
Omg jordan I didn't know you watched claudia.
jaycraz thecreator yaaas I love her!!
I'd love to see you do a portion of this in a 'Can I Still Dance?' video!
diamondgun101 omg yes! That would be so rad
Depends which moment ! Some of that is pretty hard 😄
Was gonna say the same. In a what I wish I'd done with the wanting to be more OTT side
She did do that
Omg! I religiously watch the Royal Ballet rehearsals, and I remember searching your name to find some sort of performance of yours, and I found this one a few weeks ago!! You are absolutely incredible!!
Also...We love a fresh faced queen! 😘👑
The Royal ballet is terrible now, just dreadful.
@@kyra.brianne It's just incredibly bland, banal and boring. It's completely lost its individual style and the promotion of a lot of mediocre dancers. And it's HUGELY expensive now. Also its total abandonment of its heritage, particularly Ashton is just criminal.
@@kyra.brianne I saw Yasmine Naghdi as Odette, she's one of the pushed new ballerinas, she' technically sound, but absolutely nothing there. And then when you factor in I spent £140 for one ticket, it makes you pretty pissed off when you leave the theatre.
Omg the counts are so hard! I’ve played this in orchestra and it was so insanely hard to count, we had to put in symbols to remind ourselves of the counts and it was still so hard then. I feel like it’s one of those pieces you have to play/dance a lot and just hear/feel it rather than trying to count your way through it
I’m intrigued, who here has never danced in their life but still watches Claudia’s videos? 😂
Meee
Totally me. I love to watch ballet, and I appreciate the athleticism and training that goes into becoming a professional dancer. So watching vids like this is a wonderful glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world.,
Me... I´m an enginner and I can´t dance even if my life would depend on it... But I´m really enjoyins her videos.
Cubby!? No, you were and are perfect
you are so pretty with less makeup and thank you soooooo much for making this kind 0f content you are what inspires me to get better and better everyday. love you so much.
I love hearing about your Royal Ballet experiences!! What a phenomenal company and just so awesome that you are sharing your journey not only at the Royal Ballet but ballet in general!
Yes wonderful that you share your expériences like this 😄
I have just come across your utube. What a pleasure to view your first given role of The Rite of Spring and with presentation of dear Monica Mason along wirh D. McMillan! Royal Ballet tour arrived NYC's MET Opera house 1969 ( and maybe 1973). The NY audience's anticipation of Fonteyn/Nureyev and the surprise of so many new fresh talents was a stellar pleasure. I saw Monica Mason first time dancing her loose body character role flirting about the men and Romeo (Nureyev) and Juliet. She and Nureyev were having a lot of fun. I feel your thought she may have seen you as her is precisely what I thought. Mason was powerful in her presence and her character acting was electric. Her supporting roles gave a depth to the principal character leads. The audience could see well what was deliciously upscaling ballet performances. The choreography was beyond what anyone could even imagine to be staged. Thank you with addressing your late night counting over and over of Stravinsky's complex music to the choreography. That is a valuable fact of Stravinsky complexity and genius of music setting a 20th C. pace and progressive dance movement. Your observation of ballet to contemporary running together today is insightful. As Rite of Spring is chorography creation that was unforgivable to some then audiences having been accustomed to classical blanc ballet and with Stravinsky's sound made for an unsettling acceptance. How wonderful you didn't toss up while pushing through the piece. And just a side note, you have beautiful hands! Have you ever considered hand modeling, too? Thank you and keep on enjoying!
Wow Claudia...you were very young and under enormous pressure to perform a demanding principal role with very little rehearsal. A dancer truly epitomizes "grace under pressure. " You are such a level headed wise soul.
The microphone is kinda off, just me?
Sabrina M. not just you, she has audio problems quite often
Yeah, it's way off :(
The echo is often unavoidable in spaces like dance studios unfortunately:/
Malin Josefsson I agree!
I couldn’t even watch this because the audio was so bad
That is one unbelievable solo. I can only imagine what your body and mind must have gone through. Fabulous work, Claudia!!
Did you get you lips done? They are looking extra plump and nice atm!
Abigail Robbins I was thinking the same thing.
Omg I was thinking the same thing
It looks like it, doesn’t it? They’re even plumper than usual.
Please don’t do all that stuff to your lips, if you are considering it.
@@sopranosd people can do what they like with their bodies. If it makes them happy
U dont look chubby. You're just more muscular for such a demanding role and your muscles were probably swollen a little due to the intense training, so maybe a little water retention. You look amazing. Your physique was and still is incredible 😊❤
Wow I can’t believe you think it looks as though your marking it. Your energy is incredible!
I believe that Royal Ballet video brought me to your channel. It was very nice to watch you commenting it, I'm so moved
Thanks so much for this Claudia. I've seen Rite of Spring many times and it just makes me appreciate the dancers so much more!
Imagine how crazy it must have seemed in 1913! The Pina Bausch choreography where they dance on soil is on at Sadler’s Wells at the moment and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone in London - it is INCREDIBLE.
The Bausch version is incredible, but not the way ENB dance it. Check it out the vids of Wuppertal on TH-cam dancing it, that's incredible.
@@oliviakirby1409 oh thanks I will! I loved the way ENB danced it but then I've never seen any other company do it.
I recommend watching the Paris Opera Ballet version with Alice Renavand as the chosen one or Aurelie Dupont, both selected by Pina Bausch.
@@marionolharan-lagan5786 thank you for the recommendation, I will!
I'm sweating too just watching you! Wow! What an AMAZING job you did, Claudia !!
A bit late but as a violinist when Claudia was talking about the crazy counts.... the Stravinsky piece has the weirdest counts too so I assume it'd be a nightmare to dance to
You're so cool, be it dancing, coaching or being a person. It's very enjoyable to spend time with you through a screen. Thanks for the opportunity.
I remember watching the video of you rehearsing this part way before you had a channel. I thought you were unreal! And then I found your channel a few years later and was like “Hey! I know her!” You were - and still are - so talented.
PS: You should totally do a video of you recreating this 😊
same !!! ☺️
Yes yes yaaaaasss! Challenge!
THAT. WAS. INCREDIBLE!!!! I AM LITERALLY SITTING HERE, MOUTH OPEN! What STAMINA that must have taken!! I am blown away!
OMG . Im studying at the royal academy of dance as a ballet teachers and we are doing your solo for our exams !! We have literally watched it so many times. I love it! It is so difficult to do, you make it look effortless !! Love from london
I like this thought-provoking postRite of Spring isn't my favorite piece of music, I have to admit. But I do think the choreography is really something special. Claudia is fantastic.
Yet Claudia's vlog made think -- and I'd love to hear your opinions on this next. Including especially, Claudia and professional dancers/elite students. But also ballet fans who have never donned slippers, but love the art.
Here is my question:
I constantly marvel at how the art of ballet, like so many other physical efforts, has been evolving so quickly (a fast, short- hand comparison example to ballet in the sports world is gymnastics).
In the ballet world, not that long ago, an extreme exertion role like this one could only go to a principal dancer like Claudia -- talent earmarked as someone to watch.
The techniques required simply ldidn't exist in general.
Only in a tiny handful of the world's most elite ballet companies were such subjects introduced.
Today, ballet students are now required to master this level of choreography.
Not that long ago, the ability to exceed 180 degrees on a lateral split, with just single- handed support, was considered a "circus" move. Now it's taken for granted at professional levels.
Not that long ago, 32 single fouettes was a principal- level skill. Toss in a double on every 4th? Screaming applause. Add a triple at the end? Photo on the cover of Time Magazine.
Now, consistent single, single doubles through the Black Swan fouette sequence is the minimum.
Principals in mid-level companies, and corps dancers in the best companies, are required to master this skill.
And then there are extensions, which get weirder-looking by the year.
Forget the aesthetics of extreme overextentions, especially lateral (the "Chinese split").
If the choreography calls for it, that's fine.
But pro- , and increasingly, pre-pro ballet dancers are now expected to have ear- level+ extensions a la seconde, without support, for everything Every day in class.
And to maintain that 180 degrees not just a la seconde, but to sustain through ronde de jambe front-side- back (with a plie front or back).
Back in my day when dinosaurs roamed the earth (late 1980s), I studied strictly in the Russian style.
To my teachers, winging the non- supporting foot in arabesque, just to cheat that additional visual inch or two, was considered a cardinal sin.
Now, it seems like every pre-pro or pro ballet dance -- boy or girl --wings their feet as a matter of course. Teachers encourage or even demand it.
My Russian teachers always told us: a single pirouette was "only half a turn" (which is true, if you think about it - the prep takes you half around).
But watching today's boys contorting themselves into knots to eek out that little "triple" is painful.
Watching some pro girls try tha and land in an awkward fourth to face the backdrop as they fight for that expected triple is excruciating.
Not in class -- that's where you learn from your mistakes. You should always go for it.
But in performance, eek.
This statement I'm about to make, does NOT apply to choreography where you are told what to do.
Your job is to do what choreographers or choreologists tell you to do.
But in most classical roles, and in many contemporary, you are often told to "do as many as you can/ hold the balance as long as you can, etc".
From an audience POV, a graceful double unsupported turn that lands in a calm, lovely 4th -- extended or not, sous-sous or not -- is a joy.
That's compared to the hops, struggles, drops to demi-toe for an attempted fake it, and heel screwing, all "make it a triple. "
I see this, and more, so often.
From corps to principle, watching girls trying to sneak to demi point ahead of the beat (which the conductor has been told to accentuate for triple turns), just ruins the moment for me.
What do you all think?
In a related topic programs like "So You Think You Can Dance" have done an /incredible job/ of increasing the public's interest in dance of all kinds. I watch these showswith so much joy!
I think Nigel Lithgow, etc, deserves multiple Emmies for his work raising awareness of dance, for encouraging kids to get off the couch and move, and for raising dance training standards around the country.
But I do worry these shots are making audiences start to expect "stodgy old" ballet with "more exciting" things.
Thing like acrobatic dance, or modern dance that requires an extensive gymnastics background.
And are we failing to credit -- even missing or worse, dismissing -- the enormous attention, discipline, focus and work required of ballet dancers as they love and honor the technique?
That same goes for dozens of types of dance.
And there are so many fantasti dancing traditions out there.
My personal main interest is ballet.
But I totally love watching: modern, hip hop, jazz, step, ballroom, Native American, Bhangra, Irish dancing, tap, African, tribal, Belly dancin, Japanese and Chinese traditional dances, folk dances from everywhere.
And I missed about a dozen in just that list. Or more.
Dancers of the 100s of styles in existence have the priceless ability to make us think about our lives and our emotions.
Without words, dancers can move us to laugh, to cry, to remember, to reject people who have die, and generally feel all the messy, complicated spectrum of emotions that makes us human.
So. In the case of ballet -- can't we just focus on teaching students the best technique we know, so when they perform, they are liberated from their bodies' limitations?
Whether they weigh 110 pounds or can overextend in 2nd; have feet with arches that can curve to meet the ground; a reliable 3-turn pirouette?
What do you think?
This is a forum for both current and former ballet pros; students at all levels hoping to go pro; passionate lovers of ballet who are over our shelf life; those people whether or not they have ever taken a class, or never even considering in their wildest dreams they'll dance professionally some day.
I'm really interested in hearing from you all, especially Claudia. She was and is a pro. With deep connections to that world.
Discussion, anyone?
What a magnificent choreography! I loved the strength and fluidity you gave the character. I must say that the moments when you said that you had low energy, were imperceptible! 🙌❤️👏
Monica Mason! ❤️
And minute 22:29 🙌
Welcome to mixed meter haha Stravinsky was mean that way 😂
I love how your face lights up when you talk about getting cast. Its lovely shows how much it really meant. And you look great without much makeup
I have to say , I was literally short of breath after watching this , and I said to my cat , Gracie we need to go to bed . I am exhausted ! What a awesome ballet, It was mesmerising ! You were outstanding.
I am a pianist and I know the music itself is insane .... I can’t even !! you are awesome Claudia :D
this is so interesting to watch, i’ve watched that solo so many times and always wondered what emotions and thoughts she had on it and what it was like doing such a crazy solo! Would be so cool to watch claudia try and re create it now!!
MONICA MASON! & still so elegant & graceful!
This is crazy! I saw you in this ballet when I was studying music in London and I was so obsessed with it. How crazy to watch this from an inside perspective! What are the odds eh? Small world.
Rite of spring is one of the best pieces ever written
Omg I downloaded you dancing to RITE OF SPRING 2 weeks ago because I'm going to react to it on My Channel too!!! It was the first time I ever saw you dance and I didn't realize it was THEEE Claudia Dean until 2 years later watching your TH-cam Channel! This is actually my favorite Ballet piece of all time, Claudia! So happy you reacted to it!
Former dancer here, stumbled upon your videos while going down the TH-cam rabbit hole. Very good insights as to the life of being a ballet dancer. After watching this video, I think I would have also enjoyed seeing you perform Bejart's Bolero.
Is a "cross-trainer" also called an elliptical? Is it an Australian to American thing? I love learning the difference 😂
That is just a beyond crazy dance and you did it. That's just amazing.
I'm profissional musicist (and adult ballet student, lol) and I LOVE Rite of Spring! So proud that you make it soo amazing in Royal. Love from Brazil!
You should do a TH-cam video of you recreating the video from memory! Love you lots Claudia!
Alexa Dances, NOOOO! Why would you make her go through that again?!? Lol! 😂
True 😂😂 maybe just part of it!
Claudia, I saw this rehearsal and you really gave it all. Your calfs seems to be almosr brusting of tightness! You were tired girl!
Claudia, I just started to watch this video. And when you said “How bizarre” I understood “Parmesan” at first 😆
Hannah Ringel lol
RITE OF SPRING was the first time I saw you dance in my dance class and i remember feeling soooo inspired ! lové u and lové ur work !! 💜💜💜
it gives me goosebumps! you are absolutely amazing! do you have any photos or videos of the spectacle? I would really love to see that! again, BRAVISSIMA!
The counts are one of the things that make it so electric. Love Stravinsky.
Major props Claudia, anyone who can dance the Rite is very talented and cool.
i found you through this rehearsal video, have watched it about a 100 times! i just wish there was a recording of the actual performance available.. dying to see that
Looking at how proud Monica is...it is utterly beautiful.
Just wow, Claudia! What an incredibly courageous and stunning performance! You gave everything and it shows on Monica's beaming face, she's so proud of you! Lovely to see Deborah MacMillan in the studio too! What a wonderful vid - well, all of them are! PS You look fabulous but I hope your skin complaint isn't too painful and improves for you. Love from London xx
I love it! and The Rite is of Spring is one of my favorite pieces ever. For the counting: they are difficult also for the musicians.
I subscribed to the Royal Ballet channel and saw your solo there. You were magnificent!
It’s so funny hearing you speak about the counts. Yes us musicians have to really pay attention during this ballet because the counts change like every other measure lol
Claudia how amazing ur dance performance was, with a strong will to succeed (we liturally feel it) and achieve to do it! U were truly fantastic !! Luv u
The bit you said about dancers figures really helped me! I always struggle with not looking as bony or petite as other dancers. I’m more of a womanly figure but always see that as a set back in ballet. I wish people would look past the ‘perfect’, flat chested, small muscular build of a ballet dancer. In my opinion it’s passion and talent that counts!! U are honestly such an inspiration!!
It's so cool to finally see how you felt during that solo!
I had one teacher that did things in really bizarre counts. All of her choreographed pieces were like that. Not hectic, but oddly counts of 9, 17. Somehow it worked out. She didn't know until I told her. The piece you did is exhausting.
You.Are.AmaaaaaZing!!! Ohmygosh!! That dance is super extreme! You’re like Wonder Woman!
Loved this video so much I can’t believe how amazing you are!! Also so inspiring how you talked about any body can dance I am self conscious about this but you’ve helped lots! 😁18.12 you are so hilarious😂you also look amazing with no makeup, so stunning :) I’m so so so excited for the London intensive aggghhh😍
love your channel, as I saw you dance many times at Covent Garden - I was there at your Rite of Spring. A great performance, I remember it very well!
Yasssss we love a classical queen!!!
I look up to you, Zenaida, and Yuhui! Sadly, I have missed two years of dance class already 😢, I'll be paired with children when i get back. Huhu
Brava! That was so special. I'm so impressed. I understand that fatigue. I was a modern dancer, but ballet trained and I remember being taught to give my all, be floppy, big, sharp, whatever, and as a 20 year old, I too held back. But it was so fun. This was a great teaching moment. Thank you! 🤗💕
She went to the royal ballet!!!! How come I didn’t know this??? She’s amazing! 🤩 🩰
Claudia you are amazing and so talented!
Now I wasn’t as fortunate as you to have performed in any Ballet Russes works from the 1913. However I sat and watch a tribute to the works from that era with Rudolph Nureyev performing with the ballet company. I was lucky enough to have sat next to with a woman who had watched the actual performance from that time in Paris, and shared the shockwave these dances created at that time of they’re original presentation. Which was far more chaotic than in the 60s. I’m not sure whose choreography you were doing, but I’ve come to like Pina Bausch’s staging over the original choreography of Nijinsky. Kudos to you for having been a part of the lineage of dancers to perform this ground breaking dance piece of choreography. Perhaps one day you’ll be fortunate enough to stage the dance yourself on a company there in your homeland.
Um, Claudia I was curious to know if you would be willing to do a video on ballet terms and demonstrating them. Lots of love from Texas!🤠😘
Surprised no mention was made of Maurice Bejart’s most unique choreography of the “Sacre du Printemp”. That modern version set the standard for its performance.
Also Pina Bausch
you know as a dancer when you watch a performance you're just like "nope nope yes. that's harder than it looks". 😂.
🙌
… I love it but it is intense ❤ you are amazing for dancing this ballet 🥰🥰🥰🥰
The rite of spring was written by Stravinsky in 1912 and was initially choreographed by Nijinsky.
I think she said something else
No this is the 1961 version by Macmillan
I am a ballet dancer too!OMG your AMAZING!hi i love ballet and you inspired me so much. I love watching your videos!Your amazing at ballet:)
Pure magic!! 🔮💖
I haven't done ballet but when you mentioned that when you watch your ballet videos and you start to sweat from it, it reminds me of when I watch my old cheer routines and I can remember how my muscles felt stunting and it's a weird sense perception thing, I'm not sure how to describe it
Please turn the volume down on the microphone it’s really loud!!😊
I love how she says she had an English accent in the vid when she still does to most Americans 😂
Molly Kinz it’s aussie?
It's australian actually
@@emilyesnyman That's the joke.
@@NoThankUBeQuiet oh, sorry😂😂😂
I had no idea this was you until just now! Love it! My Dad Paul is one of the pianists at ROH 😊
You should do a can I still dance: rite of spring edition!!
- Your skin looks great in this video!
- You have the same reaction as me when I first watched you talking in this video! HAHAHA! I was like, WHAT? She has English accent now!
- You looked great when u're dancing there. Couldn't tell you're exhausted at any point. Maybe because I am not pro enough to tell. Haha
- Monica Mason is such a lovely and special lady 😍
You're amazing Claudia. I'm glad you weren't an actual sacrifice. 💖🌹
Omg i had a Ballet class with Mara Galeazzi
This is a question somewhat related to this video - but having been a rehearsal pianist before, how many of the choreographers with whom you've worked read music? Are they able to look at a score and figure out what's there? Or do they choreograph completely to a recording? I've worked with both - as a pianist (and clearly NOT a dancer), I get a bit confused if the choreographer doesn't read music (as far as figuring out where we stopped, and where we start again, or "let's do this section again with (insert series of steps)."
This is my favorite video ever 🥰❤️
What a super performance...it required a lot of inner strenght!!! You should de proud!!!!
i'm having my first ballet lesson tomorrow as an adult who lost the majority of their childhood to mental illness so i was wondering if you would be able to maybe do a video on what tips you would have for someone who is past development beginning ballet
4 months ago I got cast for rite of spring at 18 at the end when I got of stage I was so dehydrated from sweating so much i fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital
Netballer here, I've drank to much water before and jumping around as a defender.. I've weed myself a few times 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m pretty sure I would actually legitimately die
beautifully performed! I think you have to go back to RB. You miss it and It would be lovely to see how being away has changed your artistry
Any tips for drawing symmetrical eyebrows, *your's are perfect!!🤩🤩*
5:15 don't mind me I'm just time stamping for myself lol
Yes, the counts are crazy! Stravinsky, right?
Claudia, I remember having to "pace myself" on long pieces. If I "gave it all" from the beginning, I would NOT make it to the end. I would get goose bumps all over my body and not even feel my legs! Ouch.