by Julia Guiheen | Aug 26, 2020 | TBT
Among her storied gifts, Maya Plisetskaya, former prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet, was renowned for her ability to imbue classical choreography with rich layers of meaning. In this 1963 clip of Aurora’s Act I variation from The Sleeping Beauty,...
by Julia Guiheen | Apr 29, 2020 | TBT
In this 2006 clip of Myrtha’s entrance in Giselle, former Paris Opéra Ballet étoile Marie-Agnès Gillot gives an other-worldly performance that is chilling, ethereal and technically sublime. Her footwork throughout the solo is mesmerizing, and it receives full...
by Julia Guiheen | Nov 15, 2017 | Profiles, TBT
https://youtube.com/watch?v=NUug8wDChYs At just 16 years old, the Bolshoi Ballet’s Maria Alexandrova already had the makings of a great artist. In this variation from Coppélia, she portrays the carefree Swanilda with blithe, youthful ease....
by Julia Guiheen | Oct 18, 2017 | Profiles, TBT
When Maya Plisetskaya first toured abroad with the Bolshoi Ballet, she stunned the world. Her dramatic and technical abilities were far beyond what anyone outside the Soviet Union had seen before. She quickly became an icon, symbolizing Russian ballet. Plisetskaya was...
by Julia Guiheen | Sep 20, 2017 | Profiles, TBT
The tambourine variation from La Esmeralda is a competition favorite, but the full pas de deux isn’t seen as often. That’s a shame, because it contains some of the most technically challenging classical choreography to be found. In this video, Yuan Yuan...
by Julia Guiheen | Aug 16, 2017 | Profiles, TBT
Sir Frederick Ashton first choreographed the Voices of Spring pas de deux on Royal Ballet stars Merle Park and Wayne Eagling in 1977 for a ball scene in Johann Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus. The lively duet is a favorite in galas and mixed bills these...
by Caroline Hamilton | Aug 9, 2017 | Profiles
Over the years, many companies have premiered works or made their U.S. debut at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and some of the world’s most famous ballet dancers have performed there. This week I will give some more insights from the Pillow’s...
by Julia Guiheen | Jun 21, 2017 | Profiles, TBT
Karen Kain is internationally renowned as a performer and as the National Ballet of Canada’s artistic director. The former NBoC principal always carries herself with the grace and sophistication of a true leader. However, in this 1976 clip from Giselle, the...