by Gavin Larsen | Nov 3, 2023 | Pointe+, Training
Like anything in life, ballet is not immune to trends, not even when it comes to variations. And when the competition circuit gives a certain variation high visibility—usually following a winner’s standout performance—suddenly it seems to be everyone’s favorite,...
by Julia Guiheen | Apr 15, 2020 | TBT
If you need a bit of cheering up as we near the end of another week, Mikhail Baryshnikov’s unbridled charisma in this 1983 clip from American Ballet Theatre’s Don Quixote is just the ticket. Then the artistic director of ABT, Baryshnikov performs...
by Julia Guiheen | Feb 13, 2019 | Profiles, TBT
The individual touches that ballerinas incorporate into well-known classical variations are a source of endless fascination for us bunheads. (The abundant “variation compilation” videos on YouTube is proof of our obsession!) Odette’s solo in Swan...
by Julia Guiheen | Apr 11, 2018 | Profiles, TBT
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LSdHmbsUl_c The third act variation from Raymonda is deceptively simple–legato and heavy on bourrées and épaulement, it has few pirouettes or showy extensions. Instead, the piece calls for artistry and aristocratic command in order to...