I can't believe this is a Vagnova exam. I really missed seeing what makes Vaganova so stunning - the precision, lines, extension, epaulement, moments of stillness! Vaganova has always stood out as such a pure and beautiful technique, and this just feels like a different school. The speed makes me think of the School of American Ballet and while I enjoy the Balanchine style, I don't enjoy seeing this type of "hurried" movement from Vaganova students. All the "big" schools are so distinct and that's what makes them unique. I really hope to see Vaganova return back to the classical style they are famous for!

@user-sj4ef8cm2g

23 сағат бұрын

,yes 4ealky the russian school is the best for training

@user-sj4ef8cm2g

23 сағат бұрын

Lyrical beauty of dance stage presentation perfectvtenique and artistry 36:57

I am a Vaganova graduate. It’s sad to see the demise of Vaganova style. I also feel for the girls, as the teacher is clearly more interested in showcasing himself than developing them.

Honestly, this exam seems more focused on showcasing the teacher's combinations rather than the students' strengths, personalities, and individuality. I had a teacher like that once. It seems very selfish

@TD-sl3ee

2 ай бұрын

Very much agreed!

@michelledegeorge5708

Ай бұрын

Tsiskaridze has been ruinous to this school...

@user-tk2wk4vr1x

15 күн бұрын

@@michelledegeorge5708 🤦🏻‍♂️

@user-jh7pm7wi9n

14 күн бұрын

Они слишком молоды, чтобы демонстрировать свой стиль и индивидуальность,коьорых ещё попросту нет. Здесь они демонстрируют свою способность передать замысел своего педагога. В этом и состоит смысл экзамена.

@user-tk2wk4vr1x

14 күн бұрын

@@user-jh7pm7wi9n Причём, хорошо очень девочки работают! Очень крепкие! О таком педагоге в училище, как НМЦ, другим можно только мечтать! А собственный почерк - согласен с Вами совершенно - будет дальше. Это уже опыт, багаж знаний, кругозор, начитанность и тд., которые, надеюсь, попадут в руки к хорошему педагогу в театре.

I was really excited to see the full class(bc I know the turning girl, she is from my country Bulgaria, Veselina Ilieva). And I watched it till the end. I was surprised because this class looked to me like a boys class(a lot of jumps, turns, throwing the leg, little adagio and not holding the legs much. To me the class was full of tricks and it was hard for the girls to show their feminine, light and airy side. I really like Tsiskarizde, he is so educated and talented, but to me he is more suitable for the boys. I was actually overwhelmed of seeing that they still jump til the end. Very hard class, but the girls did what they got to do. I wish them all good luck 👏🏻🙏🏻

Thank you so much for your candid thoughts. You were being very diplomatic ! I agree with just about everything you said, even your equivocations and on what most commentators said. Tsiskaridze is doing these young students no favors. They're still in their developmental years and should be focused on technical purity, not on speed, monstrous movement sequences and marathon endurance. I hope the other teachers feel free to tell him what they really think. Again, thank you so much.

I agree that this exam is way too fast and hectic. If I were a teacher in the grading committee, I imagine it would be very hard to evaluate each individual student, because each girl was almost dancing to her own rhythm lol. Also, there were too many different combinations mixed together. If each group of students does a different move, then there’s no way to tell who’s strong and who’s weak. To be honest this looks more like a school production than an exam to me. If we move it to the stage, it would fit much better than in the classroom. I know Tsiskaridze is a very smart artist, and I think he doesn’t mean any harm, he just has a different teaching style. So instead of leading a young class, I think it’s best if he only teach the graduating class. If he has the 8th year all to himself, the students will still have 7 years of traditional Vaganova schooling, plus Tsiskaridze’s unique class at the end so they can be better performers and make a smoother transition to company life after graduation.

@mariaelviragiliferre2557

2 ай бұрын

Definitely a very hectic class . A horse race exam . Amazing girls . Bless them all .

The way Kovaleva darted out-enough said

I couldn't stop thinking that all the turns in this made me feel like Tsiskaridze is looking for instagram ballet reels girls who do twenty pirouttes or something lol joking aside, I do like the quickness of the exercise but as you said, it almost felt like the impressive thing was that the girls were completing such difficult combos, rather than the sheer quality and artistry of them edit: have to say, as a shorter person, I did love seeing a wider range of bodies here

I would love to see a comparison of this 7th grade exam and prior 7th grade exams!

To my eyes most of his choreography is quite "choppy" and unnecessarily fast and complex, making it more difficult for the dancers to flow. Their attention is clearly focused on getting through these combinations, so there is not enough space within them to express the dancer's artistry/individual talent. Too bad. Agree with you, toward the end, things became more tame. (Lovely dancers!)

The girls are strong, their bodies are beautiful and they are trying very hard. This is admirable. What's noticeably absent: plasticity in the back, and poetry of the arms. That which makes a St. Petersburg ballerina truly regal and other wordly. Why is this missing? I don't know. Is it concerning? I think it's very sad, because if the Vaganova Academy loses the majesty, it can be found nowhere else.

@gretapetenberg2525

2 ай бұрын

Maybe that’s what they will focus on next year 🩷

@SUN-BALLET

2 ай бұрын

Absolutely agree !

I think that we are slowly losing the aspects that make the Vaganova great. The legendary turnout, extremely high legs and beautiful arms and artistry was what made the Vaganova the best. This specific class however, each dancer was a little muddy and not capturing the essence. I definitely think its because of Nikolai's takeover.

@Fondu55555

2 ай бұрын

我也非常不喜歡Nikolai’s 他的羞辱否定式獨裁教育 正在扼殺許多優秀的芭蕾實習生和冉冉發光的少女黯然失色

@Sandra-ud8py

2 ай бұрын

As a former student I can assure you that this is not because of a teacher, but because of students. This year specifically, it was mentioned that there weren’t any extremely talented students, you can see that on exam. But if you take a look at his students like Angelina Vorontsova or Eleonora Sevenard, they are incredible dancers, because they had what it takes :)

@Jamtarts2025

2 ай бұрын

Shaaade , I love it.

@kristinavba

Ай бұрын

@@Sandra-ud8py I just think the standards for mainly the older dancers have been lowered, the bodies are not the same and priorities have changed. the Vaganova is going in a direction that many will disagree with.

@1psoas9

Ай бұрын

@@Sandra-ud8py Plausible ANd truly, I did not see a lot of talent in that room. Why? Were they all taken into the school before NT's takeover? Anyway, they look rushed and breathless, I don't see style, phrasing, nothing memorable.

I understand these girls are still young, they work very hard daily and are not the finished product, so I'm definitely not knocking them down. That being said, I was a little disappointing while watching the exam: the lines, the purity, the perfection, even the high legs and the legendary turnout seemed a little lost, everything was a little muddy. I agree with your take on things and overall I much prefer the old-style exams.

When I first watched this, I thought that it is entertaining for me as a viewer, but I keep wondering if the exam is still serving its purpose.

@balletwithisabella

2 ай бұрын

That’s a very valid point!!

I hope you enjoy the video!! ❤❤

@W0olf938

2 ай бұрын

I don't like his teaching technique, too fast at the bar, all the double turns are unnecessary, not enough slower control

@W0olf938

2 ай бұрын

The petit allegro where they lean back, I don't like that jump it looks awkward! They do look more 'uniform' than other exams I've watched, maybe that's how he has taught, to not stand out? There is emphasis on jumps but I want to see more flourish with the head, arms, hands. They have technique to die for, but their personalities are not allowed to come through. I agree with you it's a show case of choreography.

@boluayeni2886

2 ай бұрын

A comparison video would be great!

@ursula868

2 ай бұрын

I think you could have easily made this video the full length of the exam, and we would have all watched! I'd love to see your commentary on the exercises we didn't see here.

i think the thing that feels off about this exam is that Tsiskaridze has trained them like he would a boys class. it’s not “un-vaganova”, it’s just boys vaganova. more pirouettes, super fast, less adagio and port de bras. it’s very interesting to see.

@emhu2594

2 ай бұрын

Good, theres going to be even less reason for men to be in ballet at all. Companies can be all female.

@emhu2594

2 ай бұрын

So hes making them men...

@elfa9191

2 ай бұрын

Agree.

@pfeel

2 ай бұрын

Have you seen his boys class exam? He's making them look very effeminate, with flourishing ports de bras...He seems very much interested in putting his personal stamp on the school, to everybody's detriment, not just the girls'. Ego-trip, imho.

It is so wonderful to see comments from fellow ballet fans that actually know the different styles of ballet❤ the comments posted hear from the narrator are perfect. Please never lose the purity of the Vaganova😢

Gotta say as someone who loves both watching and doing adagios I am just not a big fan of this change…they are doing a lot but somehow it just looks way less impressive…also can’t agree more with you saying “no one really catches my eye”, literally said the same thing myself the other day after watching some shorts of this class. However it’s just my personal preference, best luck to these promising young students ❤

Je continue à dire ..POURQUOI c'est tellement rempli et vite il n'y a plus ce style typiquement vaganova ces lignes longues élégantes ...on souffre un peu en voyant ça...bravo à ces filles !!

I was really looking forward to this video ! The tall girl is beautiful and the only one with that wonderful Marinsky arabesque an elegance ! The thing that I noticed is that they really don’t t have that flat long hip line that the other Vaganova girls all seem to have but yes they can definitely jump !!!

Im a young dancer and your videos/podcasts inspire me so much, thank you for your amazing uploads❤

I miss the clean arabesque line instead of the à la sebesque I’m seeing from almost all of them. Also the winged feet and an attitude line inspired by Obraztsova… of course they are all beautiful and I wish them the best. I’m being picky because you’re pointing out, and rightfully so, some choices that come with consequences… I’m Isabela with one L.😊

Yeah, I'm missing so much of that iconic Vaganova feel that past years have given us. It almost feels very Americanized, if that makes sense? Like I was watching a pre-pro class where we're flying through combos and no particular artistry is highlighted to an extreme nor the long lines of the body in certain areas are paid attention too. Wonderful video as always!

I agree that this class doesn't stand out as "Vaganova" stylistically at all! As an American, I thought they looked very "generic American pre-pro" in style. Nothing much to set them apart as being trained in Russia, let alone at the Vaganova! Personally, I'm hoping this was a one-off experiment for Tsiskaridze to teach a girls class. His style seems obviously better suited to boys classes, and I much prefer the boys classes after he came to Vaganova, but it looks a bit dull or muddied on the girls. Poor girls! I'd be pretty disappointed if I were them, training at the legendary Vaganova just to look generic in style. But maybe that's the intention? A homogeneous style of training around the world? I truly hope not.

@matina_angel

2 ай бұрын

That was my first thought too, that he is trying to immitate American or English style, and mix it with Vaganova steps and technique. And that's not possible, and it is so bad for the body, plus the world will loose the best dancers that once were the students of that school

@gretapetenberg2525

Ай бұрын

This is fully taken from Tsiskaridzes teacher Pestov a great metodist of ballet.

wow i was actually going to ask if you can react to this exam! thank you for the great video! i do agree how this exam looked very different, almost unusual compared to other vaganova exams in the past..

If the purity is being diluted that’s a huge shame. Yes, get Mr Boss Man in pointe shoes! ❤

Isabella, I've always thought it would be so cool to see you back at this dance hall as a teacher of a graduate class. I feel you have gathered all this Russian technical knowledge and are also really smart from a pedagogic/psychological, maybe Western, point of view, feeling what a student needs to succeed. I know with the political situation it is not really possible. But, well, let's hope something changes and true Vaganova teaching will return. I'm sure many teachers at Vaganova feel the same way as you but are just not allowed to speak up. 😐

@balletwithisabella

2 ай бұрын

I think you are right...eek. I am sure they have to be careful.

@Vik-chic

Ай бұрын

​@@balletwithisabella I think that the main problem of Russia in general is that people have be careful and do not dare to say a word. In any kind of situations.

I didn't want to say it, but you just said it yourself, so... They don't look Vaganova students 🥺 and I'm not referring to their physiques.

I found this video and your analysis mega interesting so thank you!

I have been WAITINGGGGG for you to post this!!!! So excited to watch :)

Dear Isabella, I love your brilliant analysis with honesty, thoroughness, detail, and depth.❤ Thank you! I agree with you 💯❤️❤️

agreed. feel like i jus saw alot of technicals/tricks and I don't remember if i saw ballet. Also would love to hear more about vaganova method and history. I just bought her book to read!

I love these videoes!!!❤️❤️❤️ Never stop making them!🥰🥰🥰

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand I agree, they don’t look as polished, and movements seem rushed and incomplete. On the other hand, they do look like they are having fun and the fact that it seems like no one or few students are being favoured/showcased due to physique/natural abilities is good in my opinion. It’s tough because it almost seems like one brand of showiness- high legs, ridiculous turnout- has been exchanged for another- tricks, super speed- and the core issue of artistry and musicality being lost has not really been addressed? Their stamina is super impressive though

I've been waiting for this one !!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏

I also miss Kovalova’s music choices: she always picks pieces from ballets! 39:38

At this age, these combinations are not helping them. Looking at this, I'd be worried about what they're actually working on in class. How are they supposed to show personality when they are barely able to keep up with the music (no fault of their own). With this level of speed emphasized, what is he preparing them for? Because they will never be Balanchine dancers , nor should they. They simply don't look like Vaganova girls, I can't imagine a single one in a pas de deux adagio because we saw NO adagio. Their arms when static are lovely, you can see where their base training was. But in movement? Clearly not being as well trained in their final years which will be a detriment to their ability to get a job. How can I look at any of them with this type of exam and see them in the corps of the Mariinsky?

Agree on everything with you, my thought is that he may have understood many dancers from Russia will be well welcomed to the USA for work opportunities, so he may have prepared these girls for that. In USA to be an athletic dancer and a quick dancer is very appreciated. Nowadays the majority of the job opportunities for dancers are in the USA, it is best to fit in that market rather than stay unemployed. But I believe it's important to not loose the vaganova tradition, beauty marks and aestetic as well!

I'd be interested to see you react to Master Ballet Academy, perhaps their exams or just some of the class videos available online..

Thanks for the great commentary! I would be interested in understanding how students are divided into classes and how many per class. And it would also be so interesting to learn more about the more well known teachers and the hallmarks of their students.

As a former pro ballet dancer I'd really like to know if the girls trained this fast their whole tenure at Vaganova. Or if it's a rather late-year change of technical priorities. It reminds me of some ballet teachers we'd welcome at the company, with whole new ideas on how to dance, how to turnout, arms use, etc.. that would afterwards leave half of the company having fun w/ the newness but the other half -me included- failing to activate all the technical ground we painfully built over school years in order to keep up with the pace.

@Vik-chic

Ай бұрын

Indeed. Not to mention of a possible health issues impacts. They just not that much mature for all that stuff, imho.

He needs to focus on the boys. I feel bad for those girls a bit tbh

From what I heard about his and his students relationship he is very taught for ballet lessons but very wonderful and caring all the other time. At least that’s what all of his male students that graduated previous years said. And if that’s so it would be absolutely beautiful 🌸

I totally agree with everything you said. Their in between steps are not that clean, especially fifths, and the style is not quite there. I personally am not oma fan of tsiskaridze... I get a bad vibe from him, he seems toxic and full of ego. I just don't get why they would let a bokshoi dancer run the vaganova academy... Not that I have anything against bolshoi dancers, I love many of them. But let vaganova be vaganova, that tradition should be safegaurded, it's so precious.

@ritawing1064

2 ай бұрын

I can never get the Filin business out of my head...

@avesraggiana

2 ай бұрын

When Putin goes, Tsiskaridze will go with him. Fingers crossed.

@chalkedlines8960

Ай бұрын

@@ritawing1064 Right?

@Vik-chic

Ай бұрын

He actually wanted to rule BB company and did evrth to achieve that. But his big friends could not manage it. Any other company in Russia was literally nothing to him, BB school just boring (and he could not be ungrateful to Leonova, happened to be his friend). So they just found a solution : not that important still nice and prestigious place, quite suitable to his great ambitions.

I see a more lively atmosphere in comparison with the hundreds of Vaganova exams videos of the past I've been watching for years. Yes, maybe something went out but what I see is so beautiful to watch, so energetic and more creative than in the past. I like Maximovich's "new" Vaganova

@balletwithisabella

2 ай бұрын

Interesting! Definitely more lively. Be interesting to see long term how the style differs. Thanks for your thoughts!

I saw a video of this exam, where Nikolay was saying that he explicitly forbade any high legs here. I have this impression of some Eleanora Sevenard vibes from watching this class.

@chalkedlines8960

Ай бұрын

Why is that, do you think?

@olgamatveeva3188

Ай бұрын

@@chalkedlines8960 He didn’t unpack it:). I think he has his own idea of what sample quality of the moves should be like.

Thank you, Isabella. The whole exam just seems so rushed, too much going on. How can those students consolidate their technique at that speed? Svetlana Ivanova teaches at the school now - not sure which year.

Those hops on point...my toes feel sore just warching! ❤

Concerned about the lack of turnout and extension. These girls are not as polished as they should be. Lack of showing of artistry. The development of speed, which is also needed, for the loss of form created by Vaganova

your hair looks amazing!

This is not Vaganova, so sad.

Would totally be interested in your comparison between this class and classes past. Agree the centre girl stood out the most but ya seemed very hectic and just go go go and didn't see a lot of artistry and adage.

Wow, it's like watching a completely different school. Will Tsiskaridze continue to teach them for their graduation year?

What a shame that’s there is so little “adagio” quality in this exam. The reason why Vaganova dancers are so beloved is their port de bras, head, and artistry in Adagio. The emphasis on speed and pirouettes are more of an American quality. The girls are all strong and lovely, but I would prefer to see a more refined and pure training.

Oh my - such a shame. It's exhausting and overwhelming. The dancing overshadows the dancers

Remainds me of Aurelie Dupont speed. The question is: what is the purpose of this training... However Mariinsky has beautiful delicate ballerinas still.

The variation they did at the beginning in between exercices of the exam is from the ballet "Les deux pigeons" (it's part of the Paris Opera Ballet repertoire). Nikolai didn't get this out of nowhere lol

@balletwithisabella

2 ай бұрын

No I realise it’s not “out of nowhere” I just meant it’s “out of place” and feels very random in the middle of the exam. Thanks for saying where it’s specifically from! 😍

I wonder if the reason no one stood out was simply because the combinations tended to be so fast and have so much going on that students didn't have enough chances to show artistry.

Hi Isabella! This is unrelated, but I was trying to find a video where you mention that artisticity can be developed if there is soul (something along those lines) but for the life of me, I cannot! Perhaps you could point me out which one it is? I would be extremely grateful! Thank you in advance and also thank you for the extraordinary work you do.

17:30 is from the French variation of Les Deux Pigeons.

If I wasn’t so familiar with the studio and leotard style, I would’ve never known these were Vaganova students. The dancing is good, but generic. It could’ve been a class anywhere.

32:16 girl in the middle for this combination and the next one caught my eye. Feel like they are the only ones with some kind of upper body and facial relaxation that I really appreciate in Vaganova dancers.

Well it definitely levels the playing field in upcoming audition seasons for years to come... Idk if my pelvis was as out of whack as theirs were I would get yelled at and I'm not Even in Russia. Why are their lower backs not being addressed?

I was hoping that you would react to this exam!

@balletwithisabella

2 ай бұрын

Yes people were asking a lot! Hehe 😅

Bring back Altynay please

Thank you for your opinion, Isabella! In my personal opiniоn this exam is too fast. I cant understand and cant see all the beauty of the mouvement in that speed. Even in the class (I am going to adult ballet classes here in Spb) I like slow combinations rather than fast.

No one is standing out at all. And I love spotting the best girl in the class. Something is off with how they are training how to turn out and properly lifting their legs. It looks uncomfortable. How could a whole class be lacking flexibility? 28:25

Hi Isabella! I found an interview that was given by Nikolai about his new female class. He was talking about his decision. He has explained how did he pick certain music, certain variations. Very interesting. kzread.info/dash/bejne/apx2xZmNZZrLmZc.htmlsi=NAwTr8xtV6IidHvN For everyone who can’t speak Russian a few notes: 1) girls’ and boys’s physical abilities and talents will vary from year to year. Not every single year you will have a class full of Y.Lopatkina, D Vishneva or Maria Koshkareva. Nikolai’s current girls class is mediocre. This is a reason why he wanted to test his teaching skills. 2) due to his girls’s current techniques and performances he has combined this exam. 3) he thinks that during last years of study girls must to spend more time in pointed shoes, and do whole class in the pointed shoes as they will dance in that shoes. Because it is massive difference between same exercise performed in soft shoes and in pointed shoes.

This was interesting to watch. I’m not the most ballet or Vagonova nerd but the choreography seems more “Balanchine” to me. And don’t get me wrong I love Balanchine, but this is Vagonova, this is not super “Vagonova to me. I feel that the tester is more focused on the tricky choreography than the dancers talents an strengths which is sad. I’m sure this is incredibly tiring for them, and I wish he focused more on the “Vagonova” style. Like you said, I wonder how the director of the Mariinsky would feel. I think the basics are important as a student and he forget about that.

I’m always amazed that it’s just a small group of dancers. The competition must be SOOOO intense. I am so proud of you for getting into that! Must bring back some good and not so good memories. I’ve never really cared for NT. Your commentary made me laugh! The quickness/fast crazy combos makes me a bit nervous for injuries. 😬 On a side note are you ever allowed to drink water in the class?

@Vik-chic

Ай бұрын

"a bit nervous for injuries" Feel the same. Not really suitable for school.

May you compare other exams like the Cuban versus Vaganova, please!

Not to take away from the dancers, but I found this terribly disappointing to watch, which is a first for me as I love the VA.

Hey look very Western. Not the usual long vaganova students we see. Not super turned out lines, high legs and super bendy bodies.

Question: Is there any kind of choice for the students on which teacher they’ll have? Does the teacher continue with them through several years or is there a new one each year?

@Vik-chic

Ай бұрын

Usually they have a new teacher every 2-3, sometimes 4 year. It's a Russian specificity: some teach only children, others teenagers, and only a few allowed to udergraduate/graduate courses. What is really VERY NICE here: at the end there is a list of all the girls and all the teachers, starting with the very 1st year. For example, the Moscow Ballet Academy does not do that in the programs for the graduation concert at the Bolshoi even !

If I remember correctly, he always scores only plié and en dehors at the very first part of the exams. I was wondering why he didn’t focus on the basics at his own class. But I like his musicality and like the students who are definitely well trained and talented.

which of your classes would you recommend to work on or artistic side?

@balletwithisabella

24 күн бұрын

We have a beautiful artistic course which you can find here: balletwithisabella.com/course/the-artistry-course/ ❤️

I prefer Tsiskaridze boys exams. Anyway Vaganova is Vaganova, this is more Tsiskaridze method😂, but interesting comparison between the classic Vaganova repertoire and the new one!

This is insane, I'm a Vaganova graduate from the early 2000s, and this is difficult

I guess I focused more on movements of arms than legs, like the upper accents got more attention, and yeah, it was the fastness and not detailed very much. maybe it was a purpose to not show individualistic faculties? anyway them seem to have a great condition.

These are very strange combinations. They feel very unusual and not traditional at all.

I was expecting more from this as well. I also picked out the girl in the middle as well who has more artistic presence than the other dancers. But not as intense from other Vaganova dancers that I follow.

I notice the feet are all very similar , not highly arched , wide at the distal metatarsal this could be due to similar point shoes , very well observed with echappee a la seconde, @13mins . the position is solid and weight looks to be centre or even behind , it is unusual to see such uniformity with a class of 10 , they are hard to recognise , that may be the intention , yet the technique is secure and a close even standard from all students , there is little individuality shown , the speed hinders a lyrical style certainly an interesting new direction for this class /teacher /school

I’m very new to ballet but have been watching a lot lately & have to say that this lacked the wow/special factor of the other Vaganova footage ❤

This is so sad... There is no Vaganova in this class... It looks like Nikolai wants to desperately prove a point that is not worth proving. Why did he put a french repertoire variation (Les deux pigéons) in the class? There is no poetry anymore here, too much influence of Western ballet I would say. In the ballet classes of western ballet you don't see talent you only see robots. Here it looks like this. Very very sad. He took the essence of Vaganova out of those children... :(

@Vik-chic

Ай бұрын

Same question. That's really nice and difficult variation from technical point of view, but it's not pure classic, has a hint of character dance. Why to pick it up when there is so much of Petipa around the corner?

I'm certainly no expert, but I do notice that the girls are not together in their movements.

it feels frantic and rushed. definitely more about Tsiskaridze than the dancers. the tall girl would flourish under kovaleva

I wish we could see a full video of Kovalyova or Kasenkova or Zabalkanskaya classes but OF COURSE it’s Tsiskaridze’s class… I sincerely do not understand how is he able to teach the girls pointe technique. And this exam was a proof that he did not succeed

It does look like a boy's class. No shame on the girls, of course but I wonder if we're not seeing one star, mesmerizing dancer because this Nikolai doesn't make them focus on their artistry. They're lacking hands, neck, that even... 'vaganova breath'. It's like he doesn't have the patience to teach those such important, standing-out details... Ps and i'm worried about their knees, like those first plies are too fast i'm really worried they'd be injoured 😢

The only thing that is really nice here: the names of the girls and all the teachers, starting with the very 1st year, are mentioned in the credits. For example, the Moscow Ballet Academy does not do that in the programs for the graduation concert at the Bolshoi ! No one even know who actually has taught their girl's and boy's graduate classes.

There is 2 foreigners in this class, one from Bulgaria, one from Romania !

Maybe the market is changing, and they needed more versatile dancers. It gave me impressions that the pyramid type structure is collapsing and allowing more power for individuals (and respecting individual talents), which was desperately needed in that part of the world. The change may seem scary, but maybe it’s what it is supposed to be. God bless the people & the future! 🕊🌞🌹

Thank you for this….do you speak Russian Isabella?

I enjoyed the class.

I think they would more fit to the Bolshoi teatre ratger than the Mariinsky. In the Bolshoi dancer are stronger, have highest jumps, but then doesn't have these long lines that the Mariinsky's dancers have. And I also feel like the only missing exercise is adagio.

I welcome the return to female bodies and artistism. Tsiskaridze is among the few daring to defy the ongoing skinny mode and growing association with girls and bodies from artistic gymnastics but ballet is not gymnastics. It's an art. And as he said himself, a ballerina doesn't need to be skinny. I'm looking forward to seeing the Mariinsky director getting the memo but not holding my breath. It's currently a place where one's weight trumps any artistic talent so we see on stage wooden smiles and zero acting beyond a plastered grin but they're all stick insects. It's sad form of "ballet". I was lucky to dance ballet as the art it's supposed to be. P.s. Tsiskaridze dances en pointe so he knows how it feels.

32:23 Isabella you ask from them things that is impossible to do with such lesson - there is NO ROOM for details in this style!!!!

I just don't get it. Why the exaggerated speed and lack of diversity in movement? This does not prepare them for the Maryinsky repertoire! Is it just to showcase his choreographic "talent"? I am so confused!

Like you say, the turnout isn't strong enough and you can see this in the thighs. And the speed doesn't give them time to do anything properly. The middle thinner dark girl has something - if only she gets another teacher for a year or so... His boys' class is the same. The potential is sadly underused. (IMO)

Not really a fan of his but I respect his artistry. Not a fan of a man teaching these girls ballet either. The opposite would just never happen and for good reason. Some of the artistry is lost but that is more a sign of changing times than anything else. That is the ultimate critique of ballet nowadays and I guess as the head of Vaganova he's kinda just riding the wave. The tempo is indeed fast but I disagree with you as to whether or not the girls stand out. Some of them simpky couldn't quite keep up or sneak any ki d of expressiveness in and those are likely the ones an exam like this was meant to challenge. I do appreciate that they look healthy. We often don't talk about it but looking unhealthy was also part of the Vaganova way. You diplomatically said willowy or wispy but let's be real - the ideal was not a paragon of good health. Quite the opposite.

@balletwithisabella

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comments and thoughts! :-) Let's see how it goes!

the class was a show case , the combinations fast and fiendishly difficult, and certainly suited for girls or boys , (how modern ! ) is not clear what this was meant to demonstrate , I agree an examiner would not be shown each student at their best or may easily be able to compare the students. the classes of the 50`s with Ulanova or Plisetskaya were fast , eg. grande battements followed plies fondu and ronde de jambe were at the end of the barre, perhaps a mix if Cecchetti and Vaganova , ensemble cast with few individuals is a company trend now