The dread “Esmeralda” variation
First of all, I dislike this particular ballet variation even when adult soloists perform it. It’s herky-jerky and show-offy in a sharp and to me unpleasant way. There’s a tendency for the women to look as though they’re ferociously looking to bite somebody.
When I was young, the variation wasn’t especially popular, but with the growth of the competition circuit it’s a perennial favorite and has become a recurrent showpiece number, even for children. It encourages the worst acrobatic excesses of the current ballet scene, being basically a gymnastics “trick” variation.
Of course, I bet Plisetskaya could have made something wonderful out of it, but I can’t find a video of her performing it and perhaps she never did.
Here’s a little 6-year-old girl doing the variation. I’m not criticizing the girl, who has plenty of talent but in my opinion is being coached improperly to give a lot of emphasis to showing off her extreme extensions rather than a pleasing and beautiful line and flow (granted, hard to accomplish with this particular variation):
Here are three well-known adult soloists doing the same variation. They’re all good, but in my opinion only the third one gives it an interesting quality, trying desperately to squeeze out some sort of feeling and musicality other than “look at how high I can kick my leg to the side and bam this tambourine with it!” One of my other least favorite parts of the variation is when the dancer does a couple of diagonal turns known as piques and then must immediately stop that momentum, plant herself and try to orient herself for the stationary double or triple pirouette. It looks somewhat stressed and strained to me no matter who does it:
For contrast, here’s another little girl doing a much more appropriate variation and showing dance ability more than acrobatic or gymnastic ability. Her teachers haven’t tried to get her leg sky-high, but have instead emphasized a charming flow of movement, with proper epaulement:
Geez. I’ve been watching mountain climbing videos and I am impressed, I truly am, but I feel pain while watching.
As to the six year-old, I agree she is more of a dancer than a gymnast, but with that big head and small body she falls into an Uncanny Valley. If this were advertised as an AI creation I wouldn’t bat an eye.
Which isn’t to say a six year-old shouldn’t dance so well. It’s interesting to interrogate the parameters of my soi-disant tolerance, as my postmodern betters would advise.
I’m not so keen on the ballet music, nor the moves. Nor would I consider being in any public dancing situation where almost any of the ballet moves would be appropriate. Thus, too spectator oriented for me.
Here’s an OK song with a great modern dancer doing what is far more realistically possible for a great amateur to do some of in a “dance” party. I could easily imagine a 25 yo version myself dancing with a woman dancing sort of like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmpyfDF_pes&list=PL9tY0BWXOZFsez6cjXAxHTruW0jteUHQk&index=4
When I saw this video, I thought of Neo and ballet videos that mostly leave me cold.
Neo–are there any pop videos you’ve seen with dancing that you thought was impressive?
Very close to the fun kind of dancing I used to love dancing like, in the 80s, is this modern Yungblud song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI9ztgoZ5yQ
(already sung once in karaoke… also my kind of Ramones-ish power punk energy music. For dancing.)
No one ever expects the dreaded Esmerelda Variation.
RigelDog:
On the contrary; EVERYONE expects it. 🙂
I’m beginning to think they require it.
Does the Dread Pirate Roberts dance?
Its a very challenging move
Neo I am actually seeing dance differently thanks to you…
I think I understand why you prefer the 3rd adult dancer in that video – she is actually moving her torso and arms in flexible, live expression. The girl is also flexible, perhaps because of her youth – her arched back at 0:33 reminds me of clips you showed us of Plisetskaya dancing with similar abandon.
And the extreme motions may not be appropriate, but that girl has presence and musicality…. the girl in the later clip may be dancing something more suitable, but she is not on the music… she is charming but I would not describe this as “flow of movement”.
Ben David:
As far as the second little girl goes – perhaps it would help to see an older dancer do the same variation. The “Silver” variation is from Sleeping Beauty, and it looks light and simple but is not easy because the timing, the arms, and the head are very tricky. It’s fairly subtle and that requires musicality and charm. It’s a bit of a tongue twister in a way (arm and head twister?). Take a look:
No, no, no. I have two seven-year-old grandchildren, as well as some older and some younger, and they are all too young for this. It hurts me to see these children trapped in this tight harsh demanding showing-off of their baby bodies for adult approval. No No NO. Yes, they’re beautiful. I see it too, I don’t care, leave them alone and let them grow and play. It’s not time for them to force themselves into some formal adult preconception of how they ought to be, it’s time for them to play and explore and dance only if they feel like it, and if then, HOW they feel like it. Okay, let’s see them when they’re eight, or ten, or twelve, or fifteen. The older dancer that Neo shows has had some time to grow and choose, and yes, she’s lovely and accomplished. But not these six-year-olds. They are just children, only beginning, only hatching, nowhere near ready to do this false thing of showing off for the world how they can pose or prance and contort themselves to fit rules they cannot possibly understand yet. They are babies. Please no. Let them be.
Mrs Whatsit,
Amen and God Bless You!
Mrs Whatsit
I agree in general – but I have also known children who MUST have music/ballet/theater/writing/science/fashion/animals and will not be dissuaded.
I was one.
These kids should be allowed to geek out.
The operating principle of childrearing (and marriage, but in a different sense) is:
“If it’s important to you it’s important to me.”
A Rabbi who has great lectures on family and parenting loves to tell the story of the guy who took his baseball-geek son to a game in every city of the league.
Wow says the guy’s friend – you must really love baseball.
No answers the guy, I really love my son.
Mrs. Whatsit, I agree with you, unless as BenDavid notes, the child is truly naturally obsessed.
Meanwhile, our 16-month-old grandson is pretty obsessed with music and dance, apparently (lol). Daughter went to pick him up from daycare, where all the toddlers were quietly sitting for Circle Time, listening to a recording of Old McDonald. Except for Levi—who was in the middle of the circle, dancing and bopping his sweet little head off, curls bouncing.