Plisetskaya dances
A nice change from gloomy news can be found in this 1964 documentary on ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya. I saw it in a movie theater when I was young, and it made a tremendous impression on me. Despite the more … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Dance
Actually, I think the sun bear may have been the collie guy dressed in a bear suit
What collie guy? This collie guy. What bear? This Chinese bear: A Chinese zoo has been forced to deny that its sun bear is actually a human in a costume, after video of one standing on its hind legs raised … Continue reading →
The lost art of épaulement
Alla Shelest was virtually unknown in the West, but she was an eminent dancer in the USSR during the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Here she is trying to teach a younger dancer what’s known as épaulement, which is “the nuanced … Continue reading →
Plisetskaya’s jump
By popular demand, I’m going to try to explain Plisetskaya’s jumping ability as shown in a recent open thread. Here’s the video again: You won’t see other women in ballet jumping like that. You’ll see a few men getting that … Continue reading →
A palate refresher
Plisetskaya tears up the turf: I don’t care how high today’s dancers can get their legs or how many turns they do. They play the character; Plisetskaya IS the character. She’s the second dancer in the series in this video … Continue reading →
Watching “Petrouchka”
Michel Fokine’s ballet “Petrouchka,” created in 1911, is one I’ve seen many times. But perhaps I’ll never see it again, because I have a feeling it’s pretty much banned now. I’m virtually certain that one of its puppet characters, the … Continue reading →
Sophie Rebecca, the trans ballet dancer – nope
A lot of people have called my attention to this supposed story: This is a joke and everyone knows it. Imagine having some little self respect that you pretend it isn’t. https://t.co/fxVphNPHcp — Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) April 11, 2023 You … Continue reading →
Galina Ulanova: Odette in Swan Lake, 1940
The great ballet dancer Galina Ulanova specialized in the more human roles in the ballet repertory, such as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” and the title role in “Giselle.” Becoming the Swan Queen Odette, who was under a spell and … Continue reading →
To take your mind off politics
What a guy: ADDENDUM: I just learned that Hodes died on March 15 of this year at the age of 98. Here’s his obituary; a full and active life with so many accomplishments.
Continue reading →Open thread 3/21/23
One take for their entire number, which begins around minute 1:00:
Continue reading →Galina Ulanova in “Romeo and Juliet”
Take a look. No one could run like Ulanova, and no one even comes close now. Same for her bourrées, which are those quick and tiny steps all on pointe that make it seem as though the dancer is skimming … Continue reading →
Plisetskaya: Style. Musicality. Power. Flow.
Here’s a variation from the ballet “Raymonda” that features a dance with a scarf (or shawl, if you prefer). It’s not a bravura variation, technically, although it requires strength and control – as all ballet does, actually. Also, the dancer … Continue reading →