#ballet thoughts

[fizzigigsimmer]

He's got the Billy thighs!

I'm sharing, one because he's beautiful and the negativity in the comments under the video pissed me off lol. And two because It's a good example of the kind of uphill battle Billy faces in Tomorrow (ballet au). His musculature is considered not graceful to look at and not a "good body" for ballet. It makes for good fiction, but it really saddens me how demoralizing the industry can be and how it pressures such young people into developing toxic relationships with their bodies and food as a result. All to fit some archaic beauty ideal that clearly means not shit. The man is blessed with a gift. Let him dance!

[derschokoladenritter]

Selection of students for ballet schools

I know that ballet is partially a sport and that the ideal body type genuinely looks good on stage. BUT. I feel that ballet schools often accept students with nice proportions who are not musical or artistically unique enough and should not be professionally dancing because of that. But then again, I get that most dancers will end up in the corps and companies need uniform corps dancers so yeah.

But it still feels really unfortunate. Physique should not come at the expense of musicality or charisma.

[shakishkinaa]

Happy New Year everyone!

Wishing everyone in our small ballet community here on tumblr health and happiness!

Unfortunately I haven't had much time for myself recently and have only just checked the Mariinsky website for the first time this year, which I used to peruse so frequently. My dislike of social media in general seems at odds with keeping up with what's going on in the ballet world and learning more about it :( Likely will not have much time in the foreseeable to explore it as an interest as much as I would like. All I do is work! But I'm still hoping to try to stay in the loop and hear people's thoughts and see videos when I can.

I heard some/most dancers at the Paris Opera Ballet went on strike over Christmas... not sure what the status is on that. But as someone working overtime hours at a job that's literally killing me mentally and physically, I support this 100%! All the power to them! Dancers work incredibly hard, I can't imagine the exhaustion and physical pain they endure.. and to then not even be paid for all your hours worked? Ridiculous. "That's just how it is in a ballet company" ... well it shouldn't be. People deserve a living wage and to be paid for their work and to have time off. Hope to see more strikes (from workers in all industries around the world... such as my own😒.....) in the future.

I've seen seen some clips of Pharaoh's Daughter playing again at the Mariinsky! Beautiful production, I like the classic style. Iliushkina looks like she is maturing very well! (I do feel a bit bad for Batoeva playing "second" again...) But I'm a huge fan of Iliushkina, obviously, so I'm glad she's working steadily and dancing well and continuing to improve with nuance and confidence!

I'm also loving that she hasn't danced with Korneev in a while, though I see they're dancing Swan Lake together in a couple weeks. I much prefer Belyakov as her partner. I don't mind Askerov either, he fades so nicely into the background (in a good way.. He's not distracting with either marvelous overshadowing talent or disgraceful lack thereof.)

Excited for some more Anyuta as well! I love the score and the costumes, and obviously Renata is spectacular. Though it's definitely not as fun and funny a ballet as my first impressions of it suggested, lol! Khiteeva premiering as Anyuta as well, I see, how exciting! And Gamzatti again, too!

It is kind of astonishing to me how the Russian companies are plowing on as if there's not STILL a war going on. Ticket prices are rising, quality of performances is falling, but the machine chugs on... As it relates to me, selfishly, I still can't help but think about how this means I will not be able to travel there in the near future, if ever. Nor will the company be touring anywhere other than China, where I will also not travel. I was deep into learning Russian and planning a trip just to see the Mariinsky performances when this all started. But, of course, my little woes are nothing compared to those directly affected by war. I have accepted that I'm never going to see Tereshkina or Skorik dance live and that is just such a bummer. They are both in a league of their own and I still feel conflicted about how much I enjoy the Mariinsky performances.

I have a vague plan of trying to make it to Amsterdam, or back to Vienna where I saw my first ever ballet. But with work and cost of living and how remote I am, I don't think I'll be making trips anywhere any time soon :( I barely have the energy to do my dishes on my rare days off, let alone anything for pleasure. Something's gotta give this year. I can't keep living like this lol. Maybe I should make an effort to give some hours per week to ballet, because it's something I do enjoy. I just wish I had the energy!

[shakishkina]

In my opinion...

Top tier ballets: Don Quixote, Raymonda, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, Paquita, Coppelia

Mid tier ballets: Swan Lake, Carmen, Legend of Love, Chopiniana, 1001 Nights, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Flames of Paris

Bottom-to-mid ballets: La Sylphide, La Bayadere, The Sleeping Beauty, Shurale, Fountain of Bakhchisarai, Spartacus, Scheherezade

Bottom tier ballets: Giselle, Jewels, Le Corsaire*, The Firebird

[swanmaidens]

I'll probably ruffle some feathers by saying this, but I think Isabella Boylston is overrated. She shouldn't have been promoted to principal in my opinion, and it's clear to me that she was promoted for political reasons. It's a shame that I almost feel afraid to state this opinion because it might lead to horrible, baseless accusations, but I'm sure Isabella wouldn't be where she is now if she weren't white. I am far from racist, so please don't think that I'm saying this in a malicious way, but I'm convinced that the ABT simply wanted to promote a white dancer because promoting a white dancer is good for their image. It's all about marketing. Isabella is fine as a soloist, but I don't think she has the artistry that a principal should have. Also she's too muscular and her feet aren't that good.

[shakishkinaa]

Random ballet thoughts:

It makes me a bit sad and nervous and worried for all the young dancers going to the Bolshoi. Not sure how true it is that it's "the country's largest brothel" but with how corrupt things seem to be, I worry at how vulnerable the female dancers there are. Young, eager dancers joining a huge intimidating company in a place with plenty of money and plenty of creepy men. It's worrisome.

I used to follow one of the Vaganova grads on instagram (before I decided not to follow students/minors) and she used to follow and like a lot of Navalny's posts - obviously she's not doing that any more.

I was really hoping for an exodus of Russian dancers over the break. Seems like my faves did the opposite of leaving... Iliushkina sweetie.... going on Russian state TV at this time is certainly..... A Choice. (Like Korneyev - decidedly NOT a fave of mine - choosing to stay in the country when his whole family lives abroad. I can't get started on him...) They're definitely all making their choices - they've got to live and do what's best for them. But yeah, I am going to judge them *a little bit, even though I know they are in a tough spot. It must be hard to live somewhere that's not a democracy. Even if they disagree with the war (going on state TV, doing cultural events at palaces seem to suggest otherwise), they cannot speak out. They could leave, though. It is possible. *but I suppose unrealistic

I wonder how the ballet season/world in Russia will be affected by the lack of tourists in the country. I'm sure ordinary people are suffering financially and less likely to pay for expensive ballet tickets. I was planning on traveling there as my next destination specifically to see as many ballet performances as possible. But that's not going to happen ANY time soon. I've given up on seeing Tereshkina or Skorik dance live :(

So yeah. I'm going to try to expand my ballet horizons beyond Russian theatres this season.

[shakishkinaa]

Listen, I have no problem with a ballerina being taller than her partner...... I might even prefer it...

[shakishkinaa]

Is there any role you want for Shakirova and Iliushkina to have their debuts on?

Thanks for asking! I would love to see Shakirova as Swanhilda in Coppelia... unfortunately I don't think the Mariinsky perform it :( It's a ballet I enjoy and a role think Renata would be great in!! I hope to see Iliushkina debut as Masha in The Nutcracker, which I think is certainly more likely to happen.