#khiteeva

[tikitania]

Khiteeva is debuting Carmen! So exciting!

That is a HUGE debut. Carmen is so hard because the dancer carries the entire story. It's technically demanding and requires sophisticated theatricality. The dancer must exude sensuality but not vulgarity. It's a difficult balance. There are technically strong dancers who could dance this, but would not be a good fit. (Khoreva.) Some dancers just play up the sultriness, and it ends up feeling really cheap and cartoon-like. I saw a recent performce by a Bolshoi soloist that will go unnamed and it was outright cringe. Yes, Carmen is sexy, but what she really wants is freedom—the freedom to live as one pleases, freedom to no be be controlled by a man, sexual freedom. Yet fate is the final arbiter of that freedom…the dancer must convey that inner fire so that the tragedy plays out.

Carmen is a role that better suits older dancers…that life experience really informs the interpretation. That's why I'm very curious and excited about Khiteeva's debut! It's definitely a challenge and I'd consider her quite young for the role. She's 25? 26?

[tikitania]

dasha kulikova is going to debut giselle on april 12! again along with minchul jeon. their la bayadere was great, so im looking forward to this one. now i know why she's pulled from feb to march. i hope everything goes well for her, it's been a while since she debut a principal role, i think giselle suits her delicate ethereal aura. shes a bit underrated considering most her peers are debuting left and right. let me know what you think.

Kulikova as Giselle...This one really surprised me! I would have guesed La Sylphie, Juliet, even Aurora before Giselle. Color me shocked. She has never pulled off a role with such gravitas before…I wish her the best! And there is even more BIG casting news: Khiteeva as Carmen. What what?? That is huge in terms of legacy. And Misha Barkidjija cast as Torero. Spicy. Khiteeva's theatrical qualities are very impressive, but this wil be a big step for both Misha & Sasha.

Yana Peneva's upcoming debut in Kitri exciting, if less surprising to me. She lookd very good in the Nutcracker and I really like her recent debut as the Silver Fairy. Kitri is a big step up but she seems ready. And speaking of casting…Bulanova is FINALLY getting another shot at Kitri AND Medora. WAY OVERDUE. Now I wonder what other casting suprises may come down the pipeline in May?! Any bets?? I have been wondering about Chernavskaya and Plotnikova who have been absent from playbill for a while and I hope they're okay. UPDATE: Chernavsksy was a fairy of courage in the recent run of Sleeping Beauty. No updates on Plotnikova.

[tikitania]

Khiteeva’s debut as Raymonda appears quite the success from the various IG reels that I’ve seen. Honestly, I was a bit nervous for Khiteeva because the role is a technical and artistic Olympus — and if you fall short — the St. Petersburg theatergoers will tear you apart. But my worries were unwarranted. Not only was she prepared, she danced beautifully— confident, technical, musical. I did see a couple bobbles, but nothing that warrants criticism.

And Bravo to the many other debuts! Savalieva, Barinova, Kulikova, Deryabin…the list goes on on! It felt like a breath of fresh air in the Mariinsky.

I’ve ripped this clip from 📽️: Natashik_B on IG. She has many more, and they all make me very happy! What really stands out here is Khiteeva’s footwork, epaulement, and poise. She makes this look so effortless and light while commanding the stage. 👏

[ballet-symphonie]

I just randomly saw Sasha Khiteeva's video rehearsing SL. I know she won't debut it, but how I WISH she would. Don't get me wrong, I really like a lot of the recent VBA grads, but since Shakirova, Khiteeva is the best one. Period. If she debuted in SL everyone would see her potential. If it was up to me, she would be a first soloist since last year. I really don't know what is up with this company. So much talent getting buried. Khiteeva is one of a kind. A few in the MT can say that they are it

I remember that video she posted on her stories and sigh...I really hope she's given more chances to prove herself. But as it stands right now...it seems she's stuck dancing Prince's Friends and Flower Sellers. She's not getting an O/O debut anytime soon but I WISH they would give her a chance at Aurora. I'm convinced it would be like hopping in a time machine, she's such a 'vintage' ballerina and has that old-school charm, quite similar to Obratsova. However, I fear she might not have enough powerful people pulling for her. Still holding out hope for her though.

[melmothblog]

Alexandra Khiteeva as Clemence in “Raymonda”. Mariinsky Theatre. December 18, 2019.

[melmothblog]

How did you get along with your classmates?

Alexandra Khiteeva: “They accepted me straight away, which was nice. I followed the girls around like a lost puppy, and they helped me out a great deal. During the first class I, naturally, stood at the side barre and was gradually moved closer to the centre. I’m not much of a fighter; I prefer to get results with work. Sometimes I even get told that this particular character trait may hinder my progress once I join the company, but I can’t do things differently.”

Read the full interview here.

[melmothblog]

Your workload at the Academy is intense. Do you have time for anything other than classes and rehearsals?

Alexandra Khiteeva: “All of the academic staff are very understanding of our situation and try not to pressure us, though I enjoy English and the History of Dance classes. To be honest, on weekends I just want to lay around, do nothing, and read books like “Tell me about the sea” by Elchin Safarli and “Brooklyn” by Colm Tóibín. I have to say, though, that Nikolai Maximovich (Tsiskaridze) is very involved in our after-school activities, especially when it comes to the kids who board at the academy. We visit the Russian Museum, the Hermitage and, sometimes, we even manage a quick outing to the movies.”

Read the full interview here.

[melmothblog]

Behind the scenes of Alexandra Khiteeva’s photoshoot with La Personne. 

My English translation of the interview she gave the magazine is up at melmoth.co

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