#mariinksy

[ele-bee]

Diana Vishneva in Schéhérazade, Mariinsky Theater, 2024. Photos by Alisa Aslanova.

[ballet-symphonie]

I saw your recent ask about Khoreva, Shakirova, Iliushkina and who would become principal first, so it got me wondering, how much do you agree with this "prediction" of Mariinsky's future promotions:

Principals: Khoreva, Shakirova, Iliushkina, (Koshkareva), Stepin, Korneyev, Belyakov

1st: Bulanova*, Khiteeva, Lukina, (Kuprina), Konovalov

2nd: Borodulina, Guseinova, Ionova, Mazzi, Malyshev*

Coryphees: Plotnikova*, Chernyvskaya*, Khoreva, Savelieva, Izmestiev

**the ones I think can progress more, but at the moment, these are their next promotions.

Hmmm a lot to think about here.

I agree that Khoreva and Iliushkina's promotions seem like inevitabilities. I would also sell my soul for Shakirova and Stepin to be promoted. I really don't get what they're waiting for in regard to the latter, does he need to chuck a 540 or something? I also think Bulanova's principal chances are higher than people give her credit for, she's being prepped to take over Kondaurova's signature roles and she doesn't have much competition atm. Give this girl a Carmen and everyone will be talking. If Lukina stays injury free and gives more performances looking like her confident Le Corsaire debut...doors will be wide open for her.

Korneyev is clearly the chosen one, his future is established as long as he and Iliushkina are kept dancing together. And sigh....Belyakov is too good to not get promoted to at least first soloist eventually (I hope). Kimin and Shkylarov can't carry everyone forever. MT also doesn't have an abundance of options since so many of their promising recent grads have left the company, at some point they're going to have to promote Konovalov and Malyshev. I also like Malyshev's chances for further promotion more, I think he's a more versatile performer but he needs to get out of those character roles. Congrats to Izmestyev who came back from IBC Moscow with a shiny bronze, but I think he needs to work with a different coach who can teach him to use his power more intelligently (no more figure skating-esque triple saut de basques please).

Khiteeva and Mazzi should both be 2nd soloists already, they've both danced multiple principal roles. Khiteeva needs Aurora, this is her role to either sink or swim. Will be interesting to see how typecasting shapes both of their careers. However, I don't think Ionova's comeback has yet garnered enough momentum or new roles to warrant a promotion. Borodulina is this generation's Martynyuk, cute enough to make it to 2nd soloist but her height and body type are likely going to keep her there. I don't think one good role is going to be enough to push Guseinova up, she's just got so much competition...the 2023 class is scary.

I find both Plotnikova and Chernyvskaya a bit distant and unmemorable, they don't demand attention like their juniors do. I could see them both being passed over honestly. Koshkareva and Kuprina are precocious enough that I feel confident saying they should both end up at least 2nd soloists provided they stay healthy, but I think it's a bit too soon to say much more. Savelieva will get promoted once the management feels like 'honoroing' her for her time in the corps, she has to put in some more years first. I can't say anything at all about S. Khoreva, I basically haven't seen her dance.

[melmothblog]

As requested, I’m going to address Oksana Skorik’s post from a few days ago, which was largely addressed to Gergiev. It basically boils down to the following points:

Oksana requested that Gergiev provides some sort of clarity regarding the company’s future, especially in terms of leave;

She said that dancers with children would like to leave the city and she personally wants to go to Crimea, but the company is technically still active;

This means that dancers, especially the corps, are in a terrible position where they can’t rest but are also unable to train without access to space and equipment;

The dancers were apparently informed that a tour is coming up soon;

She noted that three dancers are currently allowed to train in the studios at a time, though, according to Skorik, the studios can easily accommodate 15 dancers without breaking social distancing rules;

She goes on to say that only the orchestra (which is Gergiev’s main priority according to Skorik) have work, while everyone else is up in the air.

Plenty of people praised Oksana for speaking up in the comments, though Svetlana Zakharova questioned why these questions were raised on social media rather than directly with the management:

“Oksana, was there no opportunity to question the management directly? It’s so strange to read this post! They’re saying that you guys have been let go on a break ages ago.”

To which Skorik responded:

“We haven’t [been let go on a break]... As it turns out I haven’t got enough annual leave. The 21 days I’ve accumulated over the season have apparently been “used” between the 24th of March and the 18th of April. No more break for me! There’s no one we can ask about this. The management knows as little as we do, and the Head [Gergiev] is unreachable. The theatre itself is totally empty."

d i s c l a i m e r

[ballet-symphonie]

I think that Nikita Korneyev must be promoted to a soloist. I like him very much, he is very princely and he has danced soloist roles and the role of Siegfried many times. What do u think?

Yes, after Belyakov, he is the person who is most deserving of a promotion IMO. Caxieta is also in need of a promotion soon. But anyways back to Korneyev, Like he has 4? Principal roles in his rep, been in the company for 5 years now and he’s STILL a coryphee????? Like what????? Does the management even watch him dance???

His rank doesn’t make sense. It’s curious though, Iliushkina is a first soloist now and her two partners for her two most successful debuts haven’t received promotions yet….

[ballet-symphonie]

I can't understand why Oksana Skorik is so hated. She's such a beautiful dancer. She should be respected because of the fact that she achieved to become a prima after her fight with anorexia. She is a strong girl. Only people who had dealt with it know how hard it is. As a ballerina that suffers from binge eating disorder, the fact that she can dance after what she gone through is an inspiration for me and makes her even more beautiful to my eyes. Plz explain me why they hate her:(

Her career has been full of ups and downs and her ability to get herself out of that very dark place in school to where she is now is truly remarkable. I personally am a great admirer of her and really can't understand why the hate for her is so great. But there are a couple 'reasons' that I've found to be common

#1 Overexposure early in her career, much like Khoreva she was dancing big roles before she was ready and had some shaky outings

#2 People believing she's *still* not deserving of principal after due to Skorik's bad reputation early on

#3 Graduating from Perm academy, not VBA (most people won't admit to it but it's true)

#4 Skorik's occasional insta posts that netizens sometimes take issue with and make needless speculation about

[melmothblog]

Vladimir Shklyarov, Ekaterina Kondaurova and Alina Somova (principal dancers at the Mariinsky Theatre) have been named Honoured Artists of Russian Federation. I know these Soviet titled don’t mean much to the rest of the world, but they are a pretty big deal in Russia. Congratulations!

[melmothblog]

Vaganova Ballet Academy graduates (class of 2018), Daria Ionova and Anastasia Nuykina is the Mariinksy’s “Swan Lake”. October 3, 2018.

[melmothblog]

Nikolai Tsiskaridze and Vaganova Ballet Academy students after the 2018 Vaganova Ballet Academy graduation performance at the Mariinsky. June 12.