Analysing Russian Odettes | Bolshoi, Mariinsky, Royal Ballet | Odette Variation.
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Hello Everyone,
Today I am analysing 3 different odettes plus a bonus superstar.
Obviously all these ballerinas are amazing and wonderful, I am sharing my objective opinion for educational purposes. Sharing my critics in a positive and constructive way.
Let me know who you prefer and why? Keep the comments thought provoking and positive with respect to the ballerinas as always :-)
Enjoy and please leave your comments below!
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About Me
Hello everyone! my names Isabella.
I am the first British graduate of the Vaganova ballet academy in Saint Petersburg Russia. I was a soloist working with the Mikhailovsky Ballet and Eifman ballet.
Now I live in London as a full time coach
Here, on my channel I am sharing my passion with you all about the Vaganova technique amongst many other things related to ballet we all love.
It's a hard industry so I am here to help with my insights and knowledge to make it a little easier for you all, as well as to hopefully entertain you with my content.
Thank you for watching!
Zakharova and Lopatkina were made for this role. They look unreal ❤
I would have loved to have seen Lopatkina, she has a spiritual quality along with her technique. I watched her in an interview where she mentioned her faith informed every performance, and it shows. Beautiful.
I was fortunate to see Lopatkina many times on the Mariinsky stage in St Petersburg. She truly was the Swan Queen of ballerinas. I never saw another ballerina whose movement floated as hers did as well as being so technically precise. And her arms were just stunning. Truly she had a God given gift. Amazing.
@@Pearlaceous Fortunate indeed. I missed the one chance of seeing her at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden a few years back as the ticket went like hot cakes. What beautiful memories to have! I'd love to see the Mariinsky in St Petersburg :) xx
Lopatkina is a perfect Odette for me. ❤ Her special magic and soft arms have took my hurt.
And also Victoria Tereshkina is one of my favourites 🤍
Personally, I love how Osipova throws her head back as she dances the white swan. She displays such abandonment in her movement, that her Odette seems more vulnerable, and victim to the dreadful situation she finds herself in, whilest the other ballerinas play the role more dignified, as if they truly are the queen of the swans.
Lopatkina is an artist in her portrayal. So much more focused on the role instead of bravada.
Loved watching these Odettes! Lopatkina for me is the best in this role - her lovely arms, beautiful artistry, she is odette, never over the top, exquisite and emotional. Svetlana is lovely but Lopatkina just shines in this role. Osipova I prefer in other roles - Don Q, La fille mal garden where her enthusiasm , energy and virtuosity shine as well as emotion. Smirnova is lovely too but perhaps lacking some experience ( in comparison) at time this performance was filmed. Love Smirnova’s dancing but didn’t move you as Lopatkina does here. Four incredible ballerinas!
Smirnova's upper body seems to accept and embody her vulnerability whereas strength comes alive in the legs. Lopatkina has beautiful placement and control of arms, particularly when floating down, and legs higher in the sissons? very nice. Osipova dances a haughty swan in the face of her almost hidden vulnerability and Zakharova's arms and face just melt me. I could watch all swans forever.
They're all lovely, but certainly no one grips my attention like Natalia Osipova. A true actress and artist, as well as a performer. With the others I see them performing a role that they've worked on, whereas with Natalia, it's just so natural, and as you said, spontaneous and just so full of emotion.
thanks for you're feedback!
I truly love your channel, Isabella. Thank you so much for this. :) Lopatkina's arms are truly swan arms :') . I would love to hear your analysis on other generation of Ballerinas like Galina Mezenseva (there is a Kirov version here in RUclips), Maya Plisetskaya, Ekaterina Maximova, Nadezhda Pavlova, Galina Ulanova, Altynai Asylmuratova and Svetlana Efremova. Especially in the Soviet era, those ballerinas were dancing different and it makes me truly curious how you see them compared to the new generations. I was just watching Asylmuratova, and she was so breath taking.
Thank you so much! What a wonderful idea. Have to say Altynai is the reason I fell in love with Russian ballet. I could do a whole video on just her. Will definitely do more ❤
@@balletwithisabellayes please do more videos on soviet ballerinas!!
Lopatkina has always been my favorite Odette, followed by Zakharova. Osipova is the best Kitri, for me. I just adore her in that role. Smirnova is the last among these ladies. At least for now.
I agree.
Really interesting video. It would be fun to see too how the way they perform Odette compares to Odile. Lopatkina has such command of her upper body. She has such soft, relaxed wrists and hands without looking flappy as other can. Her bourees are just the most sublime with how still her upper body is.
Zakharova and Lopatkina are the best in this ballet. Unmatchable. Zakharova just has a way of movement that is perfect for dancing. Lopatkina is the only one who can make me cry though. I really like that you appreciate her so much.
Please do more videos analysing other variations, maybe the Black Swan, Kitri, esmeralda or sugar plum??
Great! Do you like me comparing a few ballerinas over one solo? ❤
@@balletwithisabella yes!!! Its great to see from the point of view of a professional eye what are the areas where certain famous ballerinas Excell and what, in your opinion, they could improve, and its awesome to see what makes each of tem unique compared to each other doing the same role, please do more of these hahah
@@balletwithisabella Yes, please, I too would love to see more of these type comparisons. I have always been transfixed by Lopatkina’s Odette, it is so beautiful … she is number 1 for me!
Ulyana was also extremely invested into every single role of hers. Every movement had meaning for her. It’s a shame she does not teach at Vaganova or coach at Mariinsky. She is the embodiment of elegance and grace.
It would also be very interesting to hear what you think about Legend of Love. I feel like this ballet doesn’t get enough attention abroad, although here in Russia it’s a cult classic.
Natalia O.'s phrasing is so authentic as to be mesmerizing--By authentic we mean Self-Soul participatory! Rather than on academic cue.
Lopatkina is wonderful. Her soul shines through her dance.
Svetlana Z. is fluidity impersonated! Though to rely on that, for total punch can render it too sweet loosing therefore the immensity of her capacity. Exceptional ability. The crescendo diagonal variation is second to none! Such available composure and grace!
Thank you for bringing the Odett by Lopakina who is my favorite artist from the Marinsky Theatre.
She had an injury of her ankle and She have to get some surgery on her ankle then she has came back and danced even more beyond her ability for her Artistry 🦢🩰🙏👍🏼🩷💜💐
Thank you for these great critiques. Osipova isn’t as great here as I’ve seen her in other versions. Honestly I think this video might be much more recent. Lopatkina is just exquisite. Absolutely beautiful.
Ulyana is in a league of her own. What a swan queen ❤❤❤
Agreeing with everything! I also think Lopatkina's head placement was interesting for the arabesques after the sissones - different, not sure I prefer her not completing the line, but her fluidity and arms and the right touch of control were enchanting.
Exactly - lopatkina is one of a kind ❤️
Lopatkina is by far my favourite. I find it interesting how the dancers just change the vatiations up at some places. I'm currently learning this very variation, this video was very helpful for me, thank you.
I absolutely loved this! please keep making analytical videos like this it is so informative and helpful!!
All are beautiful and unique in their own ways. I believe Osipova's strength lies in her acting abilities (she's a beast in the acting relm of ballet) and energy. For me though, Lopatkina is it!! I've watched that version with her many, many times. Her arms and poise are above and beyond any I have ever seen for the role. Her hands and arms alone are truly a work of art! She's the whole package in Swan Lake! Thanks for this. I literally just found your channel and I so look forward to following along!
Ohh love it! Also i would love if u wacht the Marianela Nunez's odette, i think that her's lame ducks are perfect
I've been waiting for this! And I liked how no BS you are. Most ppl would just only say compliments that = saying nothing. If you are looking for ideas, would like to suggest Bolshoi VS Mariinsky variations... I know they are very similar but must be interesting to know the subtle difference. And please include Maria Ilyushkina if you can, because I remember you mentioning her to be someone who has that special something. I also love watching her so would appreciate if you elaborate 😊😊 Thank you so much!
Agree, It would be nice to have those bolshoi e Mariinsky comparation because i still have difficulty understanding the differences between their styles, Ive Heard about It, but It would be nice to have something to better ilustrate
Really enjoyed this! For the festive time please would you do a Sugar Plum analysis? I would love to see your insights and takes on the role and different performances. My choreographic preference is the Bolshoi's (Grigorovich) version and Kaptsova is my all time favourite in the role.
Also hoping she analyses the sugar plum variation and some great ballerinas dancing It, it would be great!!
As you commented, indeed Olga S.'s sissones are sublime, allowing us to pause and savor her essence.
I would love it if you'd make this a series ❤️
I deeply value your opinion about the subtle nuances required for different variations. Perhaps, the black swan and or the dying swan scène would be interesting to compare. It seems to me that the dancers are allowed a bit more artistic freedom to embody the dying swan at least.
However, I believe and agree with you Lopatkina is my favourite swan of all time. She just embodies the ultimate ballet dancer for me. She has such impeccable technique, gorgeous lines and subtle expressions. It's a shame she had to retire, but at the same time it's inevitable after a while and for the best. So that new talents can have the opportunity to take the spotlight.
Although, I'm not a professional dancer myself, I truly love your channel and try to implement the advice and corrections in my amateur classes whenever I can. Thank you so much for you existence and positive vibes here on RUclips 😊🙏
Hi Isabella, a follow-up comment. In case you decide to make this a series 😊🙏
Here are some of my suggestions for variations from different professional dancers to compare:
- Carmen suite - Habanera (diana vishneva, maya plisetskaya, polina semionova)
- La Bayadere - Nikiya's death (marianela nunez, svetlana zakharova, evgenia obraztsova, olga smirnova)
- Giselle turns into willi (act 2) (olga smirnova, natalia osipova, alessandra ferri)
- Don Quixote - Kitri act 1 ( marianela nunez, elena lytkina, natalia osipova)
The fact that they made it there despite all the political thing and other demands current ballet world place on their shoulders (whether stylistic demands, orchestra speeds, limited rehearsal time, etc), each one of them did fantastic job. When we pick just variation and criticize, we can say anything and all we want, but the fact that they made it there as swan queen is already a notable accomplishment. So congrats to all Odettes out there!! 🎉❤
My favourite white/black swan has always been Yulia Makhalina - never seen anything quite like it. She has perfect contrast in victim/femme fatale. Also has her head extended way back a lot, face often parallel to the ceiling, but she did this as a complete epaulement so it did not break the classical line at all.
Comment below what you think of each ballerina 🩰 ❤
I’ve watched each of these vids on RUclips many times through the years and super-analyzed them bc there’s so much I can learn from them. So many nuances! I agree with you completely on all ballerinas. And we could go on for hours commenting on them. To be fair to Smirnova, she’s just reaching her prime whereas the others have more Odiles under their belt. Olga is my new favorite. So glad she’s found a new home and I hope to see a performance in person some day.
Ulyana Lopatkina is my all time favorite ballerina. She is just other-worldly.
Nonetheless, They’re all gorgeous in their own way ❤
Forgot to mention: please do more! Love your comments. Spot on.
This video was wonderful I find your podcasts and videos so useful, I’m just wondering if you could do Russian verses English style and the company’s comparing the two?? ❤❤
loved this video idea, could you do this with other variations?
Absolutely!! Leave me some ideas ❤
I love this commentary series! would you consider commenting on dancers from Paris opera ballet or dutch national ballet in the future? I find their contemporary works especially beautiful.
Do more of these videos!
This is so entertaining 😊
Btw. Love all your videos and I would really love that you post even more!❤
I’m going to vote for Uliyana Lopakina for her Artistry who has been my favorite since she came from Vaganova and knowing when she broke her uncle she overcame it! Thank you ❤️🩹🩰
Broke her uncle???
I'd be really interested to hear your commentary on older ballerinas versus new. I was watching a video of Natalia Makarova in Swan Lake last night and I have never seen such quality of movement, poetry of movement and other-wordliness in modern ballerinas. She possessed an old school creativity and artisty that doesn't exist anymore in ballet. All of these dancers look so academic in comparison. To make it more astounding, the footage I watched was from 1987, when Makarova was 47 years old.
Other dancers I adore are Alla Sizova, Ludmilla Kovaleva, Svetlana Efremova, Natalia Bessmertnova, Galina Mezentseva, Larissa Lezhnina and of course Altynai Asylmuratova! I don't see their quality of movement anymore 😢
Modern ballerinas have very beautiful physiques and their lines are exquisite, and indeed expressive, but it is not enough. I leave the theatre feeling empty. One of the most disappointing performances I've seen was the Mariinsky when they came to Birmingham to perform a gala performance. Sadly Lopatkina was absent at the time due to her foot injury, but I saw Somova and Tereshkina. Alina Somova was performing the Tchaikovsky pas de deux and her body was distracting. My mum, who knows nothing about ballet, commented after 'that was all legs and arms'. It was like circus! She had beautiful warm stage presence though, so much untapped potential dominated by extreme physicality. It didn't feel like art anymore.
Makarova was divine!
I saw the same video with Natalia Makarova and was almost in tears. She was surreal as Odette. I always felt like they bred Somova to be Odette because of her "look" and hypermobility. There was not as much depth in her dancing. I don't know now, but her Odette lacked the quality that Makaraova's did.
Thank you for this. Your videos are always so educational and insightful. I recall seeing Lopatkina perform decades ago when she was a newly minted principal with the Mariinsky (Kirov). She was never my favorite then, but I was young and more into turns and jumps. The older I get the more I realize what a true gem she was. She was such an incredible artist; artistry like hers is very rare.
Osipova is super strong, however her limbs and extremities are shorter. Her fingers are not too long so when she flexes there isn't the longer line. Zakarova is gorgeous. Exactly what you said of Olga's arms at the beginning, robotic.
Osipova improved at the Royal tremendously! Her elevation compensates somewhat for lack of swan lines.
Regardless of that, Natalia looks gorgeous. She is my favourite in that she communicates the despair and yet lingering strength of Odette (to try and escape her predicament and so forth) in every part of her movement. The others look as though they are performing a very practised role to me.
Isabella contracts on your channel and thank you for doing videos like this. Having been a professional ballet dancer and now a male ballet teacher for the last 30+ years it’s nice to see how video comparisons one can still pick up teaching points. Each of these lovely dancers have different strengths. While the variation is similar in each one they all bring something different to the table when it comes to their artistry, musicality and dynamics. These dancers bring something of their own. As they continue to dance the role each one continues to develop the role and no two performances are ever alike. Nuances that you speak of,like the wrists, the breaths, the neck line, the balances all play a part in the giving the audience an illusion of a princess who has been turned into a swan. Great job and I look forward to your series on coaching variations. BRAVA!!!
I also liked Lopatkina the most. Bolshoi dancers often seem 'too sharp' for me. I do like them, but, they seem the best in poses often. Vaganova's and Marynski's are more light but still very strict... I often prefer them though I haven't seen a lot. the first one was fine, but as for ballet she seemed quite ... careless? lightness was nice, but it seemed like not 'not much great'.
Zakharova and Lopatkina are best Odettes ever. Others always lack something.
lopatikina is life :-)
I mean it is inmensly obvious the greatness of Zakharova. I don’t get that old narrative of the gymnastic thing. She es what the World knows as the epitome of the russian dancer
Interesting-agreed Lopatkina had the experience and classical completion, like cream turning into marble. Curiously, I saw her on an off night on tour years ago in this role-Odd how it can fall apart! And yes, Osipova was a bit more coltish than swanlike but she does make you see it anew, with different possibilities in the character, like Cojocaru does with Giselle act two. Smirnova was batting away, never felt in it, for me either. The format is great for analysis, thx.
Look at Shakirova. Her expression and embodiment of the role is unique. There is passion and tragic air to it without being dramatic and acting out.
Osipova is one of my favourites. I saw her live in Liam Scarlett's Swan Lake this year, brilliant performance, even though she was ill/uneasy at the time (this was just after the invasion of Ukraine) - she was an especially superb Odile.
I m so in agreement !!!!
@Ballet with Isabella. Thanks for the video! Would you please do a video on arabsques. A deep dive into the correct technique, what muscles to feel in what way, and how to get them higher. Please! It's my weakest point and seemingly your strongest, and I think you will have such valuable insight into it.
This is ALL on my website - elite classes and courses in depth including lots on arabesque - www.balletwithisabella.com
Thanks!
The dancers before Lopatkina rely on one body part to really try to convince us they are a bird. Lopatkina is so controlled and utilizes her whole body that she is able to give us a swan.
I'd love an analysis&comparison on Gulnara,Gamzatti, Court Jester- Swan Lake,Nikiya,Solor,bluebird(male), Ali, Conrad, Siegfried,Albrecht,Giselle
I would love to see your version of Odette....
Would you know, off hand, why Maria Khoreva has not been given an opportunity to dance Odette/Odile with the Maryinsky, even though such ballerinas as Zakharova and Somova were coached for the role before even turning eighteen yrs old?
И Наталья, и Светлана - обе замечательные балерины. Из них двоих мне ближе Захарова, но моя любимая Одетта - это Ульяна Лопаткина. Она не так точна технически, как Захарова но она прекрасно актëрски передаëт драматизм героини. Этому можно научить, но этого мало. Нужно, чтобы это было внутри Ульяна - Одетта именно внутри. Ну и конечно же она выглядит как принцесса - лебедь. Ей очень повезло, что при еë высоком росте у неë всю еë карьеру находились партнëры, которые могли еë поднять.
Osipova's strenght and dramaticity interpreting Nikiyas death in Labayadere is the reason i First Fell in love with ballet ❤️
Her acting skills improved since she joined the Royal Opera Ballet. I was lucky to have seen her perform live.
@@gnguyen411 зато ухудшились её навыки классической балерины
I only know a few words, but I am guessing that you said she is a beautiful ballerina. I spent a few months in England, and I enjoyed Her interpretation of various roles.
@@gnguyen411 sorry, I said that in the royal ballet her qualities of a classical ballerina worsened ..
Ulyana for me!
Смирнова и Лопаткина лучшие )) Смирнова умеет задержать внимание ) у неё есть та духовность , что была у Улановой )) и у Лопаткиной тоже )))
I like watching Osipova in more powerful roles. Her ballón is incredible.
Lopatkina is the Odette Diamond standard.
Uliana Lopatkina is still the best, unbeatable Odette. Take a look at this video for example:
ruclips.net/video/40tkh0_cNYQ/видео.html
I've never seen so many exquisite, tiny moments that are created that really bring out the role of the enchanted, mysterious, elegant Odette like in this video. Uliana has such great technique and arms, she manages to really articulate and bring out such depth and meaning from the transition steps, steps you haven't noticed before watching her - Rolling down from point, maintaining a pose a tad longer, bourre-ing with control, soft arm and leg coordination, such refined lines. Everything is just, mwah, chef's kiss.
Lopatkina ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢🦢⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Svetlana is perfect.
Interesting that you mentioned possessed look of Lopatkina's... Viktoria Tereshkina (prima ballerina at Mariinsky, who I adore dearly) when asked about who could be an example/idol for her in this or that role in her vast reprtoire first said nobody, then paused and remarked, maby one, Lopatkina as Odette. She said she saw Lopatkina coming out of curtain as Odette and was amazed to look into her eyes and see that those belonged certainly not to a human, those were bird's.
Like ❤ ulyana lopatkina ❤ more
Please can you do Marienela Nunez and some others?
❤️
Comparison of legend of love roles, and kitri, Juliet.. Aurora :)
Pleasee do more 🥲🥲
As a musician who loves ballet, of this ballerinas I would close Lopatkina and then Osipova, because they carry the role in such dramatic way... And they dance in a more beautiful tempo for this music, and that helps to built character and clima as well... Svetlana so fast, Olga's even faster at the end. Kinda breakes the music for me.
Love the commentary but could you put your box in the upper left corner instead of lower corner?
Interesting you describe “soft wrist” for the more acute angle, whereas I’ve historically rather thought the opposite - “soft” describing a reduced angle from wrist to forearm. The English School seems to generally discourage a more acute angle and teachers often say it ‘breaks the line’. We can see the similarities with the Royal dancers in that respect in this video of Marianela Núñez >
ruclips.net/video/XE9qNLJML80/видео.htmlsi=0HkI4iyYS0_Ewx1m
When younger I often agreed the more acute angle ‘broke the line’ and I didn’t like that aspect Russian style it at all. Now I appreciate it, but whether or not I like it depends on the nuance of application in any specific moment.
Fascinating ☺️
I wanted to invite you to watch a video of Dominique Khalfouni trained by Yvette Chauviré. Enjoy !
I think we need to remember that each of these videos represents *1* performance, & only *1*. Maybe not quite fair to draw conclusions on any dancer’s interpretation/approach to the role based on that. Eg I have seen other videos of Osipova Odette where she doesn’t do the neck thing, so obviously doesn’t do it all the time… just saying 😁
Okay--Ulyana L.'s impact does not reach Natalia's or Svetlana's pristine technique and grace--🦋😵🐬😇💃
Lopatkina IS the swan
For me Zakharova is too thin and angular, no softness there especially for Odette. Also I find her hands claw-like ; she does not finish the line of arm and hand. Technically great of course.
I'm not a fan of Zakharova (esp. for political reasons) so I might be biased but I wouldn't desribe her as a beautiful dancer. She is certaintly impressive but it's too extreme for my taste
this is such an incredible video! i am learning this variation and i love hearing your commentary which will be so helpful to know what would be the most desirable qualities in steps to simulate when i get the chance to perform this! thank you so much!!! 😅🫶