BEST NIKIYA Ever? from LA BAYADERE | Tamara Rojo Nikiya's Death Ballet Appreciation | Ballet Reign
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2023
- Today is a tragic ballet kind of day, so we're going to take y'all on an in-depth commentary on Nikiya's heart-wrenching death scene from the timeless masterpiece, La Bayadère.
In this video, we'll explore the choreography, emotional depth of the characters, and the exquisite artistry that makes this scene an iconic moment in ballet history. This is one of our favorite death scenes in the classical ballet repertoire, so we're in for a treat today!
If you like the video, LIKE the video, and COMMENT your favorite tragic scene in ballet. Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to our channel if you wanna join the Ballet Nerd Club and SHARE this video to spread the Ballet Nerd love!
Grace to you,
J&E
#LaBayadère #BalletCommentary #NikiyaDeathScene #ClassicalBallet #DanceLovers #BalletAnalysis #EmotionalDance #PasdeDeux #BalletHistory #ArtisticExpression #DanceStorytelling #HeartbreakingScene #DanceAppreciation #BalletExploration #DanceCritique #BalletEnthusiast #BalletEducation #TimelessMasterpiece #DanceCulture #BalletAppreciation #BalletArtistry #BalletPerformance #DanceInfluence #dancecommunity
-------
PLACES TO FIND US:
Website: www.balletreign.com/
Instagram: / balletreign
Facebook: / balletreigncompany
-------
Email: info@balletreign.com 
Развлечения
I saw Tamara as Giselle some years ago. She was so in character that in mad / death scene you could hear her angst- literally ! She doesn’t half die well
TRUTH 😭
Tamara Rojo is now the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ballet, in California.
But before her recent appointment to succeed Tomasson as artistic director of SFB, Rojo was artistic director of English National Ballet from 2012 to 2022 -- whilst simultaneously dancing some principal roles in ENB productions for which she was also director. Talk about skilfully wearing many hats (or tiaras, as the case may be)!
Hehe
During her ten years as head of ENB, Rojo courageously brought the Holmes staging of 'Le Corsaire' to the London Coliseum -- at a time when no other ballet troupe in the country would touch that ballet because its story line is currently deemed 'politically incorrect'. She also commissioned many new ballets, including an award-winning reinterpretation of 'Giselle', as well as mounting a new version of that ginourmous/daunting but oh-so-beautiful 'Raymonda'. Additionally, Ms Rojo spearheaded the multi-million-pound relocation of ENB headquarters to the redeveloped Docklands area of East London.
In your video, you applaud the strength Ms Rojo's technique in order to perform so flawlessly her role of Nikia. But beyond that, Ms Rojo has also demonstrated her strength of character via leadership skills -- London's loss is now San Francisco's gain.
YES!!!! Thanks for all you have included, above.@@bronzinobronzino2748
@@bronzinobronzino2748 thank u for pointing out all of this!! im new at knowing the great figures of ballet, let alone what they r achieving, so comments like this really help me grasp more of what the ballet world entails
i was wondering, how is the holmes staging of le corsaire controversial?? im not really sure of what the internet can tell me about this, and ive never heard about it either, since i only know a few ballets
I was lucky enough to actually see Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta dance La Bayadere when I worked at the Royal Opera House. Simply stunning and yes I cried, In fact i loved it so much I booked tockets for my mum and her friend and sent them to watch it too.
did they love it as much as you did? :-)
No waaayyyy 🤯🤯 that must have been such a memorable experience! That’s so special that you shared that experience with your family and friends too ❤️
I actually like Gamzatti as a character, because I do think she is a very lonely person and even insecure. When she asks Nikiya about Solor, she seems very desperate and almost fearful, and I feel like the environment she grew up in was harsh on her and forced her to become so cruel.
Solor is one of my favorite ballet guys but even still part of me wishes he tried harder when she was LITERALLY DYING, thought the circumstances were really extreme
I agree with you!
Absolutely 💯 Gamzatti is such a deep character, so many layers and elements and history in her story ✨✨
I'd totally love if you guys did a full review/analysis of La Bayadere 🥺🥺 it's my favourite ballet of all time, and I've watched the Russian Ballet's version of it on here witih Olga Chelpanova as Nikiya and I just think it's an incredible ballet - so much technique!! Could y'all please please please do an analysis of it 🥺🙏
Thanks for watching and for the suggestion. La Bayadere is definitely on the list for sure!
Another sad ending. Dead swan, dead temple dancer, We only miss a dead sylph to complete the misery.
Which brings me to "La Syphide!"or "Sylfiden" as we say here .
One of the very first romantic ballets and the first ballet where pointe work was menigfully integrated in the choreography. And of course it is Bournonville.! I have seen the more recent version in Copenagen .
The scenography is more minmalistic than the older version. I liked it.
I dont know if it is available as a video. It is worth the try.
I cant stop thinking of the poor snake. After beeing tossed around like that, it must have been quite nauseated, and one cant really blame it for striking out.
La Sylphide is another beautiful tragedy 😭. About the poor snake, absolutely!! If he knew his head would be crushed immediately after biting her he wouldn’t have dared
How to improve this ballet: instead of a snake in the flowers, put a tarantula. If it bites Nikiya, she can just dance the Tarantella and be cured!
See how much I'm learning from your channel?
Thanks for the explanations! I definitely need you to do this for every ballet ever.
The most emotionally intense one I've seen is the first act of "A Winter's Tale" where the guy is suffering agonies of jealousy.
Thanks for the video! ❤
🕷💐
ROTFLT🤣🤣 we’re so proud of you and all that you’ve learned on your Ballet Nerd journey 😆. We’ll def do more of these, we’re happy you like them! Thanks so much!!
@@tarantellalarouge7632 your username plus the two emojis are the most perfect response in the history of RUclips comments!! 🙏🤣🌺
@@balletreign Thank YOU! 🤩🙏🌺💐
I saw La Bayadere in Amsterdam. I didn't know the ballet. My mother took me with her. It was a performance by the Kirov Ballet. The main roles were danced by Altynai Asylmuratova and Farukh Ruzimatov. Wow, that wasn't dancing, it was pure art. One of the most beautiful experiences in my life.
So this role has a lot more freedom in the upper body for the principal female compared to other classical ballets. Am I crazy for thinking Tamara Rojo took advantage of that during this solo by constantly leaning towards Solor when the choreography allows? I got the impression that she was showing how focused and desperate Nikiya felt with the posture of her chest and shoulders
It’s naturally a very expressive variation, choreographically, the whole ballet depends on this one section! Dancers are def required to show that angst and desperation in this piece ❤️
Olga Evreinoff is the master coach and teacher I referred to in the previous note. Watching her is a joy, as she coaches, teaches, always aware of corrections that are needed. Guest Regeisseusse at Royal Ballet as well, I think.
I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a dress rehearsal of this very production when I was around 10 years old! It was incredible especially since as I was so young I didn't know La Bayadere yet. There was a slippy patch on the stage that the gold man and Carlos Acosta kept stopping to point out 🤣
Also funnily enough it made me not like Marianela for a while because she was Gamzatti and therefore the bad guy 🤣
Quite apart from her excellent acting and artistry, Tamara was probably the most stably centred dancer I have ever seen. Unbelievable balances in SB etc and fouettes that were literally on a penny spot. Exceptional.
Incidentally the RB have now reverted to the faster second section of the flower/snake basket dance. Both Nela and Natalia did that version when they were alternating the leads
Thanks for your notes on this performance! She did a beautiful job 🤩🤩
Wonderful video of Akane of Royal Ballet being coached by the superb Russian teacher,
doing Nikya's death variation. Sorry that the coach's name escapes me at this moment. She is always a delight to watch, teaching or coaching the Royal Ballet Company Class, or soloists.
The name of the coach is Olga Evreinoff. Yes, she is georgeous.
Always Nice to see a ballerina who can really act!!!❤❤❤❤❤
YEAAAHH 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Heart-wrending indeed. Just the music has brought me to tears.
The music is everything ❤️
I agree. It's the inspiration to dance in the first place.
This kind of music has always made me well up even when I was a kid.
And it's even more intense for me personally since it pretty much describes the way I've felt almost constantly during the past year.
Just recalling it has made me tear up again.@@balletreign
Tamara Rojo is one of the most stable/well balanced on her points that I've seen other
than Tereshikina (especially in this piece).
And one of the new principal of Dutch national ballet.
Tamara is so very precise in every movement with clear intent of each moves.
I do love this music also of all ballet repertoires.
Well said!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
What's impressive to me besides the dancing skill is the wordless story telling,in ballet no one speaks,but the story is still being told and you can still see every emotion.
I have always felt there is an echo of Adam's Giselle music - just a couple of bars, at the point where the King bars Nikiya from accusing Gamzatti. It's only brief but it's there, I think. Wow, what an amazing performance from Rojo!
Absolutelyyyy it sounds very similar! Thanks for appreciating this with us, she did *amazingly* ✨
@@balletreign Thanks for the videos, I love them!
Using la Bayadère but not the temple variation is a crime, but we’ll let it slide for once ;)
Is this the Rojo - Nuñez - Acosta recording? That is a splendid recording. Rojo has a certain delicacy and vulnerability, Acosta’s Solor seems so in love and then so lost, and Nela is so regal with a bit of hurt and despair. The fight scene between Nikiya and Gamzatti is also beautiful...
Looking forward to the video!
It’s a gorgeous recording and we can’t wait to share our thoughts with y’all! 😆😆
I literally sobbed over the second act of Giselle. That she could forgive him after he humiliated her to death! And that he didn't understand her love for him until she saved him from the vengeful Willis. (Guys can be so dense!!) Giselle will always be my absolute favorite.
Tamara is an amazing artist and the way she is able to tell a story with her whole body with ease is just so beautiful. Now as far as ballets that have touched me, please don't ridicule me but I have to say Swan Lake and Nutcracker. Swan Lake is such a beautiful ballet and the story that it tells just gets me every time even though I know the plot of the ballet. The Nutcracker is one I will always hold dear to my heart. From as young as a toddler the Nutcracker has always in my life and it has always been one that I would look forward to every Christmas. Even now (almost 30) I still get a bit of nostalgia every time I perform in the Nutcracker because it's like I'm a kid again.
Both of those are such touching ballets! J can’t get thru the snow scene without crying and swan Lake… obvi 😂
@@balletreign something about the snow scene is just breathtaking especially when the chorus is added. Also I haven't done Swan Lake but I feel like I would be intimidated because of how perfect everyone has to be.
I’m with you 100%! Those 3 are also my favourites…
Each one brings out a strong emotional response from me! 🥲🫢😥
Ballet Reign is one subscription I am very grateful for!
Their explanations of the movements are like the ballet itself…masterful! 🥰 🥰
I did love to see this version with the slower 'flower' section, much preferred to my mind tomthe really fast score. Is this version the same score but just completely in a different tempo and in this wersion, it is the Priest who comes to Nikiya's body not Solor which is the version I have always seen presented on video .
Beautiful presentation Ladies , thank you❤
Thanks for your thoughts! Most people preferred the slower version too 👍🏻. Thanks for watching and enjoying with us! ✨😁
@balletreign yes I feeling the slower version is much more meaningful in the context of this solo which is so sad and filled with pain and longing for a forever lost love. And we the audience know it is only minutes from Nikiya's death. So filled with pathos.
My first ballet ever was Nutcracker and I cried so much, it was the reason I started ballet. Also could you make a video about the full la Bayadere like your Giselle one ?
Aww that is so special!! The Nutcracker is the reason we have many of our ballet stars today 💕. We’d love to do that if y’all are interested in hearing more on La Bayadère 😁
you had me going to Wikipedia to see what happens next haha
Good ol wiki LOL 😂
Great job ladies. Last act of Onegin by John Cranko is a definite tear jerker. Nunez and Roberto Bolle utube. Excellent interpretation 😢
Opera, or ballet, Onegin is a tear jerker of the most beautiful and truthful kind. A 2 tissue boxer for me.
Yesss Onegin is tragic 😭😭
Brava ladies of the Barre! Many thanks for your insights into my favorite full length ballet.
Aww thank you so much!! Glad u liked
What a legendary cast, Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta and Marianela Nuñez... Lucky those who experienced this at the ROH.
Saw La Bayadere a couple of years ago in Paris by the Paris Opera Ballet, with Agnes Létestu and José Martinez as Nikiya and Solor. It was truly spectacular; that production was really the swan song of Nureyev. To me the absolute highlight was the final 'white' act. I always loved the way that Nikiya's role starts as more 'romantic' choreography wise, but ended highly classical in the final act (which somehow in a bit was represented in the costumes; the longer skirts/pants vs. the tutu). The entrance of the shades is breathtaking (infact, I'd prefer this act over act 2 from Swan Lake), but damn those arabesques must be killing for the corps de ballet!
Lucky u!! That must have been super memorable. The white act is beautiful and enjoyable to perform, but the arabesque sequence is def quite tiring 😂
Omg this is one of my all time favourite ballet scenes! I’ve been waiting for you to talk about la bayadere💕Amazing video as always
It’s one of the best death scenes in ballet 🥲. Thanks for watching, glad u liked! 😁😁
Thanks. i always enjoy (right word?) this scene, especially how rotten Gamzatti is. I think it's better like this without that happy basket bouncy moment. I like it when the High Priest has the crowd turn away, so that they don't see him offer Nikiya the conditional antidote. Lots of plot points! Hey. I just watched 2 versions of Ashton's A Month in the Country, on RUclips. I think there are 3 casts. Would you talk about that sometime? I just love the choreography.
We enjoyed this one too 😉. Absolutely love all the little details in the plot and choreo ✨. Thanks so much for your suggestion! 👍🏻👍🏻
I studied ballet as a child and martial arts as an adult. They are very different disciplines but also have quite a bit in common. The slow movements are the hardest in both disciplines. For one thing, moving slowly takes a lot more muscle control, endurance and strength to execute correctly. And any error is glaring. This was a joy to watch though I find myself holding my breath!
Great show. As always, the details on why what the dancer does is good are absolute gold.
I really like Bayadere, but Nikiya's death usually does not have a big impact for me. I think the reason is that she comes into the scene knowing she's lost her love so the painful part of that ... which we can all empathize with ... is already over. She's just trying to deal with it now and in the moment there's a lot of confusion and betrayal, and the choice of whether to go on ... which is much harder to empathize with.
A scene where the sadness always hits me hard is in the ballet Esmeralda ... the situation is similar ... Esmeralda is performing at the wedding of the guy she loves, but she only learns that when she sees Phoebus walk in. I've seen this scene many times, but every time it feels like a gut punch. ruclips.net/video/ZVm7nDr_ThM/видео.html#t=102m20s
Omg yesss La Esmeralda is terribly tragic… aaaagghh😭😭😭
Hello girls again another beautiful beautiful video. I enjoyed it very much. I love your knowledge in terms of ballet story music, interpretation you make watching your videos a happy moment. If I can make a request, please, could you consider to make a video about the great ballerina, Darcy Bussell dancing Sylvia from the Royal ballet thank you very very much ❤
Thank you very much, we’re so happy you enjoyed! No one can do Sylvia like Darcy, we’d absolutely love to talk about it 💕
I just finished the anime Princess Tutu, which made me cry, and I was wondering what I could possibly watch next that had a similar weight to it. Then I see your new video and it was perfect!
Hahaha what a coincidence 🤣🤣 what did you think of Princess Tutu? We’ve been hearing a lot about it from y’all 🤔🤔
@balletreign It's fantastic, and it is even better when you know something about ballets and classical music. If you love ducks and/or swans, then this is even better. (Also, it's only 26 episodes and the English dub works fine if you don't want to deal with subtitles.)
The score is entirely ballet and classical, using certain songs as leitmotifs for the main characters and their personas. All the episodes have a second title that tells you the music or story theme of the episode, but these subtitles are in German, so you have to break out a translator. (The bespelled town is supposed to be in Germany.) The second half of the story picks up the pace and gets pretty weird, but it is still very emotional. It's all about love, sacrifice, finding one's self, and finding hope. Also, ballet saves the day.
HMMMM?........10 favourite death scenes video........Giselle? .....straight into 'where`s my deceiver' category 🙂
Exactly 🤣 that’s a great vid idea!!
Beautifully done!
Thank u!! 😆
“oh we’re abt to die”
“uh oh” 😂😂
This was wonderful! And it's exactly the type of analysis that I really appreciate getting from you ladies!
Thank you ❤
Thank u!! We’re so glad you like this series 💕✨😆
Such an impressive performance and made even better by your insightful analysis. One thing's pretty certain - that isn't going to be a happy marriage.
Aww thanks!! So happy you could enjoy and appreciate this one with us 🤓🤓
Nope, it wasn’t a good marriage at all. (SPOILER: they all die)
Another ballet added to my list. I'd heard of it, of course, but didn't really have any idea of the plot. Thank you again for the introduction.
It’s a must-see for sure ❤️ Glad u found it helpful!
Fab! I’m evidently never going to be able to go to any ballet whether happy or sad (or basically anything including weddings & funerals, because of weeping, lobster face, distraught emotions & following migraine! 🌧️ 🥰
Love you 😘 💓💕💗 and your videos are amazing
Aww we love y’all too!! Thanks so much ☺️☺️
Thank you for the video! Tamara Rojo is amazing. I also like Ulyana Lopatkina in this role, very touching and captivating!
It will be amazing if Tamara Rojo puts this on an upcoming season program for San Francisco Ballet and she coaches the Principals through this!
Rojo was simply magnificent! Great Nikiyas are Marianela Nunez of the Royal Ballet and Yana Selenko of the Berlin Staatsballett; from the Mariinsky Ballet (in chronological order), Gabriella Komleva, Altynai Asylmuratova, Uliana Lopatkina, Daria Pavlenko and Victoria Tereshkina, each one the outstanding Nikiya of their generation. From the Bolshoi: Svetlana Zakharova and former Bolshoi prima and now Dutch National Ballet prima, Olga Smirnova. Who was the most ferocious Gamzatti ever? Tatiana Terekhova. However, I believe that the most peerless Nikiya of all was
Asylmuratova. She was born to dance that role.
Wow thanks for all those mentions! ✨😆
You should do a la bayadere analysis vid, I have no idea wut is going on xD
Love is love. Solor needs to grow some cajones, storm the castle and say no to the king. Thank you for featuring Tamara. Maybe next Alina Cojocaru for a more international interpretation?🇵🇹🇧🇷🩰🫶🏻 10:35
Alina is also beautiful in that role! Thanks very much for watching ✨
Magnificent. Merci!
Thank U!! 😁😁
Ballet Reign, you ladies are most welcome.
Thank you for a fun, educational experience 💖
I got to see Diana Vishneva dance Nikiya at the Kennedy Center 2008...OMG it was so powerful. Still my favorite La Bayadere performance ever. Even without the temple destruction. Gamzatti was okay, but Solor was an incredible partner to both ballerinas. The Corps was truly stunning. I think the technical choreography can be boring to American audiences who prefer Balanchine's style over the purity of classical rep.
Diana is a stellar dancer you’re so lucky you got to see her!! ✨ and classical rep will always have our heart ❤️ 😄😄
@@balletreign I am truly sad that she has mostly retired. I am glad she did not wait too long to have a child. Many dancers feel it is either career or children. It can be both. Russian dancers tend to choose career. Then once they retire all they have is ballet, which makes for amazing coaches and teachers, but you can sense they wished they had children of their own. Having lived in Russia for almost a year as a child, I truly adore the Russian system for creating artists. Yet, I also enjoy the Balanchine dancers. They each have their own beauty. Honestly I think Paris Opera Ballet produces the most fulfilled dancers over all. With Royal Ballet coming in a very close second.
Please do La Bayadere full ballet review. You talk about it a lot but I don’t know anything about it
Could use please do a commentary on on Romundo?
If the spelling s wrong,sorry.
Hello ladies. May I recommend you have a look at a phenomenal Natalia Osipova interpretation of this part.
She is a beautiful Nikiya as well! 💕
Natalia Osipova will always be my favourite! 🥰
Whoops, wrong only 2 versions..
What beautiful insights! I have begun watching La Bayadere on RUclips because of this video, and I wanted to ask you two: is it considered more desirable to get a named (but not lead) role in a ballet, or to be in the corps? For example, Bathilde or Giselle’s mother in Giselle, or the Brahman here. On the one hand, they have more stage time and contribute more to the story, but it seems like they do not get to actually dance as much (if at all). So I’m curious to know what ballerinas/ballerinos think of getting roles like this. Is it an honor, or do you get bored with the lack of dance opportunities?
Thank u for ur question! Generally, companies have what are called “character artists” as a part of their production for non-dancing roles such Bathilde (These character artists are sometimes retired dancers.) A role in the corps de ballet however is for elite dancers. So it’s hard to compare, however, at the end of the ballet someone like Bathilde would probably be more likely to offer her own reverence. But no matter what position u are given within the ballet, it’s important to remember that every role in the ballet is vital to the production as a whole, even the no-name guy in the back holding a stuffed falcon 🦅
Hope that helpsss 😁😁
@@balletreign Thank you for answering my question! Yes, absolutely, every role is important to make a production beautiful! That’s very cool to know about the character artists, it makes a lot of sense. I don’t have a ballet background so it’s been really fun learning about the art form through your channel!
😭
What year was this performed by Rojo and Acosta in RB?
2009 👍🏻
2009 I believe
Tried to learn this variation, hurt my knees too much.
Nooooo 😭😅
Natalia Osopova did a better job of conveying the changing emotions in this dance. Really gut wrenching.
Watch the canonical version of La Bayadere from the Mariinsky, and not the royal ballet or another Western one, especially not Makarova’s version.
;)
u can thank our team 🙄🤭
While the choreo is beautiful and she is absolutely gorgeous, the cultural appropriation make me feel uncomfortable. Kind of like the tea and coffee in Nutcracker…
Ballet has never really done well in appropriately representing different cultures. We hope this will change in the future! 🥲
@@balletreign Exactly, I hope it does as well! Making that effort would mean the world would receive new points of view and so much beauty :)
I agree and the blackamoors always make me feel ' cringy'. I have seen a filmed performance where the blackamoors were 'replaced' by girl attendants to the Golden Idol and fan carriers
@micheledix2616 Hopefully we will get more meaningful changes :)
@@RomeoNJulietLostTheGame Absolutely NOT! Leave the ballet out of it . Disney is already changing ' points of view ' and 'bringing meaningful changes ' by butchering classics.