Hi! So i'm a student at the bolshoi ballet academy and here is some info about the exams that maybe you didn't know about, so they do not do pointe immediately in center, that video is just pointe, they do not go on pointe immediately in center. i recorded a lot of the exams this year and they do a lot before pointe(all exercises plus lots of jumps). this is 2019, elizaveta kokoreva is the main star from this class and the teacher is tatyana alexandrovna galtseva. also, most exams don't really look like this, this is very much galtsevas style lol.
Vaganova dancers just make me wanna cry at first glance. They are souls, angels dancing. I admire Bolshoi very much as well... seeing their students live was so amazingly energetic it was also impressive but still Vaganova is just mesmerizing.
For me no real comparison between the two. The Vaganova girls stand out in their beautiful artistry of arms and head back and shoulders. the choreography stands out too. So many steps incorporated as well as the various lines of the body.
the girl that you thought stood out from the bolshoi exam is elizaveta kokoreva, so the exam is likely from 2019. she’s now a principal at the bolshoi!
I really hope the pure style of vaganova stays the way it's always been, I love the Bolshoi, it has given us amazing dancers but Vaganova is something out of this world
Не переживайте, пока Цискаридзе будет главным ректором Академии Вагановой, всë будет в лучших традициях русского балета. А вот за МГАХ я переживаю. Там уже давно нужен такой, как Цискаридзе.
I have to say, I’ve been following your channel for sometime now, and I've noticed that you get brighter, more approachable, more positive with each video. I get the sense that you really enjoy what you do, that it fills you up, and it's magical to watch.
I like these videos. It is quite obvious Isabella likes Vaganova and tall ballerina's best (like herself). I think there are beautiful smaller ballerinas who need to get more recognition (in my opinion) like Maia Makhateli and Jessica Xuan (both with Het Nationale Ballet Amsterdam). So delicate with so much emotion and great technique.
I actually love smaller dancers too. I can’t deny I love long lines as they are so gorgeous to look at. The dancers you mention are so beautiful. I am fans of them both 🥰
I’m loving this! I liked the Bolshoi exam very much…but the contrast with Vaganova was stark. The Vaganova are much more elegant, graceful, Romantic, beautiful even…and Maria is like an Angel from Heaven in the way she “feels” when you see her dance…complete in body, mind and soul…and showing soul and Heart right out front…but with no trace of ego…and that seems characteristic of the Vaganova…altogether both beautiful and healing to watch…🩰🌹
Vaganova has become the best ballet school in the world. There was a time a couple years ago where this position was disputed by Vaganova, Paris Opera Ballet School and Bolshoi, but in my opinion Vaganova is the only one that has consistently produced high skilled graduates over time. Of course there is always room for improvement, but even Vaganova's 1st years are confident in their fundamentals which is something I haven't seen anywhere in the world. We have so so much to learn from them.
Isabella - THANK YOU SO MUCH! I've not had one ounce of training ... but so many times I've expressed the term - "throw-away arms!" Because that's what it looks like to me! If in class - I would really enjoy classes to perfect the positions of my arms/hands! LOL I am such a "clutz" - so observing various techniques helps me to be more aware of my posture, holding my head high, and walking without turning my ankles over!!! LOL Thank you for helping me to improve ME! LOVE YOU MORE! ❤
I have wondered for a very long time why there are SO many vaganova exams public, online, on RUclips while almost none (some time ago, I think none) of the Bolshoi academy. I have wondered whether it is because they did not want a direct comparison between bolshoi and vaganova, Vaganova simply being second to none... That said, no question is the Bolshoi a top school with incredible talented teachers and dancers! ❤️👏
Looooooved this comparison!!! I am not a dancer but I want to understand the differences between schools. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos. Maybe you could look at the Bolshoi School in Brazil…or La Scala graduation exams that have been uploaded in recent months. Greetings from Chile!!! ❤
Hm, this is not the quality I expected from Bolshoi school. They look messy, shoulders rolled forward, the shapes in between the movements is just messy. The messy preparations in pirouettes from the Bolshoi students was especially shocking. Even Kokoreva who was the best in the class, still feels like she could use another year to really refine everything. The Vaganova top grads just seems more ready, more put together. I think what's also striking about the Vaganova grads is looking at the weakest dancer in their class and then comparing to the weakest dancer in the Bolshoi class. What a massive difference the weakest dancer is in the Bolshoi class. I think the push towards the Bolshoi style exam is doing the students a disservice in Vaganova, especially if this is what the level is. I really hope that Vaganova rediscovered the importance of what makes them great.
Thankyou for everything you do Isabella. Thoroughly enjoy watching your videos. If it werent for you I still woudnt be able to pronounce vaganova 😂 Im in my fifties and my fascination/ pure love for Ballet never leaves me!! I didnt enjoy the new style vaganova 2024/ 7/11 exam ( that you recently uploaded) It has changed too much and was FAST and Manly in places. But just my opinion. Continue doing what you do Isabella and Thanks Again!!
One of the first examples that come to mind if I am asked to highlight differences between the Bolshoi and Vaganova is that of Maria Kochetkova and Maria Khoreva. Both have things worth learning about, reasons why I will always love Russian ballet. I feel the same as you, that that distinctive seal that makes Vaganova be Vaganova is being lost. I would like you to talk about the most important ballet techniques, I would really like to hear you :)
For the students, I'm sure doing exams on stage, in tutus and dresses, without mirrors would benefit them more than in the studio. However as a viewer, watching an exam at a close distance, in a tight, intimate space, with the students wearing the same uniforms throughout like at the Vaganova is a much better experience. We can see each student's individuality and personality clearly, while with the Bolshoi exam, I have to look very hard to distinguish who is who.
I think it’s so important to learn to dance without a mirror! They are not learning to dance in a studio not for audiences! I am an adult dancer but my coach always tells me it’s best not to look too much in the mirror. I look to during barre to make sure I am not sickled in my feet because that I am working on and lack muscle memory for. I also look to be sure my arms are held properly, but I try my best to use muscle memory and recording myself as a guide for everything I can. Learning to do combinations without copying others and also how to dance without constantly checking the mirror is so important. To learn to dance with your head and eyes. It will take me 20 years to get even close to being where I would like to be but that’s okay The mirror lies sadly, we don’t see the full movement. We need teachers and I’m grateful we have phones where we can record ourselves. It’s so humbling yet incredibly helpful for improving I do agree it’s hard to tell who is who in that exam! I think it’s the teachers choice at Bolshoi what type of exam the students will have (in studio or on stage)
Thank you for sharing your honest opinion. I have been seeing the decline of purity creeping in for a while. I have found Vaganova's style to almost become an over exaggerated form of itself lately. And the wilted arms are very noticeable and distracting. Bolshoi dancers seem to have stronger legs and sharper turns. But their upper body looks far more laboured and unaligned. Strange when you consider this is the school that produced Polina Semionova, Svetlana Lunkina etc. Exquisite artists with lyrical and expressive upper bodies. There is so much more plasticity and fluidity in Maria Khoreva's class than Elizaveta Kokorova's class at Bolshoi. However, the most recent exam video you commented on from Vaganova was lacking this, almost entirely.
@@balletwithisabellaI fear Vaganova losing its identity with the current director, and perhaps struggling to reclaim it unless previous graduates all return as teachers. There are a few superficial changes which I can see the benefit to, but if the fluid technique and purity is lost, so is what makes Vaganova.
The girl with the jumps (jete) at Vagonava that you thought was Masha is Anastasia Nuikina (I think that's how you spell her surname). They looked similar to me at first, but (a) when they start dancing, I can tell and (b) I think Masha looks more "Russian". Anyway, very talented at jumps, her turns are OK, but the rest of her technique is not my favorite. Nonetheless, she is a second soloist at Mariinsky now. She and Bulanova recently performed Gamzatti. I think that when you have a dancer in the class like Maria Khoreva, the other dancers will dance harder and work harder to also be as good. I think that is why this specific class of Vagonava graduates were so professional looking. I also recall that Daria Ionova, Anastasia Nuikina, and Maria Khoreva toured Apollo (with Xander Parish). I think that (generally), the Vagonava students are stronger dancers than the Bolshoi dancers. I think that some students who go to Bolshoi from Vagonava do because they probably get a better contract. Maria Koshkaryova went to Bolshoi (allegedly) because she was not going to be immediately given first soloist at Mariinsky (which, to be honest, I think second soloist or corphyee would have been a better placement for her at Mariinsky because she is not as good as the first soloists, especially those who were there at the time, so Maria Khoreva, Renata Shakirova, May Nagahisa...) but she is getting many roles at the Bolshoi. I personally don't think that she is ready, but my opinion doesn't matter, really. 😅 The Bolshoi graduates look closer to the Master Ballet Academy seniors (and this is probably a compliment to MBA) than looking close to the Vaganova students or even the POBS students. what I mean by that is that there may be a few standout students at master ballet Academy, but for the most part, the dancers are very good, but not professional looking at all. There are some exceptions like the boys (Leonidas Adarmes and Parker Rozzano-Keefe... others who I don't know the names of) are very professional looking and they have a few female dancers who have come out of there who are very professional looking like Maya Schobrun (now a soloist at Swedish National Ballet, I think) and Melanie McIntire (graduating... don't know where she will go) and Amber Skaggs (corps de ballet at Boston Ballet). I think the greatness of Bolshoi is subsisting on poaching Vaganova students and the old graduates who are still there, at this point. What I'm trying to say is that you can probably think back for the ten years of a student who come out of the three of the greatest ballet academies in the world and see the obvious stars. For Paris, it is Ines McIntosh. For Mariinsky, it is Maria Khoreva. But I struggle to find one of notability from Bolshoi that came from their academy. Still better than any American theatre or school, though... 😂
I think in Bolshoi style the emphasis is like pose, pose, pose and the steps in between the poses are neglected a bit and the Vaganova girls do those transitions clean and beautiful which makes it look whole and full of artistry :)
Interesting observation about Bolshoi putting on their pointe shoes right away. Videos on social media of the Bolshoi graduation exam this year showed all the way through grande allegro being flat. I wish the video of this exam were longer to know for sure when they put on their pointe shoes.
Vaganova dancers are very homogenous in rhythm, phrasing pause, hence they are very clean in order to match each other's virtuosity. Bolshoi dancers maintain their individual spirit. Is it of value to loose one's spirit to purity? Well, either the spirited or the homogeneous approach to virtuous purity, require the presence of each other to evolve, fulfill and transcend out of mere training. Love the showcasing Isabella!
Я люблю это видео. Спасибо большое ☺️ I was trained in Moscow but I’m not biased either way because basically almost as soon as I got to the Академия, I was approached by Yelena who took interest in me and became my педаг и наставник балета (coach in English?). I’m and was from the beginning a bundle of energy, a sponge who wanted to absorb everything but also thin, lanky and all arms and legs. She told me to observe still one of my idols, Ulyana Lopatkina to help manage my limbs, establish an organic épaulement et port de bras to go with my ability to jump, adagio and overall stamina (I’d work alone for hours). She also beat petit allegro along with any other weakness. From very early on she, who made me earn all my compliments, did say that I have beautiful fingers and hands. That’s what I’m noticing in the Bolshoi exam (PTSD by having the mirrors covered or turning us to face the back so we couldn’t rely on our image) is that the arms look short, there’s no sense of infinity ♾️ in them and the use of the back that came so natural to me is just not there (I love indulging in a renversé or the soutenu in Gamzatti’s variation when you let your back linger). Later I danced for a Mariinsky based company and the director took me under her wings 🪽 and taught me the beautiful synchronicity of the Mariinsky ballerinas and finally one of my greatest honors was being coached by Irina Kolpakova and I’ll never forget what she said: your arms end beyond your fingertips and your feet beyond your toes. Of course they are beautiful and I wish them the best but to me many look like Maria Alexandrova 🤫 who looks like she has very short arms. 🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇷🇺🇺🇦🩰👏🏻 20:24
I totally thought of Maria Alexandrova seeing these dancers! I actually love her for her attack and stage presence, but she has a slight stiffness to her. She's one of my favorite dancers in Bolshoi and I was lucky to meet her in London.
You nailed it: I was more suited for the Bolshoi Academy because of my fearlessness and attack and just pure joy of doing the most. Yelena added polish, control and The Mariinsky Magic that suits my body. The music seems slow and where are the extensions? 23:02
In my opinion, Vaganova girls are recorded from different angle and in a class room ambience. That makes them look, as you say, Vaganova like. Mostly, when these Vaganova girls go on stage, they don’t have this Vaganova look any more. And, in the same time, Elizaveta Kokoreva, which is in the Bolshoi academy exam, looks great on stage.
Definitely prefer the 2nd half of this video. Their arms are much better, but to be fair about it they are all amazing, it's just that the ones in brown are even more amazing. Hope they all get into the company of their choice and do well 😊
Would love to see a comparison of the Kingdom of Shades corps of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky. Saw the Bolshoi La Bayadere on film at the cinema a few years ago and thought it was the most perfect corps I have seen.
Vaganova strained do have more long lines,muscles and deep breathing,so they dance more free and use more the space and air.I was trained like that when I was many years younger,but still dance!
Much prefer the Vaganova exams. The girls seem stronger somehow, I mean in their arms and leg placement. Such beauty in the lines of both. I do prefer it in a classroom setting like this. Hope he doesn’t ruin in for ‘flash and show’. Technique is wonderful to have but you must have a feel and a soul for the dance. Technique doesn’t work if there’s no soul to the dancing. They look far more advanced than Bolshoi . Just my opinion folks. Thank you Isabella. 🩰🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺
Can you do a vid that point out the differences between the front girl and the back, bc I think we always focus on the best one, so I want some of ur thoughts abt those girls in the back
Спасибо за видео. Многим любителям балета зарубежом будет полезно узнать даже просто факт, что не все школы в России = Ваганова. Потому что иногда я читаю в сети довольно забавные комментарии, например, такие: "Я путаю Влалимира Васильева и Михаила Барышникова, потому что они одной школы". Россия большая, и есть разные методики.
Методика преподавания классического танца в России основана на методе А.Я.Вагановой. Россия - большая, но метод - один! Васильев и Барышников - представители одной школы. То, что Вы называете "разные методики", относится к тому, что не все педагоги в огромной России имеют достаточный исполнительский опыт, равно как и педагогический, отсюда и "меня так учили" )). Это то, что не позволяет подняться до вершин Ленинграда и Москвы, где очень детально следят за преподаванием, формируют чувство стиля и вкус.
Can someone tell me more about the grading system they use? What is the range (best grade, lowest grade) and when does someone fail the exam? I saw in some documentary the grades 4 and 4+. But I have no idea what this means, is 4+ the maximum they can reach?
I was the first graduate from the Boitsov School of Ballet in Chicago in the 80’s. Boitsov is a graduate of the Bolshoi school. We wore tutus. There was no difference. That is the technique which was taught at Bolshoi.
The Bolshoi Academy students' legs look more muscular and their arms are so different from Vaganova, but what caught my notice immediately is their footwork. I think Vaganova tend to roll through the feet much more.
You need to attack the manège: step so far out that’s almost scary. It’s a square NOT a circle and finally don’t dance scared. If you’re scared, you’ll hesitate and if you hesitate you may fall. In rehearsal and class, go all out (that’s the time to push yourself and if you fall, who cares? Your effort will be rewarded) so that onstage you are free to just dance.
Difficulty of the exam for critical areas like fouette, fouette italien, manege Is lacking. None of these girls from Bolshoi have great arms or long lines. There is lack of polished. Lack of jump and strength.
Its interesting that none of these tests show their acting skills, which matters more than perfect technique at least for narrative ballets. Maria Khoreva has no acting skills whatsoever.
I agree! So often I see these dancers with “perfect” technique doing impossible developés, fouettés etc., and yet they lack artistry. However, seeing a dancer who perhaps is less perfect technique-wise but you see that she really feels the music and the dance, that really moves me.
People who crap on Masha are the most overplayed individuals ever. She was a student in a technical exam... acting and emotion can be developed in the career (and it has).
@@sheeniebeanie2597 I’m not craping on Maria Khoreva, she’s an incredible, technically-superior dancer and it’s obvious how much work she puts into it. When I wrote that I agree, I sad so in relation to OP saying that acting skills / artistry matter more than perfect technique. I see videos on YT of different dancers doing incredible technical skills, but it often leaves me feeling way less than when I see someone less “perfect” dancing with their heart, so to say. Not that you cannot have both, of course! I wish sometimes however that there was (even) more emphasis put on developing artistry and less on impressing with how high one can lift their leg, or how many consecutive pirouettes one can do.
@@sheeniebeanie2597Yes, Maria Khoreva’s acting is improving and her emotional expression has become quite moving. I’m thinking of La Bayadere in particular.
@@MsMusicalways I cannot think of one new graduate from anywhere with the artistry of a prima ballerina. The thing is that you will not learn artistry in your ballet school--you will learn it on stage. Students generally get much less time on stage, and when they do, it is a ballet such as The Nutcracker. You also cannot have artistry without technique, but you can have technique without artistry. I think that when you are young and you have danced and are graduating, you have an immaturity to your dancing which is that you have not yet developed a "why" to your art and craft. This comes with time. Although unfortunately, with her injuries that took her away from performing and also getting a teaching degree from the Vagonava school thus getting experience in the pedagogy and going into her 6th season with the Mariinsky and dancing more roles, she has really grown into her "why" and it is remarkable to see. My comment is moreso towards the unfairness to say that Masha "has no acting skills whatsoever" when (a) she was in this video a 17/18 y.o. student in a technical exam and (b) she clearly has a sapling of artistry which the Mariinsky has nutured and grown into a beautiful tree.
I’m not in any way - for example I have no problem saying I’m not a huge fan of the recent vba exams - I just try to be honest with my thoughts . I also have seen la scala exams recently and wow they look good!
How so? I thought she made very fair and, in my view, accurate observations. She is partial to the old Vaganova style of teaching, but I don’t consider that a bias, necessarily.
While she is biased, it’s impossible not to be when comparing schools and you went to one of them (no matter how hard you try to not be.. love you @balletwithisabella :) ), it’s still perfectly clear that at least this Vaganova class was much more ready than that Bolshoi class.
Kovalova using Pas de Quatre ballet in the exam. Nobody chooses music like her. I was expecting to see Lucille, Carlotta, Fanny and Marie popping in for a surprise cameo! 🎼🩰👏🏻 35:57
The alongé is something I had naturally even at Bolshoi and when I worked with a Romanian педагог from Mariinsky she made sure my arms ended beyond my fingertips. A lot of the girls look like Maria Alexandrova and it’s not a compliment…🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇷🇺🇺🇦🩰
I kinda want her thoughts on master ballet academy and the dancers that come from there….they are very popular on social media
100% would love to hear it as well
Yes, please!
Yes!
Yes I know they teach Vaganova style as well and I think their teacher is from Poland
Yes me too!
Both are very talented, beautifully trained, but I will always be a fan of the pure Vaganova style. It is magnificent to watch.
Hi! So i'm a student at the bolshoi ballet academy and here is some info about the exams that maybe you didn't know about,
so they do not do pointe immediately in center, that video is just pointe, they do not go on pointe immediately in center. i recorded a lot of the exams this year and they do a lot before pointe(all exercises plus lots of jumps). this is 2019, elizaveta kokoreva is the main star from this class and the teacher is tatyana alexandrovna galtseva. also, most exams don't really look like this, this is very much galtsevas style lol.
Vaganova dancers just make me wanna cry at first glance. They are souls, angels dancing. I admire Bolshoi very much as well... seeing their students live was so amazingly energetic it was also impressive but still Vaganova is just mesmerizing.
For me no real comparison between the two. The Vaganova girls stand out in their beautiful artistry of arms and head back and shoulders. the choreography stands out too. So many steps incorporated as well as the various lines of the body.
the girl that you thought stood out from the bolshoi exam is elizaveta kokoreva, so the exam is likely from 2019. she’s now a principal at the bolshoi!
oh my I was wondering why she looks so familiar and it turns out to be one of my favorite dancers😮
Great!! I will definitely go and have a watch of her now :-) She stood out for sure so glad to know her career has taken off.
@@balletwithisabellakokoreva Is a Natural Born ballerina.. She s Amazing by far my favorite in bolshoi
I really hope the pure style of vaganova stays the way it's always been, I love the Bolshoi, it has given us amazing dancers but Vaganova is something out of this world
Не переживайте, пока Цискаридзе будет главным ректором Академии Вагановой, всë будет в лучших традициях русского балета. А вот за МГАХ я переживаю. Там уже давно нужен такой, как Цискаридзе.
Can you make a video about Paris opera exam?🤩🥰
fouette analysis would be amazing!! Thank you for your videos, always.
Would love to see more in depth analyses of technical elements like fouettes or jumps or arms in general ❤
Great! for sure!
I have to say, I’ve been following your channel for sometime now, and I've noticed that you get brighter, more approachable, more positive with each video. I get the sense that you really enjoy what you do, that it fills you up, and it's magical to watch.
I really appreciate that! That's very nice of you to take the time to say, thank you! I do really LOVE what I do :-)
Какой интересный и профессиональный канал,нашла случайно и теперь смотрю с удовольствием, спасибо!
I like these videos. It is quite obvious Isabella likes Vaganova and tall ballerina's best (like herself). I think there are beautiful smaller ballerinas who need to get more recognition (in my opinion) like Maia Makhateli and Jessica Xuan (both with Het Nationale Ballet Amsterdam). So delicate with so much emotion and great technique.
I actually love smaller dancers too. I can’t deny I love long lines as they are so gorgeous to look at. The dancers you mention are so beautiful. I am fans of them both 🥰
I’m loving this! I liked the Bolshoi exam very much…but the contrast with Vaganova was stark. The Vaganova are much more elegant, graceful, Romantic, beautiful even…and Maria is like an Angel from Heaven in the way she “feels” when you see her dance…complete in body, mind and soul…and showing soul and Heart right out front…but with no trace of ego…and that seems characteristic of the Vaganova…altogether both beautiful and healing to watch…🩰🌹
Maria Khoreva and Daria Ionova’s class truly was an amazing class! ✨
Vaganova has become the best ballet school in the world. There was a time a couple years ago where this position was disputed by Vaganova, Paris Opera Ballet School and Bolshoi, but in my opinion Vaganova is the only one that has consistently produced high skilled graduates over time. Of course there is always room for improvement, but even Vaganova's 1st years are confident in their fundamentals which is something I haven't seen anywhere in the world. We have so so much to learn from them.
Nah, POBS is up there. Remember, they produced Ines McIntosh.
@@sheeniebeanie2597 Who?
PLEASE do a video on fouetté technique across styles and schools !!! not just Vaganova vs Bolshoi but cecchetti, french, balanchine etc.
yesss that is what we need
Isabella - THANK YOU SO MUCH! I've not had one ounce of training ... but so many times I've expressed the term - "throw-away arms!" Because that's what it looks like to me! If in class - I would really enjoy classes to perfect the positions of my arms/hands! LOL I am such a "clutz" - so observing various techniques helps me to be more aware of my posture, holding my head high, and walking without turning my ankles over!!! LOL Thank you for helping me to improve ME!
LOVE YOU MORE! ❤
I have wondered for a very long time why there are SO many vaganova exams public, online, on RUclips while almost none (some time ago, I think none) of the Bolshoi academy. I have wondered whether it is because they did not want a direct comparison between bolshoi and vaganova, Vaganova simply being second to none...
That said, no question is the Bolshoi a top school with incredible talented teachers and dancers! ❤️👏
Looooooved this comparison!!! I am not a dancer but I want to understand the differences between schools. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos. Maybe you could look at the Bolshoi School in Brazil…or La Scala graduation exams that have been uploaded in recent months. Greetings from Chile!!! ❤
Hm, this is not the quality I expected from Bolshoi school. They look messy, shoulders rolled forward, the shapes in between the movements is just messy. The messy preparations in pirouettes from the Bolshoi students was especially shocking. Even Kokoreva who was the best in the class, still feels like she could use another year to really refine everything. The Vaganova top grads just seems more ready, more put together.
I think what's also striking about the Vaganova grads is looking at the weakest dancer in their class and then comparing to the weakest dancer in the Bolshoi class. What a massive difference the weakest dancer is in the Bolshoi class.
I think the push towards the Bolshoi style exam is doing the students a disservice in Vaganova, especially if this is what the level is. I really hope that Vaganova rediscovered the importance of what makes them great.
I agree. The Bolshoi students look very ordinary. The Vaganova students have far better attack and presence, as well as better epaulement.
Exactly! When you finally get to dress professional, you feel it and act it. These things do have an impact on your soul…❤
I am not sure if both sets were of similar age but the Vaganova girls look more accomplished, more certain in their mpvements, great training.
They’re both the graduating class… And totally agree. The Vaganova girls just look more put together and “ready” as Isabella says.
Thankyou for everything you do Isabella. Thoroughly enjoy watching your videos. If it werent for you I still woudnt be able to pronounce vaganova 😂 Im in my fifties and my fascination/ pure love for Ballet never leaves me!! I didnt enjoy the new style vaganova 2024/ 7/11 exam ( that you recently uploaded) It has changed too much and was FAST and Manly in places. But just my opinion. Continue doing what you do Isabella and Thanks Again!!
One of the first examples that come to mind if I am asked to highlight differences between the Bolshoi and Vaganova is that of Maria Kochetkova and Maria Khoreva. Both have things worth learning about, reasons why I will always love Russian ballet. I feel the same as you, that that distinctive seal that makes Vaganova be Vaganova is being lost. I would like you to talk about the most important ballet techniques, I would really like to hear you :)
For the students, I'm sure doing exams on stage, in tutus and dresses, without mirrors would benefit them more than in the studio. However as a viewer, watching an exam at a close distance, in a tight, intimate space, with the students wearing the same uniforms throughout like at the Vaganova is a much better experience. We can see each student's individuality and personality clearly, while with the Bolshoi exam, I have to look very hard to distinguish who is who.
I think it’s so important to learn to dance without a mirror! They are not learning to dance in a studio not for audiences!
I am an adult dancer but my coach always tells me it’s best not to look too much in the mirror.
I look to during barre to make sure I am not sickled in my feet because that I am working on and lack muscle memory for. I also look to be sure my arms are held properly, but I try my best to use muscle memory and recording myself as a guide for everything I can.
Learning to do combinations without copying others and also how to dance without constantly checking the mirror is so important. To learn to dance with your head and eyes.
It will take me 20 years to get even close to being where I would like to be but that’s okay
The mirror lies sadly, we don’t see the full movement. We need teachers and I’m grateful we have phones where we can record ourselves. It’s so humbling yet incredibly helpful for improving
I do agree it’s hard to tell who is who in that exam! I think it’s the teachers choice at Bolshoi what type of exam the students will have (in studio or on stage)
As an exam = assessment, it makes sense to me that it is therefore in the studio and without tutus. The latter can also sometimes hide weak lines.
I loved this 😍. I think it would also be interesting to compare the vaganova with some european and maybe even american schools😊
Thank you for sharing your honest opinion. I have been seeing the decline of purity creeping in for a while. I have found Vaganova's style to almost become an over exaggerated form of itself lately. And the wilted arms are very noticeable and distracting.
Bolshoi dancers seem to have stronger legs and sharper turns. But their upper body looks far more laboured and unaligned. Strange when you consider this is the school that produced Polina Semionova, Svetlana Lunkina etc. Exquisite artists with lyrical and expressive upper bodies.
There is so much more plasticity and fluidity in Maria Khoreva's class than Elizaveta Kokorova's class at Bolshoi. However, the most recent exam video you commented on from Vaganova was lacking this, almost entirely.
Very valid points which I completely agree with. It’s very interesting! I think it also all depends on who the teacher and/or director is 😅
@@balletwithisabellaI fear Vaganova losing its identity with the current director, and perhaps struggling to reclaim it unless previous graduates all return as teachers. There are a few superficial changes which I can see the benefit to, but if the fluid technique and purity is lost, so is what makes Vaganova.
The girl with the jumps (jete) at Vagonava that you thought was Masha is Anastasia Nuikina (I think that's how you spell her surname). They looked similar to me at first, but (a) when they start dancing, I can tell and (b) I think Masha looks more "Russian". Anyway, very talented at jumps, her turns are OK, but the rest of her technique is not my favorite. Nonetheless, she is a second soloist at Mariinsky now. She and Bulanova recently performed Gamzatti.
I think that when you have a dancer in the class like Maria Khoreva, the other dancers will dance harder and work harder to also be as good. I think that is why this specific class of Vagonava graduates were so professional looking. I also recall that Daria Ionova, Anastasia Nuikina, and Maria Khoreva toured Apollo (with Xander Parish). I think that (generally), the Vagonava students are stronger dancers than the Bolshoi dancers. I think that some students who go to Bolshoi from Vagonava do because they probably get a better contract. Maria Koshkaryova went to Bolshoi (allegedly) because she was not going to be immediately given first soloist at Mariinsky (which, to be honest, I think second soloist or corphyee would have been a better placement for her at Mariinsky because she is not as good as the first soloists, especially those who were there at the time, so Maria Khoreva, Renata Shakirova, May Nagahisa...) but she is getting many roles at the Bolshoi. I personally don't think that she is ready, but my opinion doesn't matter, really. 😅
The Bolshoi graduates look closer to the Master Ballet Academy seniors (and this is probably a compliment to MBA) than looking close to the Vaganova students or even the POBS students. what I mean by that is that there may be a few standout students at master ballet Academy, but for the most part, the dancers are very good, but not professional looking at all. There are some exceptions like the boys (Leonidas Adarmes and Parker Rozzano-Keefe... others who I don't know the names of) are very professional looking and they have a few female dancers who have come out of there who are very professional looking like Maya Schobrun (now a soloist at Swedish National Ballet, I think) and Melanie McIntire (graduating... don't know where she will go) and Amber Skaggs (corps de ballet at Boston Ballet). I think the greatness of Bolshoi is subsisting on poaching Vaganova students and the old graduates who are still there, at this point.
What I'm trying to say is that you can probably think back for the ten years of a student who come out of the three of the greatest ballet academies in the world and see the obvious stars. For Paris, it is Ines McIntosh. For Mariinsky, it is Maria Khoreva. But I struggle to find one of notability from Bolshoi that came from their academy.
Still better than any American theatre or school, though... 😂
Oh I think Elisaveta Kokoreva would be the one for Bolshoi. I think she is really great one of the best ever in my opinion
I think in Bolshoi style the emphasis is like pose, pose, pose and the steps in between the poses are neglected a bit and the Vaganova girls do those transitions clean and beautiful which makes it look whole and full of artistry :)
This was wonderful, thank you for sharing your insights!
Just opened the video - but I am soooooo excited to watch this
Interesting observation about Bolshoi putting on their pointe shoes right away. Videos on social media of the Bolshoi graduation exam this year showed all the way through grande allegro being flat. I wish the video of this exam were longer to know for sure when they put on their pointe shoes.
Vaganova dancers are very homogenous in rhythm, phrasing pause, hence they are very clean in order to match each other's virtuosity. Bolshoi dancers maintain their individual spirit. Is it of value to loose one's spirit to purity? Well, either the spirited or the homogeneous approach to virtuous purity, require the presence of each other to evolve, fulfill and transcend out of mere training. Love the showcasing Isabella!
Я люблю это видео. Спасибо большое ☺️
I was trained in Moscow but I’m not biased either way because basically almost as soon as I got to the Академия, I was approached by Yelena who took interest in me and became my педаг и наставник балета (coach in English?). I’m and was from the beginning a bundle of energy, a sponge who wanted to absorb everything but also thin, lanky and all arms and legs. She told me to observe still one of my idols, Ulyana Lopatkina to help manage my limbs, establish an organic épaulement et port de bras to go with my ability to jump, adagio and overall stamina (I’d work alone for hours). She also beat petit allegro along with any other weakness. From very early on she, who made me earn all my compliments, did say that I have beautiful fingers and hands. That’s what I’m noticing in the Bolshoi exam (PTSD by having the mirrors covered or turning us to face the back so we couldn’t rely on our image) is that the arms look short, there’s no sense of infinity ♾️ in them and the use of the back that came so natural to me is just not there (I love indulging in a renversé or the soutenu in Gamzatti’s variation when you let your back linger). Later I danced for a Mariinsky based company and the director took me under her wings 🪽 and taught me the beautiful synchronicity of the Mariinsky ballerinas and finally one of my greatest honors was being coached by Irina Kolpakova and I’ll never forget what she said: your arms end beyond your fingertips and your feet beyond your toes. Of course they are beautiful and I wish them the best but to me many look like Maria Alexandrova 🤫 who looks like she has very short arms. 🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇷🇺🇺🇦🩰👏🏻 20:24
I totally thought of Maria Alexandrova seeing these dancers! I actually love her for her attack and stage presence, but she has a slight stiffness to her. She's one of my favorite dancers in Bolshoi and I was lucky to meet her in London.
You nailed it: I was more suited for the Bolshoi Academy because of my fearlessness and attack and just pure joy of doing the most. Yelena added polish, control and The Mariinsky Magic that suits my body. The music seems slow and where are the extensions? 23:02
In my opinion, Vaganova girls are recorded from different angle and in a class room ambience. That makes them look, as you say, Vaganova like. Mostly, when these Vaganova girls go on stage, they don’t have this Vaganova look any more. And, in the same time, Elizaveta Kokoreva, which is in the Bolshoi academy exam, looks great on stage.
Definitely prefer the 2nd half of this video. Their arms are much better, but to be fair about it they are all amazing, it's just that the ones in brown are even more amazing. Hope they all get into the company of their choice and do well 😊
Would love to see a comparison of the Kingdom of Shades corps of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky. Saw the Bolshoi La Bayadere on film at the cinema a few years ago and thought it was the most perfect corps I have seen.
Vaganova strained do have more long lines,muscles and deep breathing,so they dance more free and use more the space and air.I was trained like that when I was many years younger,but still dance!
Much prefer the Vaganova exams. The girls seem stronger somehow, I mean in their arms and leg placement. Such beauty in the lines of both. I do prefer it in a classroom setting like this. Hope he doesn’t ruin in for ‘flash and show’. Technique is wonderful to have but you must have a feel and a soul for the dance. Technique doesn’t work if there’s no soul to the dancing. They look far more advanced than Bolshoi . Just my opinion folks. Thank you Isabella. 🩰🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺
Can you do a vid that point out the differences between the front girl and the back, bc I think we always focus on the best one, so I want some of ur thoughts abt those girls in the back
thank you so much for those insights😍Love to see your videos about the exams!!
Would LOVE a fouetté analysis video mentioned at 19:25
Спасибо за видео. Многим любителям балета зарубежом будет полезно узнать даже просто факт, что не все школы в России = Ваганова. Потому что иногда я читаю в сети довольно забавные комментарии, например, такие: "Я путаю Влалимира Васильева и Михаила Барышникова, потому что они одной школы". Россия большая, и есть разные методики.
Методика преподавания классического танца в России основана на методе А.Я.Вагановой. Россия - большая, но метод - один! Васильев и Барышников - представители одной школы. То, что Вы называете "разные методики", относится к тому, что не все педагоги в огромной России имеют достаточный исполнительский опыт, равно как и педагогический, отсюда и "меня так учили" )). Это то, что не позволяет подняться до вершин Ленинграда и Москвы, где очень детально следят за преподаванием, формируют чувство стиля и вкус.
I agree on bolshoi' s girls arms in first it basically is not a first, it looks nearly square and not round and often to high . . Turns are nice.
New sub here. Thank you for your Vaganova insight and example. I think you are absolutely amazing, Isabella!!!💯🙌🏽✨️
Can someone tell me more about the grading system they use? What is the range (best grade, lowest grade) and when does someone fail the exam? I saw in some documentary the grades 4 and 4+. But I have no idea what this means, is 4+ the maximum they can reach?
I prefer Vaganova dancers, they look more ready.
I was the first graduate from the Boitsov School of Ballet in Chicago in the 80’s. Boitsov is a graduate of the Bolshoi school. We wore tutus. There was no difference. That is the technique which was taught at Bolshoi.
The Bolshoi Academy students' legs look more muscular and their arms are so different from Vaganova, but what caught my notice immediately is their footwork. I think Vaganova tend to roll through the feet much more.
You need to attack the manège: step so far out that’s almost scary. It’s a square NOT a circle and finally don’t dance scared. If you’re scared, you’ll hesitate and if you hesitate you may fall. In rehearsal and class, go all out (that’s the time to push yourself and if you fall, who cares? Your effort will be rewarded) so that onstage you are free to just dance.
Khoreva dances to the tips of her fingernails - she is astounding!
Check how "BWI" will be sooner than later as prestigious, authentic and unique as Bolshoi and Voganova...you'll see...❤
There seemed to be very few jumps in the bolshoi exam… Or was that in like a different section?
I‘m pretty sure that was in a different section, this is pointe, the bolshoi always does pointe in tutus
@@happyecattthanks. I just thought they maybe do jumps en pointe too.
I've not seen a single male student in any ballet final exa. In Russia.
Where do they train and test the men!?
Are there students who do not pass the exams and if do what is the result?
I feel like this is a second part of this exam because they still do barre first 🤔
Isabella said at the beginning she was skipping barre and going straight to centre.
@@levondelite4072 okey thank you I didn’t notice and was wondering
It would help to understand what specifically you like about the dancer if you used other words in addition to "nice".
She uses several words aside from “nice” to describe and compliment dancers throughout the video.
Difficulty of the exam for critical areas like fouette, fouette italien, manege Is lacking. None of these girls from Bolshoi have great arms or long lines. There is lack of polished. Lack of jump and strength.
❤❤🌹🌹
How did you not know Kokoreva?
Its interesting that none of these tests show their acting skills, which matters more than perfect technique at least for narrative ballets. Maria Khoreva has no acting skills whatsoever.
I agree! So often I see these dancers with “perfect” technique doing impossible developés, fouettés etc., and yet they lack artistry. However, seeing a dancer who perhaps is less perfect technique-wise but you see that she really feels the music and the dance, that really moves me.
People who crap on Masha are the most overplayed individuals ever. She was a student in a technical exam... acting and emotion can be developed in the career (and it has).
@@sheeniebeanie2597 I’m not craping on Maria Khoreva, she’s an incredible, technically-superior dancer and it’s obvious how much work she puts into it.
When I wrote that I agree, I sad so in relation to OP saying that acting skills / artistry matter more than perfect technique. I see videos on YT of different dancers doing incredible technical skills, but it often leaves me feeling way less than when I see someone less “perfect” dancing with their heart, so to say. Not that you cannot have both, of course! I wish sometimes however that there was (even) more emphasis put on developing artistry and less on impressing with how high one can lift their leg, or how many consecutive pirouettes one can do.
@@sheeniebeanie2597Yes, Maria Khoreva’s acting is improving and her emotional expression has become quite moving. I’m thinking of La Bayadere in particular.
@@MsMusicalways I cannot think of one new graduate from anywhere with the artistry of a prima ballerina. The thing is that you will not learn artistry in your ballet school--you will learn it on stage. Students generally get much less time on stage, and when they do, it is a ballet such as The Nutcracker.
You also cannot have artistry without technique, but you can have technique without artistry.
I think that when you are young and you have danced and are graduating, you have an immaturity to your dancing which is that you have not yet developed a "why" to your art and craft. This comes with time. Although unfortunately, with her injuries that took her away from performing and also getting a teaching degree from the Vagonava school thus getting experience in the pedagogy and going into her 6th season with the Mariinsky and dancing more roles, she has really grown into her "why" and it is remarkable to see.
My comment is moreso towards the unfairness to say that Masha "has no acting skills whatsoever" when (a) she was in this video a 17/18 y.o. student in a technical exam and (b) she clearly has a sapling of artistry which the Mariinsky has nutured and grown into a beautiful tree.
Do not like the working leg and foot in fouettés The foot is being tossed out with no shape…looks not good.
Bolshoi
Girl, you are very much biased 😅
I’m not in any way - for example I have no problem saying I’m not a huge fan of the recent vba exams - I just try to be honest with my thoughts . I also have seen la scala exams recently and wow they look good!
How so? I thought she made very fair and, in my view, accurate observations. She is partial to the old Vaganova style of teaching, but I don’t consider that a bias, necessarily.
While she is biased, it’s impossible not to be when comparing schools and you went to one of them (no matter how hard you try to not be.. love you @balletwithisabella :) ), it’s still perfectly clear that at least this Vaganova class was much more ready than that Bolshoi class.
Kovalova using Pas de Quatre ballet in the exam. Nobody chooses music like her. I was expecting to see Lucille, Carlotta, Fanny and Marie popping in for a surprise cameo! 🎼🩰👏🏻 35:57
Vaganova exam is harder and their students are well trained !
The alongé is something I had naturally even at Bolshoi and when I worked with a Romanian педагог from Mariinsky she made sure my arms ended beyond my fingertips. A lot of the girls look like Maria Alexandrova and it’s not a compliment…🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇷🇺🇺🇦🩰