I first saw him in Canberra, Australia when he was about 19 and dancing with the Kiev company ... couldn't believe my eyes! Stupendous. Marvellous. Thank you for all your posts.
he has great flow of movement, great technique, and a real élan that we don't see often these days. he makes it look easy... which of course it isn't :)
hi TheBallet1. that is exactly what i was just saying to someone here a few days ago - not steps added to one another with breaks between but all in one flow of movement - but not loosing the accurate positioning of poses.
Thank you so much for sharing! I love him! Saw him on stage last time in "DQ". Really one of the greatest dancers of Russia today. The second performance is this of Mariinsky. The first looks like Mikhailovsky. If it so one can understand that he must reduce some steps due to the dimensions of the stage. But he is always so perfect!
hi passionballet.topf.ru! yes it's the fluid clean easy with which he puts strings of steps together that i love, among many things - a flow - not one step awkwardly jolting into the next. i think you are right about the location of each performance.
+passionballet.topf.ru! -- thanks for that -- I did not know about the stage dimensions -- it like comparing apples and apples when one is a McIntosh and one is a Granny Smith (LOL)
I don't let his boyish looks distract me because his virtuosity is the first thing we see. Besides, one day the fact that he still looks like a youngster will be a great asset when some of the soloists will begin to show signs of ageing.
judith booth I feel the same about young children being filmed dancing adult roles. But here we are - surely - only joking about Leonid, who has for some time now been an adult.
judith booth i wonder if they do not burn out, beginning so young. though i remember Adelina Patti, the most famous opera singer of the C19 (here singing 'Casta Diva' from 'Norma' at 63 - Adelina Patti ~ Casta Diva ~ ( Restored by MARSTON )) was well under way performing operas like 'Lucia di Lammermoor' at 16!
I suppose this has already been mentioned but anyway: BOTH videos are from performances at the Mariinsky, the first one from 2009 new year's Arte broadcast and the second one I don't know the date but it's also from the Mariinsky, the costumes are the Mariinsky's, 10000% sure.
+Edward Charles Hanna he is the best - and how wonderful he is to share his knowledge and expertise with others - a lot of dancers do not hand on what they have learned.
though his technicality is always great, i don't like the first one. because it was taken out of context and thrown into the Kingdom scene where Solor is supposed to be in the huge regret and seek console in opium. those grands jetes like turmoil are enough for me in this scene. Sarafi looks very distant in it. the latter one properly staged in the GP with Gamzatti, he's proud and showy as Solor at that time should be. his balance is longer his turns are more exciting. if they liked to showcase virtuosity of Vika/Sarafi on tv, DQ would have been better choice because that was absofreakinglutely the greatest of these days. wish their acting director to decide better.
hi Bnesque - exactly my misgivings about putting these two performances together - though this reservation obviously was not enough to stop me - LOL! the chore has meaning for the scent in which it occur - chore is not just a series of movements that can be de-contextualised and still fully work.
Well, it was not an easy job, but I think I've done it. The FIRST video is MARIINSKY with Viktoriya Tereshkina. La Bayadère (El Reino de las Sombras) - Viktoria Tereshkina - Leonid Sarafanov (2009).avi The SECOND could be MIKHAILOVSKY (it was really hard to figure out because of the bad quality of the back picture). The new version by Mikhail Messerer. Sarafanov danced with Alina Somova. www.mikhailovsky.ru/afisha/performances/detail/151511/ (at the picture you see Ivan Vasiliev but on the programm left is written Alina Somova and Leonid Sarafanov on that special day). here is the same with Ivan Vasiliev La Bayadere - Ivan Vasiliev 25.04.2014 or it is also MARIINSKY as danced by Komleva Complete - La Bayadere - Kirov (Mariinsky) Ballet - Gabriela Komleva 1:15:00 but he dances another variation at the same place and here is the same in Vienna (somebody wrote that Sarafanov is not known in the world) Ballet La Bayadère - Viena (26.12.2007) - Leonid Sarafanov And to round up the discussion: just enjoy Nikolai Tsiskaridze as Solor - La Bayadere
hi passionballet.topf.ru fantastic post - thanks so very much for going to the trouble of adding all the links (great that links can now be added to YT!) just going to make a coffee and look at each video thanks for the commentary on each link too - interesting to heard what you have to say about each performance, or contextualise it in some way!
John --- I don't think anyone but BNESQUE answered your question -- taken out of context as these are -- he certainly does more in the 2nd -- and I like the opening -- but first I would need to know the age difference -- was the first done early in hois career?
i find it hard to sometimes follow-up a reply to one of my comments - i suspect this comments area could be better designed - i can't seem to find the question i asked! or not sure which one is involved.
John Hall it's very uncomfortable to discuss here - I can't see many comments. even my own. As far as the sentence "no, I...." is concerned it was an answer to Judith about the age of Sarafanov in the variations. and after my "research" job publilshed above I was very confused about it.
John Hall ok -- hehe -- this little section is one of the few that actually addresses your question and I am hoping you do have an answer -- I have read all of this numerous times trying to figure out what people were yel..er saying. I am still not sure :((( Was this (the Mariinsky version) done early in his career or not? the Mikh version has to be later right since he joined the Mikh relatively recently...Both versions are fab -- but I think I like the Mikh (blue) version better -- and since passionballet tells me the stage at the Mikh is smaller ... the number and kinds of steps done would have to be affected -- also his age -- a 19 yr old can do things a 29 yr ol can't -- I know, I know Batalov -- but we are not talking Gods here just demi-gods!!
judith booth Dear Judith! I checked it again: the blue version is the Mariinsky - I gave the link with Tereshkina. The white version is very likely the Mikhailovsky - so much alike with the video with Vasiliev - I also shared a link. But as the back of the stage is not so well visible I'm not so sure about it. Please read my last post with all the samples.
Well of course absolutely splendid. The trouble is that so many of today's male dancers are boys rather than men. Sarafanov makes a terrific Romeo but I just can't see him projecting masculine charisma like say Ilya K.
passionballet.topf.ru ilya is a great actor dancer and very good in some caracter roles but his technique is not exceptional ,is rather normal ,leo is phenomenal.
pediatrapaola i'm here to kill you. your saying " he ONLY projects masculine charisma" is not correct, imo. he can bring ethos, pathos, real life struggle onto the stage. that is the rare quality seen on MT stage these days. though i miss his the most fabulous Hooligan with huge, weighty jumps.
Sarafanov is the worlds greatest dancer, he now has his own Dance academy! Wonderful!
+Edward Charles Hanna yes, a great great dancer - didn't know he'd got his own academy now - thanks for passing that on!
He’s just a wonderful dancer, one of the best in my opinion 🩰🩰🩰🙏🙏👵🇦🇺
agreed!
One of my favorite dancers. This guy is perfection.
one of mine too!
Utterly astounding. Truly an angel of Apollo.
isn't he - i must put more of him on my channel
You are perfection Leonid!!
I first saw him in Canberra, Australia when he was about 19 and dancing with the Kiev company ... couldn't believe my eyes! Stupendous. Marvellous. Thank you for all your posts.
pleasure - wish i'd seen him on stage
he has great flow of movement, great technique, and a real élan that we don't see often these days. he makes it look easy... which of course it isn't :)
hi TheBallet1. that is exactly what i was just saying to someone here a few days ago - not steps added to one another with breaks between but all in one flow of movement - but not loosing the accurate positioning of poses.
They were two nice and perfect boys on stage: Kumakawa and Sarafanov!!! Both unforgatable!
they were :)
Absolutely FLAWLESS!
You have such an impeccable taste...
Thank you for sharing.
I love him, his dance, his lines, his body; perfection. 😍😘😘😘😘😘😘
me too - and he dances with such seeming easy - great ballon! 😍
E' così perfetto, leggerissimo....fa sembrare tutto facilissimo con il suo virtuosismo nascondendo il duro impegno con la danza!
Очень красиво! Великолепно! Прекрасно, Леонид!
да невероятно
He flies like a bird. Gracious Leonid.
+Danali45 yes, the ballon is amazing and gravity defying!
Gracias nuevamente!!!!!!!!!!
Muita arte, pra não morrer da verdade!!! Bravíssimo!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Замечательно !
hi Mounie - absolutely!
la perfezione assoluta
absolutely! :) can't imagine it better
Very stunning
very! :)
Thank you so much for sharing!
I love him! Saw him on stage last time in "DQ".
Really one of the greatest dancers of Russia today.
The second performance is this of Mariinsky. The first looks like Mikhailovsky. If it so one can understand that he must reduce some steps due to the dimensions of the stage.
But he is always so perfect!
hi passionballet.topf.ru! yes it's the fluid clean easy with which he puts strings of steps together that i love, among many things - a flow - not one step awkwardly jolting into the next. i think you are right about the location of each performance.
+passionballet.topf.ru! -- thanks for that -- I did not know about the stage dimensions -- it like comparing apples and apples when one is a McIntosh and one is a Granny Smith (LOL)
John Hall 7
Number ONE!
hi Toy M. isn't it - the technical ease is something to marvel at.
I don't let his boyish looks distract me because his virtuosity is the first thing we see. Besides, one day the fact that he still looks like a youngster will be a great asset when some of the soloists will begin to show signs of ageing.
I agree - although he does look 10 ,
judith booth he is 10, no? just being silly!
a child prodigy indeed -- and dancers that youngon stage and performing really distress me -- (ie Katherine Healy, Miko Fogarty etc)
judith booth I feel the same about young children being filmed dancing adult roles. But here we are - surely - only joking about Leonid, who has for some time now been an adult.
judith booth
i wonder if they do not burn out, beginning so young.
though i remember Adelina Patti, the most famous opera singer of the C19 (here singing 'Casta Diva' from 'Norma' at 63 - Adelina Patti ~ Casta Diva ~ ( Restored by MARSTON )) was well under way performing operas like 'Lucia di Lammermoor' at 16!
I suppose this has already been mentioned but anyway: BOTH videos are from performances at the Mariinsky, the first one from 2009 new year's Arte broadcast and the second one I don't know the date but it's also from the Mariinsky, the costumes are the Mariinsky's, 10000% sure.
Yes indeed its a famous and prestigious Dance academy as well. He trains many young dancers himself. Thanks
+Edward Charles Hanna yes, great to hand the torch on i such a solid way!
+John Hall Indeed, he is so knowledgable and must be so accomplished to have started his own Academy, best of luck to him. To me is the just the best!
+Edward Charles Hanna he is the best - and how wonderful he is to share his knowledge and expertise with others - a lot of dancers do not hand on what they have learned.
though his technicality is always great, i don't like the first one. because it was taken out of context and thrown into the Kingdom scene where Solor is supposed to be in the huge regret and seek console in opium. those grands jetes like turmoil are enough for me in this scene. Sarafi looks very distant in it. the latter one properly staged in the GP with Gamzatti, he's proud and showy as Solor at that time should be. his balance is longer his turns are more exciting.
if they liked to showcase virtuosity of Vika/Sarafi on tv, DQ would have been better choice because that was absofreakinglutely the greatest of these days. wish their acting director to decide better.
hi Bnesque - exactly my misgivings about putting these two performances together - though this reservation obviously was not enough to stop me - LOL! the chore has meaning for the scent in which it occur - chore is not just a series of movements that can be de-contextualised and still fully work.
John Hall mmh, you are kind of S/Zing. yes, every book is open.
Bnesque i'm not sure i made really clear sense in my last comment/reply!
John Hall anyway, i read it in my own way.
Bnesque thanks - i don't feel so obtuse!
Well, it was not an easy job, but I think I've done it.
The FIRST video is MARIINSKY with Viktoriya Tereshkina.
La Bayadère (El Reino de las Sombras) - Viktoria Tereshkina - Leonid Sarafanov (2009).avi
The SECOND could be MIKHAILOVSKY (it was really hard to figure out because of the bad quality of the back picture). The new version by Mikhail Messerer. Sarafanov danced with Alina Somova.
www.mikhailovsky.ru/afisha/performances/detail/151511/
(at the picture you see Ivan Vasiliev but on the programm left is written Alina Somova and Leonid Sarafanov on that special day).
here is the same with Ivan Vasiliev
La Bayadere - Ivan Vasiliev 25.04.2014
or it is also MARIINSKY as danced by Komleva
Complete - La Bayadere - Kirov (Mariinsky) Ballet - Gabriela Komleva 1:15:00
but he dances another variation at the same place
and here is the same in Vienna (somebody wrote that Sarafanov is not known in the world)
Ballet La Bayadère - Viena (26.12.2007) - Leonid Sarafanov
And to round up the discussion:
just enjoy
Nikolai Tsiskaridze as Solor - La Bayadere
hi passionballet.topf.ru
fantastic post - thanks so very much for going to the trouble of adding all the links (great that links can now be added to YT!)
just going to make a coffee and look at each video
thanks for the commentary on each link too - interesting to heard what you have to say about each performance, or contextualise it in some way!
passionballet.topf.ru ah - that very much sounds like the answer to this question! both from his Maiinsky time! great detective work!
SARAFANOV SUPERMAN!
Why not the coda ?
should have added it - don't know why i didn't
John --- I don't think anyone but BNESQUE answered your question -- taken out of context as these are -- he certainly does more in the 2nd -- and I like the opening -- but first I would need to know the age difference -- was the first done early in hois career?
no, I really don't know now.
i find it hard to sometimes follow-up a reply to one of my comments - i suspect this comments area could be better designed - i can't seem to find the question i asked! or not sure which one is involved.
John Hall it's very uncomfortable to discuss here - I can't see many comments. even my own.
As far as the sentence "no, I...." is concerned it was an answer to Judith about the age of Sarafanov in the variations. and after my "research" job publilshed above I was very confused about it.
John Hall ok -- hehe -- this little section is one of the few that actually addresses your question and I am hoping you do have an answer -- I have read all of this numerous times trying to figure out what people were yel..er saying. I am still not sure :((( Was this (the Mariinsky version) done early in his career or not? the Mikh version has to be later right since he joined the Mikh relatively recently...Both versions are fab -- but I think I like the Mikh (blue) version better -- and since passionballet tells me the stage at the Mikh is smaller ... the number and kinds of steps done would have to be affected -- also his age -- a 19 yr old can do things a 29 yr ol can't -- I know, I know Batalov -- but we are not talking Gods here just demi-gods!!
judith booth Dear Judith!
I checked it again: the blue version is the Mariinsky - I gave the link with Tereshkina. The white version is very likely the Mikhailovsky - so much alike with the video with Vasiliev - I also shared a link. But as the back of the stage is not so well visible I'm not so sure about it. Please read my last post with all the samples.
Two different but identical variations
The first one was much better and "cleaner".
agreed!
Well of course absolutely splendid. The trouble is that so many of today's male dancers are boys rather than men. Sarafanov makes a terrific Romeo but I just can't see him projecting masculine charisma like say Ilya K.
He doesn't dance parts like Ilya K. And Ilya K. can't in no way be compared with this great dancer.
passionballet.topf.ru ilya is a great actor dancer and very good in some caracter roles but his technique is not exceptional ,is rather normal ,leo is phenomenal.
my problem with ilya is that he ONLY projects masculine charisma ,sometime l would like also seeing him dancing and possibily losing some kgs LOL
BNESQE WILL KILL BE BECAUSE I TOLD ILYA IS FAT
pediatrapaola i'm here to kill you. your saying " he ONLY projects masculine charisma" is not correct, imo. he can bring ethos, pathos, real life struggle onto the stage. that is the rare quality seen on MT stage these days. though i miss his the most fabulous Hooligan with huge, weighty jumps.