Analysing Different Ballerinas Dancing Giselle Act 1 Variation

Hi Everyone!
Welcome Back to my channel! Thank you for your support as always.
Today we are going to be looking at several ballerinas all in different stages of their careers. dancing the Giselle Act 1 variation. We all know and love it! it is very interesting watching the different ballerinas approach it differently, seeing their natural temperament come through.
I have implemented a little bit of Paris Opera too which shows a very different style all together actually. Would be really keen to hear your thoughts and comments down below about who you prefer.
I can definitely do a part 2 where we look at more ballerinas doing this solo as this is definitely just a handful. .
Thank you for watching!
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About Me
Hello everyone! my names Isabella.
I am the first British graduate of the Vaganova ballet academy in Saint Petersburg Russia. I was a soloist working with the Mikhailovsky Ballet and Eifman ballet.
Now I live in London as a full time coach
Here, on my channel I am sharing my passion with you all about the Vaganova technique amongst many other things related to ballet we all love.
It's a hard industry so I am here to help with my insights and knowledge to make it a little easier for you all, as well as to hopefully entertain you with my content.
Thank you for watching!
Isabella xo

[@hannabergmann8831]

Osipova is acting so well in this role. She is brave enough to show her own pain when she is dancing Giselle, especially in the mad scene. It's very authentic. She is the best Giselle I've ever seen. Zakharova is a very beautiful and amazing dancer, I admire her technique. But to me, she is a little bit more an ice queen with a cold aura and Giselle is the complete opposite. In this ballet, she would have been a great Myrtha. On the other hand, I saw her as Odette and I saw emotions, maybe Giselle is not her role.

[@loispankhurst7510]

Osipova has truly mastered this role I don't want to speak poorly about the others because they were stunning however they don't make me feel what osipova does !! They way she anticipates the music on the last passage really stepping out on the posé turns is incredible and still ends up on the music wows me! The way she cuts out the ponche and adds in that insane balance and exquisite jump is just beautiful !! She is truly amazing , she shows bravery and really takes us on such an emotional journey through love is just so empowering!!! I love her acting and something about her aura is just so powerful!! Overall every dancer was excellent but osipova just excites me in this role I would love to see u talk about marianela nunez !!

[@____Ga]

They should compare Osipova with A DuPont and Svetlana Zakharova or other principal dancers.

[@georginareid3828]

I have never been a big fan of Osipova UNTIL I saw her dance live onstage ! I was blown away by her acting .. I saw her in the pas de deux balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet . She was just absolutely fabulous ! She was Juliet … amazing ❤❤❤❤

[@zsuzsannamolnar5599]

Osipova reminds me of the observation you made about the wonderful ability of musicality of Tiler Peck being technically so strong that she can "stretch" time. For me, this is true artistry, not when you 'just' hit the right poses at the right time (which is already incredibly hard!), but when you can go a step beyond and wow the audience.

[@brendastevens9077]

The 1st one here, was was definitely my favorite. It felt like she became the music.😊💝

[@Chris-op4ue]

For me: Osipova: personifies Giselle's youthful exuberance and absolute love of dance May: personifies Giselle's innocence, fragility, and delicacy Svetlana: tecnically brilliant, but I didn't "feel" anything POB: technically brilliant and very, very precise, but I didn't "see" Giselle. I just saw a technically brilliant dancer.

[@lionsmaine1238]

Y'all should analyze different Giselle mad scenes!

[@balletwithisabella]

Great idea!

[@agneshuang5927]

I’d love for you to comment on Novikova’s Giselle. Maybe also Smirnova, Lopatkina, Nunez, and Lunkina. ❤

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Oh yes, me too! And Iana Salenko ❤

[@brendadufaur37]

You are both SO articulate. I love the vibe. I love Osipova. I have always loved comparing interpretations. Makarova and Ferri are a great idea. Throw Fonteyn in also. And Fracci and Alicia Alonso and Galina Ulanova. When Ulanova came to the west in 1951 at 50, doing Juliet, she changed people's lives. A British man, Dwight Grell, gave up his job and devoted his life to the Russian ballet. Days With Ulanova was a book that documented her daily ballet life. Ulanova always said, "Talent is work." I love your channel. You might have 3 million viewers one day. You deserve it. You two are lovely.

[@judithglasser3072]

This is so fabulous to have you and your lovely guess analyze and comment on the different approaches and interpretations of a role. Please keep doing more of these, so enriching!

[@elizzy8754]

Osipova transcends technique and really tells us about Giselle's emotions. I think I would have chosen Myriam Ould-Braham from the Paris Opera Ballet. It would be interesting to show the same ballerinas in an Act II variation. Thank you for putting this together for us - lots to think about.

[@roastedpepper]

Osipova and May. Osipova actually dances and it feels free. May is just so ethereal and beautiful and floaty. Really lovely.

[@clara-oc6tt]

Perfect timing for this video, as I am starting to rehearse Giselle❤️ I always love your commentary

[@Swimmer47]

My problem with Osipova is and continues to be, that she is almost too athletic. She is great, of course, but still not as good as Svetlana. Svetlana has grace and she is delicate. When she dances, she flows…her arms and hands are beautiful. While it is true that Osipova “acts” better than the others, and no one has better jumps, Svetlana is the prima ballerina assoluta…I also thank you for showing Dorithée Gilbert. I live in Paris and should study the French dancers more, instead of, always, Russian. Gilbert is new for me. Thanks. Great channel. Trés bien!

[@gonefishing167]

To me it’s Osipova all the way. She’s stunning, exuberant and can make you believe in her Giselle. May, I think, is going to be another lovely dancer. They were the 2 best but - Osipova, hands down. 👏👏👏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@nickim6571]

I pick Osipova for the joy she expresses in her dancing.

[@trevormorris-kk7bp]

Thank you for your channel. As someone new to understanding ballet is helps me get so much more out of this wonderful art form. I do like the subtle delicacy of the Chinese dancer but the character, full of carefree joy and innocence so beautifully portrayed by Osipova I find irresistible. She is such an amazing actress that takes you into the mind and personality of Giselle so convincingly. For me it’s pure magic. but as you properly say each dancer brings something special and different to the role and I appreciate how you underline all the technical aspects so well. Please do more of these. I love them!!! .

[@LiviusTheGenius]

Thank you for making this video, it was really interesting to look at these dancers in detail with the help of your commentary, which I found really helpful. I agree with you both on the fact that Osipova is so deeply into the character to the point that we don't even notice that much that she isn't perfectly on the music, but she can adapt to it finishing on time. I loved the control that all these dancers had while holding the arabesque, but I particularly appreciated how Osipova and Zakharova tried to blend it in the role of Giselle, so that it looks delicate as well. And a pleasant surprise for me was May, I had never watched her before and I can tell she made me feel the character of Giselle a lot, it's impressive how she's so young and she already has such a good stage presence, perfect lines and tecnnique of course. I was also impressed by Dorothée's footwork and controlled arms that give her a lot of stability. Finally, when I was watching Zakharova, I really noticed that she makes everything look so easy, even the most difficult steps, in her performance she looked so youthful, as you said, but still perfectly on the music. It's awesome to see, in the same person, both the delicateness of a young girl and the experience, technicality and precision that only the greatest have.

[@loispankhurst7510]

I love this I need a part 2 lol !!!

[@94hoi97]

I loveee this videoo!!! Please do moree its very fun and informative 😊❤

[@denisehill7769]

Really loved this! Zakharova's developpe into arabesque (?) before she starts the hops seemed to foreshadow her arabesque line as a Wili in act 2, the way she rolls through and enlongates the line. May is the epitome of the shy joyful Giselle; but for me, Osipova just nailed it, not just technically but also with her acting. You can tell she lives to dance (as Giselle). Incidentally a few days ago I saw the mad scene from this production with Carlos Acosta, also an amazing actor; hopefully there's a full version here on YT as I'd love to watch the whole ballet. One of my favourite Giselles was Galina Mezentseva; maybe she didn't have quite the technique of today's dancers but she certainly embodied Giselle's innocence and despair. Another one here voting for a comparison of mad scenes, please! :)

[@vivienne4934]

Osipova for her dramatic range. Would love your comments on her Act II

[@auravatafu]

May is exquisite, she’s beautiful, clean, youthful, innocent. I like her performance best.

[@familiaaffonso2661]

Part 2 with Marianela Nunez pleaaasseeee!!!!!!!!!!!

[@trevormorris-kk7bp]

I meant to add that the pain of act 2 and the ethereal appearance of Giselle by Osipova with those incredible arms expressing it…. Sublime. perhaps you could do act 2 one day? That would be fascinating!

[@mimipriest2362]

Osipova will always be my Giselle ❤

[@philippatanojo6392]

Osipova, personally, though I like some elements of the carefree nature, I feel the musicality is sometimes is just toooo off for me to enjoy it (thete is a difference between pushing the boundaries of the musicality i.e. Tiler Peck style, vs just not being on the music). I also find the loss of the classical positions of the port de bras just not in keeping with the ballet, and this is something I struggle a lot with Osipova more generally - its fine in more modern ballets like Carmen and fits the flair of Don Q, but in the great classics it really skews the perception of the period and the style. Again, an absolutely start ballerina, but personally find those elements a bit too distracting for me to enjoy as much as some others. My absolute favourite in this role hss to be Alina Cojucaru - technical, stunningly emotive, musical and the difference between the two acts is just phenomenal. Would love for you to analyse her Giselle and also Marianela nunez's Myrtha ❤️

[@SP-85]

May has so delicate and soft upperbody movements.

[@ivyarianrhod]

Part 2--Giselle's mad scene!

[@user-sj4ef8cm2g]

Here i liked the paris opera

[@katiedew1051]

Giselle is my favourite ballet! Loved this video! If you do a part 2, can you react to marianela nunez!!

[@loispankhurst7510]

I would love to see marianela nunez too I think that would be sooo cool x

[@anevastout5883]

Gold standards: Kirkland and Ferri

[@elizzy8754]

Yes, plus Fracci ❤🩰✨

[@kristiLB93]

I LOVE Osipova's abandon on stage!!! She really knocks it out of the park in the acting category. She almost makes you a little nervous! Sylvie Guillem was the one from the Paris Opera that had the acting chops AND the outstanding technical ability as well. May, was super delicate. Almost so delicate she looked more like a young girl than the rest. Svetlana is sooooooooo technically brilliant and quite beautiful but for me ahe lacks a bit of whimsy and depth, however, her turns were amazing and with much abandon in that variation. All so different! Yes to Alessandra Ferri! And can we look at the men! Baryshnikov please! The younger dancers should know the dancers that have come before them! The trailblazers series!!!

[@vermillion9nelson188]

I absolutely adore Osipova in this role; from emotionally immature in the first act to an adult in the second. And Acosta's Albrecht is wonderful. I always really feel for him when he tries to get his fiance to say she's NOT marrying him in the first act. Sublime!

[@BarbaraT.]

Osipova is the best in my eyes, and the one who has the younger energy, as if she were a real 16-year-old. I enjoyed May too.

[@Ihmekummatossu]

Thank you, this was very interesting. I would love to hear what you think about the versions of this variation with diagonal in the end instead of the manége. Sometimes it is called Spessivtseva’s diagonal after Olga Spessivtseva, but quite many ballerinas did the diagonal in 1930-1960s (for example Carla Fracci in ABT’s Giselle in 1969.)

[@awysou]

Great video Isabella! I very much love May and Osipova's Giselle here, but a long-time favourite for me has been a (rather poor quality) youtube clip of Evelyn Hart dancing Act II of Giselle in 1988. If you get a chance, I hope you can watch it! It gives me goosebumps everytime.

[@natalialind4642]

And as other commented of course Smirnova mariel Nunez, ferri and Kirkland

[@vanessak.sanders1292]

Osipova hands down

[@phoenixharrison8761]

Osipova is my favourite Giselle 🤍

[@natalialind4642]

Hi, Thanks for your interesting reflektions . It would be great to hear your reaktions om yulia Makhalina, alina cojocaru, Tamara rojo and the legendary Natalia Makarova!

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Isabella, you asked about our other favorite Giselles. I absolutely LOVE Iana Salenko! There are some black and white rehearsal videos of her here on YT that are divine 🥰 I would love to hear your comments about her! And I also love Olesia Novikova and Polina Semionova. It’s just coincidence that they are all Russian/Ukrainian, I love many dancers from all over the world

[@AnnaAnna-zi8ri]

Certainly Svetlana Zakarova for me.

[@daphnegeorge7481]

Osipova, I believed her.

[@petrusmcdonald8271]

I would prefer Giselle floating through.the air like A Spingbuck to be captured by the Beast and displayed in Angelic ,Spingbuck leotard pose.PFMcDonald

[@elisaserrano1807]

Between them is really difficult, osipova is the most impressive,but also may is amazing in that role, and i like a lot gilbert. I dont agree totally about Svetlana.. i mean for me is to much venerated for her perfect phisic, but is not at all the best dancer in the world like seem..of course is good,but not so fantastic tecnhique (compared to others prima i mean..in bolshoi for me krysanova,smirnova and other are lot better), and she doesnt arrive to me.. still a fantastic dancer but i dont mean all the veneration.. she s not plisetzkaya or lopatkina i mean.. I would add also novikova, Krysanova, smirnova, nunez, ferri..

[@MickeyGSinger]

Osipova to me in a league on its own - real dancing and artistry - , though the Japanese got close to my amazement, in a very different way, but still Odipova was magic to me.

[@lionsmaine1238]

“The Japanese” is named May Nagahisa

[@Artbyalexisbartlett]

“The Japanese”??? 🙄 She has a name. 🙄

[@anevastout5883]

Zakharova is messy she doesn’t travel on the hops because she lacks the technique loved her in Spartacus but Giselle she isnt

[@Swimmer47]

Totally disagree…

[@isabelaandzico]

I LOVE this video! The ballerinas who don’t just dance but actually BECOME the role are the ones who transcend time. The suspension of disbelief and the actual suspension into thin air make Наталья my favorite. I appreciated all of the ballerinas: the footwork of Dorothée, the beautiful Mariinsky lines of May… but despite looking up to Світлана, she doesn’t abandon herself into the role on act 1. I’m passionate about ballet history and have been since moving to Moscow for Academy when I was a little girl. We have to at least remember Carla Fracci (one of the GOATS 🐐 in the role) and of course Ольга Спеси́вцева (Olga Spessivtseva who actually “went mad” their words not mine) who poured her heart and soul into Giselle.🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇷🇺🇺🇦🩰🫶🏻 21:07

[@georginareid3828]

I have never been a big fan of Osipova UNTIL I saw her dance live onstage ! I was blown away by her acting .. I saw her in the pas de deux balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet . She was just absolutely fabulous ! She was Juliet … amazing ❤❤❤❤