Evolution of Sugarplum over the Years (Balanchine)

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Fairchild looks almost like she's floating around the stage. So beautifully done!

[@Hoseaistheone]

I so enjoy seeing the "evolution"of technique in these films. Diana Adams was sublime and Darci Kistler sparkled! It was a pleasure to see the contrast and the similarities.

[@cdancecoaching]

It’s important to remember that it was Mr B who made the Nutcracker a popular ballet and a tradition among ballet companies. And his dancers passed down his work with meticulous detail. With this in mind… if ballerinas appear to be “better” over time, consider that part of the teachings handed down to them, with a longer period of time where they got to watch the masters dance in rehearsal and on stage. I truly love watching the earlier dancers perform. There was no voting for your favorite, no catchy backstory to drive ratings, no dangerous tricks or stunts. Just the art and all the artists who created it, being shown onstage much like how a painting or a sculpture is presented in a gallery.❤️

[@ОльгаГофман-о8у]

The Nutcracker ballet was popular long before the production of D. Balanchine. By the way, Balanchine, when he studied at the St. Petersburg Imperial Theater School in the ballet class (now the Vaganova Academy), often danced children's roles in The Nutcracker on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. Later he became famous for his Harlequin solo.

[@lfior]

I much prefer this format to the split screen❣️❣️

[@KateandBree]

I never cared for the Balanchine variation by itself. It feels like the Sugar Plum fairy had far too much coffee and is frenetic. Mariinsky seems almost sluggish by comparison. However, if you combine parts of Mariinsky and Balanchine, you can see how the Masha variation came about which is my favorite.

[@ОльгаГофман-о8у]

Watch Grigorovich's version at the Bolshoi Theater. The role of the Sugar Plum fairy performed by Nina Kaptsova.

[@natashaselivon4695]

При всей любви к Баланчину эта хореография далека от совершенства.. Большой театр ГРИГОРОВИЧ КУДА ЯРЧЕ И КРАСИВЕЕ. Зато у Баланчина самый красивый сказочный Вальс Снежных Хлопьев, . Особенно Американский Балет 👍❤️

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

Always magical 🕊🇺🇲💕

[@candidacarino669]

I particularly admire Suzanne Farrel's Sugar Plum Fairy piece ✨️ 😍 💖 but of course - - yes they're all beautiful dancers absolutely! Thank you to @ DanceLine Ballet for sharing 💕 and a Happy Christmas to you and to your staff.

[@claireschweizer4765]

I love all of them but Addams and Fairchild are my favorites!❤️💕💕

[@russelldavis2248]

My theory is that, for Americans, Balanchine’s striking choreography has to compete subconsciously with the widely viewed - and more languorous - version: 1940’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” sequence from the Walt Disney movie Fantasia (choreographer: Jules Engel). I also suspect that version has led some people to associate ballerinas with impossibly long legs.

[@Bulhbluhbuy]

As a casual viewer my favorite is without a doubt Kistler. Farrel looked so dour and stiff, and Fairchild played it too high energy and big. Kistler knew exactly where to pause for a half second to let the movements flow.

[@sarahakin]

I love Balanchine, but I’ve never particularly liked this variation. Suzanne was the only ballerina to find the music and in doing so felt a bit stilted in her movements. Other versions seem to flow more naturally.

[@desertrose3511]

I like a lot of things about the Mariinski version, typically I like Balanchine but this wasn’t my favorite

[@manoelahorn4298]

for me, balanchine choreography doesnt look nice in this variation/music, the dancer might as well dance any other variation with this song and call it balanchine because it doesnt match

[@sarahakin]

@@manoelahorn4298 Yes, it’s very peculiar! It’s like he deliberately put on the wrong music just to see the dancers struggle. (Frankly, I wouldn’t put it past him!)

[@kerrytakashi12]

@@sarahakin He put the beats on the wind instrument part. That has the lyrical line. But it seems that Farrell was the only one who really heard and knew it.

[@sarahakin]

@@kerrytakashi12 Ah, I see/hear what you mean! Interesting.

[@SeraMoria]

You can see why people simply fell in love 😍

[@uditisinha357]

why does this variation look off beat? please make an evolution for bolshoi as well its my favourite!!

[@kerrytakashi12]

The beat is on the melodic wind instrument part ignore the xylophone.

[@philzmusic8098]

celeste.But you're right. I'm a musician and it took me a long time to figure out what was happening in the score.@@kerrytakashi12

[@Marta44339]

All of them are great but Adams was absolutely captivating. Farrell was sublime and maybe too serious but I wouldn't describe her as "sour face", "dour", "stiff" and "robotic". Adams and Farrell are both dancing in front of the curtain ... ? Perhaps a gala performance? I don't see this compilation as evolution of technique but simply a comparison of dancers.

[@Beane_the_RD]

Diana Adams video looks like a tv studio (similar to the Dance in America setups as well as other videos filmed at tv studios in Canada) and Suzanne Farrell is wearing the Diamonds tutu, so I’m pretty sure this was either a tv performance or other special (non-traditional) setting (the marley is set up but it looks like a small stage as seen at a school). It’s not until the 70/80s that we get better video with the dancers from the stage itself!

[@Marta44339]

@@Beane_the_RD Of course! Thanks for this info; didn't even think of TV but did notice the Diamonds tutu.

[@isabelaandzico]

There’s a reason Suzanne was Mr B’s favorite. 3:08

[@kipklop975]

Please do one for the classical variation!!

[@sheilabloom6735]

He created the Sugar Plum Fairy for Maria Tallchief.

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Ottima la fibrillazione dei passi sulle punte in eundo veloce della ballerina e la sensibile impressione di levità fluente fatta tensione elanista e motile sorprendente in questa ballerina che riconduce i passi a musica come se avesse immiata l'euritmia melodica. Grande impressione di senso del continuum dato alla pièce danzante.Molto bravi Tutti gli agenti in proscenio e la regia ideativa. BIGHIN GIULIO RENZO 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@michaelcarmona316]

i'm in this nutcracker this year im a soldier

[@ellfling924]

Wow, I just watched the Bolshoi and Mariinsky sugar plums, and I have to say that though Darci and Megan danced it well, Balanchines' is my least favorite choreography. I know that will be heresy to some, but I much prefer the simpler and more graceful choreo of the others. Would've loved to see what Kistler and Fairchild did with the other versions.

[@kerrytakashi12]

The only one who understood the musical phrasing and how the choreography works was Farrell. Which isn’t surprising, she understood Balanchine artistically. The rest are nice dancers but their sloppy phrasing makes it look as though Balanchine was tone deaf.

[@running179]

These clips really don't provide an accurate portrayl of the evolution of this role & variation. Almost every single principal or soloist NYCB ballerina has danced Sugar Plum, but not all of them were filmed. We haven't seen Allegra Kent, Gelsey Kirkland, Melissa Hayden, Kyra Nichols, Merrill Ashley, Kay Mazzo, Heather Watts, Maria Kowroski, or numerous other dancers in the role. There was a very good vid recently on YT that showed Suki Schorer of SAB & 2 NYCB dancers (Indiana Woodward & Unity Phelan) talking abt & rehearsing this role for a studio audience - it's already gone but I copied it & should repost it. It illustrates a great deal, & Suki Schorer shows her tremendous knowledge of this role's history at NYCB.

[@Marta44339]

I saw that video and was really impressed by the two dancers, so different from one another. Loved them both, Woodward and Phelan [I think}.

[@MrQbenDanny]

Balanchine failed here because he refused to put the Gargouillades, an essential element step in the classic beauty the music demands. However, to watch the gossamer floating approach of the great Adams is stunning. Not so the sour face robotic Farrell, with the exception of that fantastic port de bras opening.

[@claireschweizer4765]

Or pa de chats?

[@Ivan_Tarasov]

Какая не выразительная хореография, даже смотреть не интересно.

[@vixypic1747]

Мне не нравится, не связано с музыкой вообще. Подставь любую и будет то же самое

[@momiamok-v4y]

Let's be honest - not the best part of this ballet

[@desertrose3511]

What’s your favorite?

[@claudio2605]

I prefer Nureyev's version