My list of Top 10 ballerinas

[@jordanconley3793]

The operative words are in the title: "for me". I'm sure we could all add to the list, but these are her personal choices. This is a perfectly respectable list. Thanks for posting.

[@Lexusblago]

Lopatkina is the best adagio dancer ever! Thanx for Alina been listed! She is her airness!!! Never mind of her xstyle legs )))) l love it )))

[@anniemihn]

Great list! But I'd also consider Galina Ulanova, Natalia Makharova, Sylvie Gillem, Alessandra Ferri and Gelsey Kirkland

[@magalilunamassaro775]

Yes!! Svetlana is the best!

[@Lexusblago]

Uliana Lopatkina???

[@alexandra3ogden]

Gelsey Kirkland??? She was a gorgeous example of perfection, grace, speed, and stamina in the ballet world.

[@tigereyes5]

No people she didn't forget or leave out anything. Hello??? It's HER/HIS list of favourite dancers. It's a subjective stance. This isn't claiming to be the official list of top dancers in the world. Why don't you all share your own opinions and stop lambasting this video for its opinion. Here's mine (1st two are top spots and rest in no particular order) 1. Alina Cojacaru 2. Ekaterina Maksimova 3. Aurelie Dupont 4. Nina Ananiashvili 5. Carla Fracci 6. Gillian Murphy 7. Zenaida Yanowsky 8. Darcey Bussell 9. Miyako Yoshida 10. Yulia Makahalina There are so many great dancers out there of past and present. People choose their lists on preference not just because someone is deemed legendary. Thanks for sharing your list MarLefMou!

[@MarLefMou]

Thanks for your support and for sharing your list with me!!!

[@tigereyes5]

You're welcome!

[@joseencalada7711]

uliana lopatkina

[@fabiesque]

+Lili Travaglia ahahahah NOW that's a roaster! (-: I am kidding...everyone has the right to his own taste...but have you considered Guillem...Kahlfouni...Ferri....Kirkland...maybe you like them more than Shelby Dyer and Asuka Sasaki! (-.

[@TorontoIam]

+tigereyes5 Thank you as well!

[@christinedaae1986]

Svetlana is my favorite! I love her so much, she is my ballet role model!!!!!

[@audreycoulbourn5651]

My favorite ballerina is Svetlana Zacharova

[@peace-now]

She is very good. Probably better than any mentioned here. For services to ballet, and fame, Anna Pavlova is and will be surely number one. She is like Caruso when it comes to singing. Anna made ballet popular for everyone. She was as famous then as Beyonce is now.

[@LauraAlli]

People get so offended when Zakharova is rated as one of the best ballerinas. They always like to bring up how rigid or cold she is OR how her extensions are too gymnastic and unnecessary.... Zakharova is in a league of her own and that takes nothing away from ballerinas who are dancing now or who have come before her. She is otherworldly and an ARTIST. Having seen her live I can't say I could fully comprehend she was even human lol.

[@mariavarecka2618]

Unfortunately, I never saw Zakharova live, but I watch the hell out of her on youtube.com. I agree, there is something "otherworldly" about her. Her arms are simply the best. My feeling is that when she dances, she looks like an expensive piece of jewelry.

[@hidayatosman4786]

Your comments is the best

[@TheOlgaivanova]

Nina Kaptsova is not mentioned. She is one of the best for me and her many fans!

[@stephaniecruvant9130]

Osipova, with her truly incomparable artistry, IS Swanhilda, portraying her clever humor, irrepressible spirit and abstract understanding of human nature ( wheat dance) as she grows into her womanhood. A remarkable and balanced performance of unparalleled perfection and a gift to this generation and history of "the dance".

[@eileenazeff14]

I agree

[@ileanamuntean7338]

The best dancer in the history of ballet.

[@vitocortesi9389]

I'm agree with you Zakharova is the best ballerina in the world

[@christinedaae1986]

I know; she is my ballet role model! I want to dance just like her!

[@jenniferjones1728]

As I watched your countdown, I had to figure Natalia Makarova #1. I was surprised but what a nice list and thanks for sharing. It's my new "name your top 10" game :)

[@bluesman1929]

You are absolutely right. The hyper-exquisite Svetlana Zakharova is No.1!!!!

[@amalteafigueroasoto3102]

Respeto. tu elección. Pero tal vez deberías hacer una lista, más. larga: Dónde está Natalia. Makarova, Ekaterina Maximova, Galina.Mezentzeva, Altynay Asylmuratova, Carla Fracci. y nada menos que. Ulyana Lopatkina?...

[@lmarti204]

For me Gelsey Kirkland and Natasha Makarova should have been on the list.

[@ShelkS777]

Ekaterina Maximova is not mentioned! It's unbelievable.

[@Larissa16016]

Paloma Herrera, Viengsay Valdez, Viviana Durante, Alessandra Ferri, Larissa Leshnina, Yoko Morishita, Cynthia Gregory, Cecília Kerche, Cinthia Harvey, Altinay Asylmuratova.

[@WilesWales]

Gillian Murphy is a wonderful artist, an especially as seen in the 2nd Act of "Swan Lake," with Angel Corella, in the 2005 version. She is also an artist of the 1st degree in other ballets as well. I am glad that Angel got his dream and finally formed the "Corella Ballet" in Barcelona. He explaind in another video how much ballet is under appreciated in Spain, and had danced at the Kennedy Center, and shook Queen Elizabteth's hand, but not from the monarchy in his own country. What great artists

[@janwintz8372]

Fascinating to read everyone's remarks here!!...especially the apparent consensus!! (So difficult to have favorites when there are hundreds to name!) Jan

[@marineljenkings553]

Yes I agree! There are so many extraordinary dancers!

[@otherdelight]

They are all beautiful, but Ekatarina Maximova is one of my number 1's....

[@WilesWales]

She had 8 operations after that, is still the Director at 91 of the Ballet National de Cuba. Also, Gillian Murphy's fouttes are right on a postage stamp although this kind of fouette or any other deviating from the original 32 is easier to do. The momentum and force of the turn only then requires a head snap, etc. If one has seen this, Kevin McKenzie even says he decided to do this for show in 2005, as these were meant to clench Zigfried ultimately, and precipiate the tragedy. Thank you!

[@linlopez7388]

svetlana zhakarova and polina semionova are the best... I love them

[@bolero88881]

Thank you - beautiful video. My favorites would include Margot Fontaine, Altynai Asylmuratova, Kaleria Fedicheva, Gelsey Kirkland. Fedicheva is the most memorable dancer in my memory. I saw her in the Kirov in the 1960's.

[@staybeautiful0559]

Evgenia obrastzova its one of the most beautiful ballerinas in the world

[@mindrolling24]

Great list, great clips. Taste is subjective and I think all of these dancers are beautiful, I also like Darcey Bussell and Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire It's not merely technique that makes someone brilliant- 'feelings' come into it always.

[@janwintz8372]

Mindrolling Hi! So wonderful to see the utterly incomparable CYD CHARISSE mentioned here!!! Are you familiar with Celia Fushille-Burke? Think you'd love her! 😊 Jan

[@mariamartin8516]

I completely agree.

[@Becksasaurus]

Gillian Murphy and those fouettes... Blows my mind every time.

[@TheYasminarf]

i'm obsessed with Svetlana , she is always PERFECT

[@altongrimes]

Fun that you have created this list ! There are so many wonderful artists out there, it's kind of hard to make a list. On my list, I would include Sylvie Guillem, Beatrice Knop, and the very beautiful Olga Smirnova, as well. Lists aren't so easy to make with all of these great ballerinas ! (:

[@peace-now]

Correct. Ulanova was well regarded in the Soviet Union also.

[@MiraLouise]

What about Evgenia Obraztsova!

[@snejinas1]

also Nina Ananiashvili and Silvie Guillem

[@balletshoes]

It is intersting you did not know about Uliana Lopatkina back then, but you knew about Alina Somova. Anyway! Nice listing!

[@edwardcharleshanna8416]

a very fine selection, from the older school to the present, most excellent!

[@ИринаКругловаМарозова]

Мне показалось что Светлана Захарова самая яркая выразительная и технически очень сильная Безупречная

[@WilesWales]

I can see now that you are featuring the best 10 ballerinas of today, and look most forward to exploring more of you site as well. Thank you again! WilesWales

[@carov822]

I think number 9 should have been number 1 :) The dying swan scene, is absolutely wonderful :)

[@peace-now]

+Caro Van den Broeck She is certainly No 1 on this list. Dying Swan? Check out Anna Pavlova who was trained by... Legnani (whose else). Legnani is Number 1 for me.

[@carov822]

I'll check it out surely!

[@minissa2009]

Charming video! Thanks for showing a little footage for each and for including some greats of the past as well as present. My favorite ballerina of all time will probably always be Martine van Hamel, and it is depressingly hard to find footage of her apart from the few Live from Lincoln Center rep bills. But she was dancing in one of ballet's golden eras: Makarova, Gregory, Farrell. These days, I'm collecting what I can of Obraztsova. But Zhakarova: best White Swan pdd ever at Bolshoi gala!

[@anastasialenkova-molchalin5874]

I wish I could have lived in that golden era. Maybe we will enter another one, it looks like such a thing is coming soon.

[@WilesWales]

I can also see that you featured the 10 top ballerinas dancing today. I will have to take in more you you site in the coming days. Thank you, again! WilesWales

[@annapachaclarke2392]

Well...seeing as everyone is scrapping over greatest love for ballerina!!! How dare anyone miss Natalia Makharova...cos no one touches her...although young Olga Smirnova is the beginning of a miraculous new breed! FACT!!!!.

[@Jordan12295]

What is the name of the first song with Carmen?

[@bianquita1]

Everyone should watch Maya Plisetskaya Bolero!!! It's amazing!

[@nereabaranda8578]

Svet lana eres increíble. Maravillosa. Seminova también está entre mis favoritas. La Escuela Rusa nos ha dado lo más puro técnicamente tanto técnicamente como artísticamente. Tal vez el precio de su disciplina ha sido tremendo para bailarinas que no se ajustaban a los cánones de belleza que se pedían, pero las que triunfaron sólo puedo DECIR EXCELENCIA Y BELLEZA. Ellas me permiten y seguirán haciéndome AMAR LA DANZA. GRACIAS

[@настянастя-х1к]

Bianca K Yes. /and Bolero was creared for her, /she was number one to dance it.

[@настянастя-х1к]

Bianca K Yes. /and Bolero was creared for her, /she was number one to dance it.

[@peace-now]

+Bianca K Absolutely. They should watch Pierina Legnani in Swan Lake also. The solo in act 3 of 'Swan Lake' was written by Tchaikovsky specially for her. Only Galina Ulanova is so well respected. Sergei Prokoviev (composer) "She is the genius of Russian ballet, its elusive soul, its inspired poetry. Ulanova imparts to her interpretation of classical roles a depth of expression unheard of in twentieth century ballet."

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Beautiful video! I agree with your choice, especially Alexandrova, Nunez and Zakharova are some of my favs, too. A very important addition for me is Alina Cojocaru, an incredibly musical artist. Thanks for sharing and a happy new year!

[@hedwegg]

#1 Polina...beauty in motion. None more limber or expressive. The body's rhythm & tone in incomparable. Great timing & ease of motion.

[@GriselSosaZignago]

1. Sylvie Guillem!!

[@Rach227204]

For me Margot Fonteyn witll always be the greatest artist... plus she got me most interested in ballet :D

[@WilesWales]

I agree, and the different styles in "Le Corsaire" for Nunez and Polina are each an artist of their own, and this is what different styles are so very important. Natalia is great in "Giselle," Act I as well. Light as she can be giving no idea as to how much more lightly she will dance in Act II. Margot Fonteyn, is one sees her Aurora "Grande Pas de Deux," Act IV, "Sleeping Beauty with David Blair is magnificent. She was initially buried in a paupers grave, but now has a gande one in England.

[@gretchenwest7840]

They were all exquisite! Thanks MarLefMou for putting it together, I found it very lovely to watch. It's why I love ballet.

[@carlosv1951]

When top ballerinas are mentioned is absolutely necessary to include Alicia Alonso, like Margot Fonteyn and Maya Plisetskaya

[@tigereyes5]

It this was an official list of top dancers I would agree with you. But as this is a personal list of favourites it isn't necessary to mention anyone other than whom the list creator favours the most, legendary or not.

[@webqueen321]

I really love Zakharova and Murphy. But I think Zakharova is too good. It seems like she alsways wants to present herself with perfect moves. So you're always concentrated on her moves not on the figure she has to present. Gillian Murphy is not as good as she is but when she's dancing I feel the character she' presenting. I can feel the story. So I think Zakharova is the very best dancer and Murphy the best actor but both are (nearly) perfect to me! But that's only my opinion. Sorry if I done some mistakes I'm a 14 years old German.

[@WilesWales]

Thank you again! I also see and loved your comment on making 50 next time. I also see now that you could have over 100! You did, however, choose the best 10 ballerinas of today, who are still dancing, and I am going to look at your site some more as it is great! WilesWales

[@MoneyTreeCare]

I really dig these types of videos. Great stuff as always. I just restarted doing my own top 5 clips again after making too many political vids. They are so fun to make, hope that I can get to the caliber here in time. Let me know if you guys and gals have any video ideas!!

[@peace-now]

Exactly Alonso is in the top 10 for sure - along with Pavlova, Plisetskaya, Ulanova, Legnani, Guillem and maybe Maria Tallchief. It seems the list has been a few who appear a lot on youtube, followed by a selection dancing now as the top ones. No doubt they will be replaced when a new batch comes along.

[@katesullivan4610]

Where was Makarova? Guillem?

[@amirasafwat7101]

She put on the list based on her opinion , what she likes more not the top dancers in the world. so stop judging everything and enjoy the video .Thanks for the video.

[@WolligesHangschaf]

Nina Ananiashvili? Alicia Alonso? Pavlova Karsavina? Anna Pavlova?

[@alexzaits3295]

i agree!!lopatkina is my number one!!!

[@rodeobadoeyenhausen]

I cannot understand how you can exclude Ekatarina Maximova ? But I suppose this is your top ten and not mine !

[@LaternaMagicaDance]

Zakharova is too neutral and rigid, Obraztsova, Guillem, Lopatkina, Cojocaru and Marianela Nunez are really artists for me!!

[@hopeemch]

What about Alessandra Ferri?

[@carlotaargemi8114]

I agree with 2) Osipova and 3) Vishneva... But where is "the Unicorn of Ballet" = ULYANA LOPATKINA???? I know why you didn't include her.... she is more than a ballerina, she is an Eternal Goddess. BEST EVER FOR ME!

[@yukjackpot1939]

I absolutely agree with your List! Great Video

[@mariannasyranidou4743]

Plisetskaya just 9 ???!!??

[@zushixilaiyi]

The title is very rarely used today and recent uses have typically been symbolic in recognition of a notable career and as a result, it is commonly viewed as an honour rather than an active rank.

[@ammillan]

Fabulosa seleccion de todo mi gusto, gracias.

[@MarLefMou]

It was difficult for me to choose everyone's position but I was 1000% sure about Svetlana's position! Im obsessed with her!

[@seminoleseminole1]

I'm glad you included some "oldies but goodies" like Plisetskaya and Alexandrova :-)

[@WilesWales]

MarLefMou, I am sorry, but most don't leave the best for last like you did. Zakharova is the best here and give the best interpretation I have seen in years, as I have seen so many "Black Swans," I didn't look at her as well as I should have. I think you've done a superb job here. Also, please forgive me for mixing up the Nikiya with another in "La Bayadere," and not "Le Corsaire." I think this video is a marvelous. Whatever you do, it seems to be done with the greatest!

[@WilesWales]

I can see now how MarLefMou evaluated the 10 top ballerinas still dancing today! Thank you!

[@dancinjoint8975]

All of the ten ballerinas are wonderful dancers... But I was surprised by two facts: How different the style of dancing can be and that Margot Fonteyn really didn't have very well arched feet for a professional... But she is still fascinating!

[@alisonbrown2614]

For me Alina Cojocaru every time.

[@theRetroMuffin]

There are many great ballerinas who aren't in this video.. for example my favourites are sarah lamb, christiana bennett, beckanne sisk, leticia stock and claudia dean..

[@operavux]

No Uliana Lopatkina???

[@sarapedron7883]

my favority ballerina is evgenia obrazsova

[@李小玉-c8h]

Thanks for the sharing. I really like it.

[@discontinuedpleasegoaway]

I like your list of dancers Here are my favorite: ( in no particular order) Natalia Osipova Sylvia Guillmen Svetlana Zakharova Alina Somova Gillian Murphy Victoria Tereshkina Olesya Novikova Maya Plisetskaya Uliana Lopatkina Leonid Sarafanov

[@discontinuedpleasegoaway]

And evgenia Obraztsova

[@discontinuedpleasegoaway]

Actually my list changes so often that I can't make a list I like a lot of dancers

[@codelyoko97]

The video is beautiful! For my the number one is Polina Semionova but all the ballerina in the video are wonderful! :)

[@peter.holoda]

1: Sylvie Guillem!!!!!

[@tsyganko]

Well, I mostly agree, but I think that Lopatkina should've been on that list. Also, I personally don't think that Vishneva is best as Odette (she's more Kitri for me) but this is your list after all :)

[@peace-now]

I think Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinksi and Pierina Legnani will be remembered long after Ms Zakharova. She is good, but not great.

[@SsSs-jh7td]

Do you know where I can find the video of Marianela Nunez doing the whole variation?

[@santi7616]

wonderful photos¡¡¡ great video¡¡¡ congratulations. by the way, ¡ they are my favourite dancers too :-)

[@MarLefMou]

she is good but svetlana zakharova always deserves to be the 1st she is just perfect (for me)!!:))

[@1111Saruman]

Yaay! Go go Zakharova!!!

[@Andrey0776]

Ульяна Лопаткина самая лучшая!

[@caviardebeluga]

#1 Svetlana Zakharova #2 Sylvie Guillem

[@haileyandkoko967]

Svetlana all the way. She is untouchable.

[@McSadia]

I agree - Zakharova is my number 1 too!!!

[@mcpushkin]

Very interesting choice! I wonder if you would be willing to know russian view on such rating. The best ever Giselle remains for many of us Mesentseva, the Juliet-Ulanova, the Odetta Lopatkina, Kitry, Cinderela, Anna must be Maximova, police had to be on guard around Bolshoi when Plicetskaya danced Carmen, Aurora-Kolpakova. We are blessed with three phenominal dancers: Vishneva, Zakharova, Semionova. I would call Diana being the Dancer of 21 century, but it is the matter of taste of course..

[@ozsfi]

I have not seen Mesentseva, Alonso was a great Giselle.

[@Графоманство]

Maximova and Lopatkina.

[@Tamaziko]

Ananiashvili?????

[@hopeemch]

And Suzanne Farrell ?

[@peace-now]

You are kidding! What about Pierina Legnani??? I mean hello. Tchaikovsky had to revise Swan Lake for her. What about Ekaterina Vazem? I mean she was the original Nikiya and taught Anna Pavlova to dance. What about Ulanova? These are the greats. They will be remembered long after most of those you mention other than Plisetskaya and Fonteyn.

[@reanimato1]

interesting. i love watching videos like this and compare it to my own taste. i absoletely agree on Svetlana. she's the best ballerina ever existed imo. Nataliya Osipova is incredible as well. but there also would be Agnes-Marie Gillot and Aurelie Dupont in my list. for sure)

[@DazzlinDancer22]

Good! As long as Marianela is on there.

[@peace-now]

As anyone who they have hear of in ballet. Most would mention Nijinsky or Pavlova. : Others would say Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nurveyev and Mikhail Barishynikov. These are the five names that come up over and over throughout the last 30 years. So where is Anna Pavlova? She is the most famous ballerina of all time. People like Zakharova are mentioned now, but I'll guarantee they will soon fade. Pavlova won't.

[@maicolacostalemos]

es dificil... obvio... pero re bien la seleccion... lo unico que te digo que la foto que pusiste de osipova es realmente una imagen de zakharova...

[@noheliatorres5224]

What about Alicia Alonso?!