Natalia Osipova rehearses Anastasia (The Royal Ballet)

Royal Ballet Principal Natalia Osipova rehearses Kenneth MacMillan's Anastasia as part of World Ballet Day 2016. Find out more at www.roh.org.uk/anastasia
Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Anastasia for Deutsche Oper Ballet in 1967. He was inspired by the true story of Anna Anderson, a woman who believed herself to be Anastasia, youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and the only survivor from the assassination of the Romanovs in 1918. Leaving the audience to decide the legitimacy of Anna’s claims, MacMillan created a haunting, expressionist work to Martinů’s Sixth Symphony, in which Anna is visited by confused nightmares of her life from the time of the massacre to her discovery in Berlin in 1920. The ballet won widespread acclaim on its premiere, particularly for the central performance of Lynn Seymour in the anguished title role. As MacMillan said in 1971, ‘I found in [Anna’s] story a theme that has sometimes appeared in my work before: the Outsider figure. Anastasia seems to me to be a supreme example of this’.
One of MacMillan’s first creative acts on becoming Director of The Royal Ballet was to adapt Anastasia into a three-act, full-length work, his first for the Company since Romeo and Juliet. He created two preceding acts to the Berlin act, using music by Tchaikovsky to explore Anna’s ‘memory’ of events in the Imperial family leading up to the Russian Revolution - providing a powerful context for the disturbed Anna’s nightmares of the final act. The full ballet, first performed in 1971, was a declaration of intent: it showcased MacMillan’s dual influences, of classical, Royal Ballet tradition in the first two acts, and of German expressionism - a style then entirely new to British audiences - in the final. The ballet remains one of MacMillan’s most experimental and poignant works.

[@pinkwings8036]

She looks so thin and lithe from a distance, but up close you can see every muscle! That amount of effort and conditioning really shows.

[@Shamariah2011]

Pink Wings she is incredibly unique which is why we want to watch her we feel sorry for her in a way

[@Shamariah2011]

She is an incredible character dancer

[@tiltawhorled]

Her arms wiggle because she’s dehydrated. You can she she’s been suffering from dis spirit. And she’s stretching her feet because she’s cramping and she needs zinc and water. But they’re making fun of her. This is disgusting but it’s the dance world.

[@thewayiam203]

@@tiltawhorled oh really she told you all that?

[@maicolacostalemos]

i wanna see a full ballet class with osipova.... must be so incrediblee

[@laurenh8866]

I watched a recording of her in Giselle, and it was amazing!

[@NataliaCatrufo]

Me too! It would be so inspiring

[@zorahb.6240]

Her movements are captivatingly beautiful - They seem so effordless and free! I´m truly stunned, how she carries those emotions. Damn, I love these rehearsals!

[@beth7437]

When I was young back in the dark ages the only ballet I could watch was the occasional PBS show or by looking at Dance Magazine. You youngsters have no idea what a privilege it is to view these videos. Thank you Royal Ballet.

[@teerex893]

Wow, she is poetry.

[@urcutejeans-]

could not have said it better

[@lynnsimpson6467]

She takes direction really well - what a team and no ego

[@TheDersertAir]

Amazing really. The coaches are so annoying - especially the man - and trivialising

[@jonrandallspradley]

Great talents can be directed. Lesser talents not so much, if at all. She's a great one.

[@heyryanisonx3141]

During her bows, you can see her struggling to recover her sanity from this performance. Talk about dedication! No better Anastasia than Natalia

[@icarrus4u]

She will be FANTASTIC in this role! So excited to see it in cinema's.

[@SelinaSYC]

I don't know how to dance, but I can feel how beautiful it is. This is amazing.

[@carmen9330]

She`s just so beautiful...and pure emotions when dancing..Love!!

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

Natalia Osipova is a true marvel. I love her.

[@kensong64]

having see the ballet it was wonderful to se how she discovered the moves, especially the highly passionate, emotional ones. Brilliant Osipova. Wonderful Royal Ballet.

[@vintilabogdan8515]

Best ballerina ever! Lot of hard work! Have no words to describe Her talent!

[@SamsungJ-tb4gd]

Yes 👌

[@annahasty7191]

She's Stunning.😀

[@petitluna2571]

She’s not just a ballerina, she’s an actress!!

[@williamgabriel2286]

So good! The rapport between the camera crew and the magnificent Osipova helps me appreciate the art of dance so much more. (I don't think the body cam adds much, though.)

[@msgail7905]

Amazing to watch the process. Osipova is beautiful. Excited to see this ballet.

[@annapaolamilito285]

Very expressive , such an elegance .

[@MissSunflower242]

In the same way Marianela was born to play Kitri in Don Q, Natalia was born to perform Anastasia. Absolutely brilliant! Do I have to move to England to see this masterpiece?! 😄

[@marionbayley1351]

It’s available on dvd! The whole thing is utterly breathtaking & shatteringly sad. This is an amazing performance!

[@65NART]

It is wonderful to see former Prima Ballerina Viviana Durante. Viviana was/is my favourite. Which a fabulous dancer. Is she doing more work with the Royal Ballet now.

[@gulfair-cavalry-tango1011]

Magnificent Osipova!!!! Dynamic, articulate, brainy!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lisar9425]

Hate to bang on, but I liked these rehearsal videos better before they were all with the crane and the close ups. It obscures the movement and belittles the rehearsal process, the connection between the accompanist, the coaches, the dancer. That PROCESS was the real treat, the WORK, the work lights, the rehearsal room, the exploration, the MOVEMENT. The more you move the camera, the less you see the dancers and the choreography. It makes me feel sad, truth be told. I do wish you would return to a more workmanlike, raw presentation.

[@elenaahumada9842]

mi gran bailarina Natalia; talentosa versátil y hermosa👏👏👏👏👏

[@carolinatavera07]

Natalia is Amazing! great performer and dancer, that role was made for her1 PS.: first comment!! :O

[@gabrielleurbina7020]

Carolina Tavera I'd hesitate to say it was made for her because she is insane lol

[@Tqolad1]

This is so beautifully performed and intense, I always wonder how does Natalia cope with all the direction being in English, because if English wasn't my first language I think I would find it so difficult ?

[@Becca_H85]

English is actually easy to learn. Especially if your motherlanguage has such a complex grammar. ;-)

[@ElisePerformances]

Actually her English isn't very good. In English interviews she prefers to speak Russian and have a translator.

[@astridlasso9135]

Natalia Osipova nació de la música, la danza y el Arte dramático.

[@adeline3068]

I am just speechless. She is amazing

[@nikz000]

Love Her❤️😱

[@karinajansson8431]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful rehearsel with my favorit female dancer.

[@MiaDjojowasitoMalik]

I want to see this so much!!!!! 😭😭😭

[@NaomiVolturi]

Osipova 😍😍😍😍

[@mefloquine]

She is amazing !✨

[@candywu828]

coming to see it on 29th premier!

[@Shamariah2011]

What amazing coaches.

[@lindaharrison3240]

So nice to see Viviana Durante back in the RB studios.

[@ylem19867]

She is true artist

[@Cosmic-Mind]

She is amazing! I love seeing her facial expressions and how she reacts to the music💓 also like the GoPro camera.

[@arcitejack]

ROH please make this video again and make it 6 hours long.

[@barbaralemere1852]

She will be amazing in this role.

[@hannahlindsay3834]

she is incredible and i can't wait to see this beautiful ballet!:)

[@HelenJoannides]

My God, Viviana Durante is teaching. What a dream this artist... And Kenneth Mc Millan ... genius too.

[@marcuswilliams9837]

Natalia exists beyond words

[@ludmilag2692]

Великолепная Осипова , в которой переизбыток женской и мужской энергии ! Osipova is unique .there is a surplus of male and female anergy .Great Osipova !!! Bravissimo!

[@oworosie931]

She and Sergei Polunin are the king and queen of ballet

[@mariaswardt5909]

They are indeed. Unfortunately, they don't dance together anymore.

[@user-gf7bm6os8t]

When Natalia was still in Bolshoi, she and Ivan Vasliev were a great pair

[@jonrandallspradley]

Wonderful

[@simonaperez1475]

Наталья лучшая балерина в мире, она одна на олимпе балетного искусства. Мне так жаль, и я плачу, что она не танцует в России. Это сокровище, мы его потеряли , как потеряли много сокровищ, которые правдами и неправдами остались в Лондоне.

[@Mastershaley]

Anybody find it a bit odd that Darcey & Gethin are in this video together? You know, since she's worked with & is best friends with his ex fiancée Katherine Jenkins whom is now married with a child. I respect that they are able to work together despite the differences in their relationships towards / with Kath I just feel that the reason they acted so oddly with each other might because of that.

[@shartrezlittle8952]

wow

[@adeline3068]

Stunning!

[@bellejacinto7632]

That muscle build though.

[@itamarbar9580]

Is the heartbeat solo electronic in the score? Right hand of the piano is martinu and the left is electronic. That's how it feels like

[@Shamariah2011]

She’s testing her sanity in her performance

[@s02229]

why do they call her Natasha :o I love her so much. wish i could meet her in person. i'd better start saving for a London trip just o see her lol. and this Ballet is so intense, it's more like physical theatre than dancing to me

[@mitzypinks1338]

My name is Natasha. And it's the proper Russian name. I had a Russian friend at school who was called Natalia but she preferred to be called Natasha.

[@tutus4life]

it's kind of like a nickname :)

[@roastedpepper]

Most Russian names have a diminutive version that isn’t as formal as the full name. So natasha is the diminutive of natalia. Sasha is the diminutive of Alexander/Alexandra etc etc. Which version you use to call the person depends on level of familiarity (friends, acquaintances, strangers) and authority. So your elders you never call by the diminutive but by their full name (and a patronymic).

[@sheenee2192]

Viviana is here O.o

[@ymichelle3263]

[@cartoonb9869]

SHE IS FUCKING PERFECT !!!!

[@sheenee2192]

Watch them all teach her the entire chorea and then watch her drastically go off script on stage. lol.

[@eve4006]

アナスタシアバレエにもなってたんだ…！

[@anononi6387]

ballet ya lombok love nama kala

[@tiltawhorled]

This actually looks like a horse jumping over hurdles with a man standing on the side

[@mariajoselara266]

08:06

[@brendadufaur37]

Anastasia was murdered with her family. The false story that she survived is tiresome. Of course Osipova is incredible.

[@tiltawhorled]

What would be most interesting is if everybody in this production got to spend a little time in the asylum and then it would be much more realistic.

[@heide9755]

Natalja is truly outstanding gut she is much too skinny....

[@tiltawhorled]

The last social restraint that was attempted was harnessing women with an unrealistic idea of beauty that kept them from giving birth and strip them of self-confidence resulting in eating disorders.Thankfully the next generation was taught to love their body but it still may be latent in society as an unaddressed social issue.

[@tiltawhorled]

More looser. I didn’t graduate him. And my only socially acceptable occupation besides the nurse would be teacher. Even in today’s society

[@user-zl6tq3ye4n]

Не нравится мне такая хореография, это поперёк русского характера. Пора Наташе самой становиться хореографом.

[@mickeymorgan]

Divine lines, but dear Natalia, you are not FOCUSED. You cannot be a shell of this being. You began so fast, took no time to fall into yourself, your deepest self. And, yes, it is just a rehearsal, but that moment of you looking at the camera gave away that you were not really present to yourself. Authentic being doesn't come from class, it comes from our inner work, for which we are each responsible. Your directors may feel it is all fine, but I would stop, and tell you it was unacceptable, and why, and how to make it real. Embodied. Were you embodied by this woman you depicted? If not, you musn't go on stage until you become her, alone.

[@linklimbim]

Maybe she's just not used to being on camera? It's not every day that her rehearsals are being filmed and when a camera is right in front of your face you can't help but look into it.

[@user-gf7bm6os8t]

Osipova😍😍😍