Our Dream Variations? Overplayed? 🤫 | RANKING Ballet Variations | Tier List | Ballet Reign

[@balletreign]

We’re curious… How would you rank these? Which variation is your personal favorite? Leave a comment and let us know 🤭

[@Owen_Chambers1]

I love the variation videos you need to do another one like with aurora act 1 or something like other paquita like armida and ya I love armidas pavillion in paquita do a lot of paquitas in a part 2. Like the other pas de trois paquita. Pharaohs daughter and graduation ball awakening of flora the other fairies in sleeping beauty Giselle pas fairy doll la fille mal gardee both Please a PART 2

[@tarantellalarouge7632]

I agree with you with la Esmeralda, I can't see it anymore (but I am sure that most young ballerinas LOOOVE it), I like the 3rd odalisque, music and choreography. But my favorite variations are not here .....

[@fireflower132]

Giselle;) it makes my heart just sing and it's like a sudden revelation and reminds me why i truly love ballet! For me it's the very essence of what ballet is💚

[@mydogsmom9206]

@BalletReign I loved hearing about the variations, but for many of them you simply gave the character's name and not where to find it in the ballet. Is there only one variation by that name in that case? I'm very new to ballet and want to try and look all of these up in their entirety. The ones I'm specifically thinking of are: Flames Of Paris, Medora, Pas D'Esclave, Gamzatti, Cupid, Queen Of The Dryads, Raymonda (Piano), La Esmeralda, Bluebird (Is this Sleeping Beauty)?, 3rd Odalisque, Talisman, Grand Pas Classique, Walpurgis Nacht, Harlequinade, and Diana & Acteon. What ballets are they from and how do I go about searching to make sure I get the right variation?

[@screech5325]

When you're watching ballet competions and see dancer dancing: - Kitri - Esmeralda - Black Swan - Cupid - Sleeping Beauty Are they beautifull? Yes. Am I tired to see them on competiosions? Yes.

[@balletreign]

Relatable 😅😅😅

[@Mia-wz1ph]

my problem with some variations like esmeralda, talisman, etc is that you rarely see the full length productions you only see the standalone variations in competitions so the dancers don’t know the context and don’t understand the charachter

[@balletreign]

Yes 💯 agree- we definitely can’t stress enough the importance in having a well rounded ballet education as a dancer.

With Esmeralda it's a bit more complicated though, because the Pas de deux actually doesn't have much to do with the actual ballet... Even the Petipa society, which is supposed to be a credible source has conflicting information in regards to the choreography and everything... I couldn't even find the details on who her partner in the pdd is... Cause the most logical answer would be Pierre Gringoire, however, he already is her partner in the Pas de six, so yeah... Ballet is confusing... And Talisman, if I understood correctly, is a lost ballet... Or at least I think it is... Or at least its not being done almost at all, by any of the major ballet companies...

[@xuefensun1117]

I agree, and i am guilty of this myself

[@gonefishing167]

Personally I am soooo sick of Esmeralda. I know it’s wrong but I just switch off 🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺

[@brigitinspace4272]

when we learned variations at summer intensives there was this terrible little tv on a cart that took vhs tapes and a teacher would sit us down on the studio floor and we would spend part of the first day of each week learning the ballet that the variation was from in order to understand the context better.

[@Kafoo_X]

I think the Sugar Plum variation itself is classic, but the music is definitely waaaay overplayed. Whenever Nutcracker season starts playing in my everyday life, I'm always like "Can I play the chicken dance over and over in every store, video, commercial etc please? I need non dancers to know the agony of listening to Sugar Plum over and over again"

[@balletreign]

Lol all dancers can relate! There is no “holiday season” only “nutcracker season” 😂

[@lilliedoubleyou3865]

I love the Sugar Plum Fairy variation, and the PDD with her Cavalier (extra, I know). Which is why, even though Russian ballet companies are my favorite, I can't help but be a little scandalized by the fact that neither the Bolshoi nor the Mariinsky has a Sugar Plum Fairy character. Instead, Marie dances the variation!

[@daisytwotoes]

Been there. I break out in a cold sweat whenever I hear any Nutcracker.

[@Schneider1700]

In your Raymonda piano variation, the score was written for a cimbalom, a Hungarian folk instrument. It makes a world of difference. Cimbalom players are not that many and, of course, they add to production costs, so they use a piano. There are some pianists that can imitate the cimbalom very well, but they are also few.

[@CheyenneSedai]

And I'd definitely love part 2, particularly for full ballets because I'm looking to get to know new ones

[@balletreign]

Noted! There are so many amazing ballets out there we’d love to share. Stay tuned 😉

[@cassandratemple45]

I love your fake commercials! The way the music lines up with the cuts is just perfect.

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much! ♥️😊

[@whatdoyousuppose]

For Black Swan, the alternate version would be in the Exquisite tier for me, it makes so much more sense in the context of the narrative & the pas de deux it’s one of my faves!

[@balletreign]

We love that version too! Different take on odile for sure 😁😁

[@vantilate]

Would love a round 2 with even more variations like… Nikiya's death!! Giselle act 2! Manon party variation! Tchai pas! Tatiana variation! I think most of these aren’t done at competitions (except occasionally an ambitious young dancer trying Nikiya who can’t act it… this might also be the problem with black swan variation) Also how about ranking pas de deux? And showing us your favorite interpretations of the exquisite variations? Thank you for your entertaining and informative videos!

[@balletreign]

We would love to do Round 2 and a PDD edition! Definitely agree with your thoughts on Nikiya’s death variation… definitely takes an artist to sell that one. 👍🏻

[@Deinareia]

I personally love the Raymonda variantion. But definitely as a standalone piece.

[@firstlast6109]

As much as I look forward to seeing and hearing you two charming ladies talk about ballet every Saturday, I do miss you dancing. After all that is what one expexts ballerinas to do. At least once in a while.

[@balletreign]

Thanks for watching and for your request! We do hope we can show more of us dancing soon in future videos 😉 Stay tuned…

[@mauriii1920]

I love Kitri’s fan variation, but on a waaaaaaay faster tempo

[@justherbirdy]

The only ballet knowledge I have is you two, and I just want to say that Eden's exquisite vocal performances and your wonderful it's-English-but-it's-also-ballet-code discussions where you read each other's minds are making me love a form of dance I had never really been interested in before. How did I not know how fascinating ballet was?! More, please! Always more!

[@balletreign]

Thank you for acknowledging Eden’s brilliant vocal skills 😂. But seriously, thanks for such a kind comment! So glad we could help you appreciate ballet in a deeper way. Stay tuned for more every Saturday! ❤️👍🏻

[@kritee]

i personally have a soft spot for third shade, as an adage dancer, it was my favourite variation to perform. i never really thought about how anti-climatic the pas couru at the end was hahah, but i loved doing it :) i wonder if you guys could include the other shade and odalisque variations in part 2??

[@balletreign]

Glad to hear you love third shade! Yes, we will consider the other variations in part 2 Thank you!

[@Rosytherose]

Third shade buddies :D

[@jennifercockrill6356]

I'd like to hear you two talk about male variations, please. And also, more ads set to Nutcracker pieces because that totally cracked me up. I loved the whole video, but the car and and the burger ad were brilliant in their non-ballet way :D

[@balletreign]

Male variations will be added! Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed the Nutcracker pieces 😂 😂 look for more in future videos lol

[@markbeck8384]

Oh, and that one in the finale of Raymonda. It's the piano imitating a Hungarian percussion sort of instrument, which is why it fits in with the other music.

[@brigitinspace4272]

as an ex dance student who had to quit because of joint issues, I've found a lot of comfort and familiarity in these videos. Thank you for your amazing work!

[@Vonnie1490]

Let me tell you the way I was OBSESSED with Waltz of the Snowflakes..... Obsessed!! The music and the dance. I always wanted to dance it but never got a chance to do so 😩

[@LivingInElysium]

Every time I think of Kitri, I think of Miko Fogarty performing it at YAGP.

[@maruchann3660]

happens to me with esmeralda haahahs

[@LivingInElysium]

@@maruchann3660 Miko did it SO WELL and so on beat with the tambourine!

[@gonefishing167]

Try Osipova, stunning! 🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺

[@Pomeranianlover15]

I totally agree with Eden, it is SO much more magical and fun to perform than to watch!

[@AndrewWhise]

It'd be cool to see you guys in a separate video rank these and PDDs in order of difficulty

[@soapygirl83]

Watching you two geek out over classical music is so endearing.

[@balletreign]

LOLLL 😂

[@MegaGreeeeeen]

20:05 Yes Funner is the correct comparative form of Fun (it's just that it sounds odd and people say more fun) but more and most are used as comparative and superlative forms of adjectives that have more than 3 syllables. Adjectives with less than 3 syllables use "er" and "est" for their comparative and superlative forms respectively. Two things: English is not my native tongue and I love your channel and content, I finally understand ballet (I'm a theatre kid). I'm saying hi from the Dominican Republic (yup, you got a fan over here) 💛💛💛

[@balletreign]

Yay! Welcome to the channel! ❤️Thanks for sharing and glad you are enjoying the videos and learning to appreciate ballet from the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

[@annaiuga]

I just love all those variations when done well, but your comments made them exquisite!

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@isabelaandzico]

Myrtha has to be on the list. It was my dream come true when I got to dance it. Another part that I’d dance any day (just for the music 🎶 so fun!) is the second dancer in Paquita’s pas de trois!

[@balletreign]

Thanks for sharing your dream variations, so many good ones out there! Let us know other variations we should include in a part 2? 🩰

[@isabelaandzico]

@@balletreign I’m so excited for part 2! Myrtha (as I mentioned earlier), Tchaikovsky PDD, Pharaoh’s Daughter, Spartacus Aegina variation, all variations of Paquita (could be a separate video!), Chopiniana Waltz variation, Nikiya’s Kingdom of Shades and finally Markitenka jump variation (I’d do that one right now for the music and the jumps!).

[@bobbiecat7139]

Ah-h-h-h TwoSet Violin format ... now TwoSet Ballet. LOVE IT! ♥

[@balletreign]

Hahah Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this video 🩰😊

[@nikiyabayaderegimo754]

For some youtube algorithm reason, I JUST discovered you channel now, and I've watching you videos non-stp for a day ! We want an extended version of this one pleeeease, with Nikita's Death... sending love !😍🥰

[@balletreign]

So happy to have you join the Ballet Nerds, welcome!! 🥳🥳 we’re glad you’ve been enjoying our content, we will def look into a part two for this one ✨✨

[@luchiennes]

i can definitely rank these 🌼 • exquisite: raymonda (slow one), giselle, diana, walpurgis nacht, satanella, pas d'exclave, 3rd shade • i'd perform: paquita (slow one), coppelia act 1, harlequinade, white swan, paquita (fast) • classic: grand pas classique, gamaztti, queen of dryads, blue bird, lilac fairy, esmerelda • ish: kitri act 1, flames of paris, 3rd odalisque, raymonda (other one), talisman • overplayed: medora, black swan, aurora (act 3) • please no: kitri (act 3), sugar plum, raymonda (one with piano) but my favorites (that were not included) will always be hebe, la slyphide, la fille mal gardee (the one that starts with the jetes and attitudes), and mrytha

[@balletreign]

Thanks for sharing your list! We would love to cover the other lesser known ballet variations as well 🩰😊

[@luchiennes]

@@balletreign that'd be so fun!!!

[@rln212]

Hello, ladies! I found your channel a few weeks ago and am loving it so much! I'm an adult ballet beginner who started online classes 1.5 years ago with no dance background. Your videos, ballet breakdowns, and beautiful spirits have been so wonderful to dive into as I continue to learn all the facets of ballet. Keep the videos coming!

[@balletreign]

Thanks for saying hi 👋 Welcome to the channel! 🤍 So glad to have you here- we will continue to spread the ballet love ❤️

[@kristenjohnson6583]

Love your videos! This was a really fun one, I hope you do a similar one with pas de deux and corps. I agree with you about Waltz of the Snowflakes but not about White Swan, probably since the first one I ever saw was Svetlana Zakharova (her Dying Swan is exquisite too). That said, you're the dancers and I love your insights!

[@balletreign]

Yay! Glad you had fun :) yes we would consider pas de deux and corps- noted, thanks for watching!

[@gregoireduplanil-weill4180]

J&E : put Raymonda in the "Pls no" tier Me : is that a personnal attack or something ? I don't agree with all the rankings but it was interesting and fun to watch ! (As always) Will you make a part 2 video ? There are so many variations out there, one could basically dedicate a whole channel to tier lists ! I'd love to ear your thoughts on other variations, like Myrtha's, Nikiya's, Henriette, the alternative chroeo for Black swan, etc. Thanks ! PS: Délibes is the dream ! I recommend his lesser known ballets, like the second half of La Source and its ending

[@balletreign]

Haha so glad to have you join us. No personal attacks lol Thank you for sharing list of other other variations to comment on, definitely will consider another video for part 2. Yes, we need to shed light on the lesser know ballets. Great suggestions!

[@bronzinobronzino2748]

As a male balletomane, we would vote for a Part Two ranking the male variations, addressing how your selection criteria might change when judging male dancing. For example, the Raymonda variation with the clapping of hands that you two so dislike is absolutely EXQUISITE when danced by a man (perhaps because the sharp/forceful sound of the hand slap registers more convincingly when it originates from a male protagonist). Another 'exquisite' variation to consider might be the Spectre de la Rose -- we still recall the jaw-dropping elevation and fingernail-to-toenail stretch that Herman Cornejo achieved (many years ago now) when he lept out the stage window at the end of that ballet! And of course, your list might include multiple EXQUISITE star turns from that glorification of male dancing: 'Mayerling'! (Would such a proposed male variation review also be a chance to include on your panel of judges a male dancer who may have first-hand experience/knowledge of the male roles under consideration?) Your viewer in Bloomsbury

[@balletreign]

Yesss that would be so fun! Def agree, we prefer when the men do the clapping, unless we’re in don q or something like that 😂. Thanks for your input, we will def consider all those things when we do this video! 👍🏻

[@brit1583]

In part 2 please look at Sylvia. It’s such fun

[@balletreign]

Yes! Please send us more variations you’d like us to add to the next list :)

[@irinasouvandjiev]

@@balletreignMore variations from La Bayadere, Manon and Onegin!

[@marcco44]

you guys will comment on male dances too? recently i discovered Manuel Legris dancing 'The Specter De Le Rose' here on youtube and was quite amazed by it, very magical.

[@balletreign]

Yes, we would love to comment on male variations. Any other classical male ballet variations you’d like to see on a tier list? Thank you for watching!

[@marcco44]

@@balletreign love your videos- very helpful to the layman!

[@alinebeatriz9546]

I know that the solos in Emeralds, by Jewels, are not variations, but I really wish they were in part 2, and others like Laurencia, Aurora act 1 and 2, Cinderella, Juliet and the variations of swan lake pas de trois.

[@balletreign]

Thank you for these suggestions- so many good ones. We will def be considering a part 2 ☺️

[@Owen_Chambers1]

Yes I want a part two too!!!!!!

[@Cattily]

I LOVE your videos!! They’re so much fun. Have you ever considered ranking various friends dances from different ballets (IE Romeo and Juliet, sleeping beauty, Coppelia, ect.)?

[@balletreign]

Ooohhh that’s a good idea. Thank you! We’re so happy you are enjoying yourself here 😄✨

[@cecilia-jd6xz]

loved this❤ definitely do more parts!

[@balletreign]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this! 💕

[@CheyenneSedai]

I learned about so many variations I didn't know about before

[@balletreign]

Yay! So glad to hear we were able to introduce some variations to you 🥰 Thanks for watching!

[@Linus644]

Heyy, it'd be fun if you guys also ranked ballets! Love your videoss

[@balletreign]

Noted!! Thank u sm! 😁😁

[@galacticmess7050]

I actually love Raymonda (piano+orchestra variation)! Something about the slow movements carry this imponent feeling of power from the character, it may not be showy but it feels powerful, at least from a viewer's perspective, and the music is *chef's kiss *. As a musician, to be able to perform repeated notes in a way that's interesting and entracing, and not staggering/boring, it can be incredibly difficult, so when I hear a pianist nail that aspect of the music, the variation comes to absolute l i f e for me.

[@jackson5802]

I love the Raymonda variation with the fouettés. Mostly because I associate it with my best friend who left then performed it at yagp this year

[@SobrietyandSolace]

Kitri with a fan, Esmeralda with a tambourine, doesn’t get any better than that

[@balletreign]

Respect to all the dancers who can dance with props :)

[@mariellouise1]

My favorite edits! Especially the car commercial!

[@annapires991]

I think my only big disagreement would be the Raymonda piano one, because is a rarer piece to see and when is danced by a strong and charismatic dancer is just so gorgeous (Osipova ftw always), very mature!

[@justalittlebitmo]

I actually really enjoy watching the Sugar Plum Fairy variation. That said, I'm not a dancer haha and I do agree that the song is overplayed

[@EMMERZ.CRAIG08]

I wanna see you guys dance!!!

[@Isabelladavidson]

Would love to see you rank Dulcinea, Canary Fairy, 1&2nd shades, Raymonda Act One Pizzicato, Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux and the Golden Vine Fairy!

[@balletreign]

Thanks for your list, we will add! 😊

[@graciepaff]

i’d love to see a pas de deux version 🤭

[@balletreign]

Noted, thank you- this will be a fun one 😊

[@HeatherLandon227]

My favorite in Nutcracker is Waltz of the Flowers! 🌸

[@minissa2009]

Big agreement on the Shade variation, and I don't know why anyone chooses it for competition. The music at the beginning sounds like a clock running down. The rest sounds like circus music. I generally agree with your choices, although I like both Raymonda variations; since that's Novikova in the orchestral one, I wish you'd shown her entrechat quatres on pointe, a definite upgrade fro changement. Only criticism of the vid itself is I would have liked to see all variations full screened. It would have been nice to see all of every variation, but then this vid would have stretched to several hours! Another fun vid, and you've made my husband into a fan, at least of you two if not of ballet!

[@balletreign]

LOLLL the clock and circus picture got us 😂 we’re glad u enjoyed the video, we will pass that note along to our editor to make the var clips in full screen 👍🏻👍🏻

[@markbeck8384]

My favorites to watch are Diana & Acteon, the Coppelia, and the Giselle. There's also a female solo in La Source I really like. It comes out of the harem-betrothal sort of section. I also like the Flames of Paris one.

[@lesliedowdell-cannon2500]

I love the other Black Swan variation that is rarely done these days. I prefer the music that goes with it as well ( almost a little sinister).

[@gv5884]

I personally love the Black Swan variation due to the arms as wings part

[@balletreign]

Yessss ✨✨✨

[@dances_522]

Yesss I want to see male variations or full ballets!!!!💗love you guys and ur channel

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much, glad to have you!💕 Yes, stay tuned for part 2 :)

[@dances_522]

@@balletreign ☺️💗yay!

[@jellyyus1160]

a hamburger commercial with snow in the background is something i never knew i needed to see 100/10 would eat that burger 🔥

[@balletreign]

Right?? 😂😂😂

[@wingeddangernoodle]

my appreciation of sugarplum depends so heavily on the choreography? I feel like so many of them are decidedly... unmusical?

[@balletreign]

That’s so true, choreography plays such an important part to the music and vice versa. Great point!

[@katelynne7211]

Didn't expect Waltz of the snowflakes to be underrated I even thought it's more popular than Waltz of the Flowers. Lots of my favorites are actually not listed here: Pharaoh's daughter, Aurora dream variation Laurencia and the Bolshoi's old version of Black Swan. I agree that both Kitri act 1 and Giselle are exquisite but they're borderline overplayed as well. I'd put Blue Bird in the overplayed tier it's like La Esmeralda with the tambourine to me. To be fair both of them including Kitri act 3 are classics when done (extremely) well and with a quick tempo.

[@balletreign]

Ooh those are some really good variations that definitely aren’t performed enough! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your favorite variations! We will definitely look into adding them for a part 2 😉

[@thatkatblack7713]

AH yes the old version of Black Swan!!! I love that one

[@katelynne7211]

@@balletreign Thanks, I think lots of us here will be waiting for a part 2!

[@curiousman1672]

It never dawned on me that ballet people got sick of variations. Once I think about it, it makes sense. Why wouldn't you?

[@jessicaxia4413]

i'm actually addicted to Raymonda's third act variation (piano one) for me its just so maturing and queenly, i would recommend Olga Smirnova dancing in the Bolshoi version/one other variation i would recommend is the Manon variation from act 2 (salon scene), so perfumy

[@cynner2328]

You’d make fun commercials-I would not skip them😁

[@balletreign]

Lol Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the commercial 😅

[@victorialy7039]

Would love to see a video on ranking/recommending lesser known variations too (Pharaoh’s Daughter, Carmen, Awakening of Flora, etc.) 😊❤

[@balletreign]

Ok!! 😁😁

[@yvonnestrong3856]

I've enjoyed watching the Grand Pas Classique on KZbin (never had the chance to see it performed live) because it seems to mostly be performed by French and Russian dancers and it shows up the difference in the two styles very clearly. It's also interesting to watch because it isn't part of a story ballet so the dancer has to make it interesting to watch purely on its own terms with no character input or story arc to help.

[@balletreign]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this beautiful variation :)

[@xuefensun1117]

I wanted to do gamzatti until i remembered i can't turn or jump. I love it though, the music is everything.

[@balletreign]

hahaha that’s such a mood 😂😂 we bet you could do it if you set your mind to it. Go you!! 💪✨😄💕

[@ImAnotherFreak]

20:01 yes!!! A while back I tried to learn the Paquita variation with the violin (the one with the double stops, doesn’t always get performed but if it does it’s always done by the female lead) from a video and it was pretty fun to dance it! But I really really dislike watching it. It just feels choppy and unmusical to me. And if the violinist doesn’t hit those notes exactly right it sounds awful.

[@balletreign]

Wowww so cool! Ballet music is the best, although we never succeeded in playing the music… guess that’s why we stuck to dancing to it 😂. Always love hearing Ballet from a musicians POV ✨👍🏻😁

[@jazzyflower9286]

When I went to Disney I was very pleasantly surprised that they played snow and mirlitons and yet no children march

[@balletreign]

No waaayyyy 😲😲 Bonus points to Disney!

[@teresaburton1345]

Right after their “car commercial” I got a real car commercial 😅😅😅

[@balletreign]

NO WAAAYY LOL 😂

[@lefauteuilparesseux7971]

Today I learnt a word: showstoppper. Thanks ladies ^^

[@balletreign]

Hahaha You’re welcome :)

[@moonstruck-swede]

Pas d'Esclave is my favorite! It's actually the one that made me start ballet!

[@victoriachen6879]

Thank you for this great summary of variations! Love listening you girls talk - you both have a way with words, and have depth and maturity beyond your age!! Keep up the good work!!! :D

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much! That’s very kind 🫰🏻🫰🏻

[@susanpaul4752]

Act 2, Giselle is high on my list of tear jerker pas de deux.

[@balletreign]

Giselle absolutely WRECKS us 😭😭

[@I_likecabbage]

Harlequinade and talisman is sooooo overplayed in the area where I live😂

[@sianavassileva403]

Loved that 🤍🤍🦋🩰 give us part 2 🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️

[@balletreign]

Glad you had fun! Sounds like part 2 is happening 😉 Thanks for watching!

[@dancingitalianurbanfarm8078]

Part 2 please including The Fairy Doll and La Fille. I’d love to see male variations and pas de deux as well. Perhaps full length ballets 🤔

[@balletreign]

We hear you! Stay tuned 😉❤️

[@rita6276]

I’d love to see a part 2 with the awakening of flora variation and dulcinea’s don q act 2 variation

[@balletreign]

Thanks for your input! 👍🏻☺️

[@BreakofDawn]

@10:30 😂 I would watch a goldfish perform kitri act 3

[@balletreign]

Haha yes that’s true 😂

[@chriscortez9090]

IMO I love La Esmerelda, The Black Swan, and Kitri (act 1) but I completely agree with everything else! It would be so cool if you would do a step by step of Coppelia (OMG I love that ballet)

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

I can only watch Grand Pas Classique if it's done by professionals. I hate watching it done by students at YAGP/Prix du Lausanne because it is the hardest female variation that has basically everything needed in a variation and anything can go wrong.

[@balletreign]

Def one of the hardest!! 😓😓

[@manchae03]

Please make a part 2!!!

[@pascalcrt]

Great! I would just love it if you guys could introduce the variations a little bit more please, so we have some context like what ballet they’re from. For some I was very lost where these were from.

[@mauriii1920]

This was great! Part 2 should definitely consider Nikiya’s death, Swanilda act 3, Laurencia, and Esmeralda’s entrance.

[@balletreign]

Noted, thank you! Stay tuned for a part 2 :)

[@leilaruthe2]

​@@balletreignAnd tchai pas variation!

[@lilliedoubleyou3865]

Yay! Would you ever consider doing male variations? I know that as ladies, you both probably know more about the ins and outs of these variations, but male variations are so fun, too!

[@balletreign]

Hi yes definitely would be fun and love to share our thoughts on male variations- thanks for watching!

[@sonjaravengate]

how can you underrate the 3rd shade last diagonale, it's literally griddy en pointe *shocked*

[@alexliu5595]

Okay here's my ranking! Exquisite: Grand pas classique, Raymonda (piano), 3rd shade I'd perform it: Diana & Acteon, Kitri (A1), 3rd odalisque, White swan, black swan, Sugarplum fairy Classic: Giselle, Flames of Paris, Harlequinade, Talisman, pas d'esclave, Walpurgis nacht, Gamzatti Ish: Raymonda (slow), Medora, Bluebird, Queen of dryads, Pas d'esclave, Paquita (fast), Lilac Fairy Overplayed: La esmeralda, Kitri 3, Cupid, Aurora Act3, Paquita slow Please no: Coppelia act1, Satanella

[@balletreign]

That’s interesting! Love seeing everyone different take on these variations. Thank you for sharing your list :)

[@echofugiens]

Maybe the Gamzatti Temple variation for a part two? 😊

[@balletreign]

Noted, thank you! :)

[@RetroDanceFreak96]

There's got to be enough to do a part two... I've been really enjoying the Awakening of Flora at PDL. I do wish there was a tier for ones that are overplayed, but exquisite when done properly, like La Esmeralda (IMO).

I think the Kitri act 3 needs to be done the Russian way (at least the way Mariinsky and Bolshoi do it) and with a speedy tempo... It gives a softer, yet still sprightly energy to the character

[@balletreign]

Agree, my favorite kitris are the ones that don’t halt and slow down for the relevé passés. Just a personal preference! 😁

One of the reasons I kind of love Osipova's Kitri...cause even though its unrefined (I mean she was 18 or 19 so no one would expect her to be perfect)... But just the energy of it all... Fits the character very well

[@balletreign]

Agreed! ✨

[@ballet_with_nadine]

Can you rank some different pa de deux? I am curious to know how you feel about them. Love your channel

[@balletreign]

Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoy yourself here. Stay tuned 😉

[@thatkatblack7713]

Lmaooooo that car ad xD Also I totally agree about Kitri act 3. It just doesn't feel like Kitri. Where is the explosive energy, the temperament?? As for the Raymonda variation (the piano one), I love it so so much! It's so different from your usual variation. But I agree that it works better as a standalone piece.

[@BillieStan7833]

It’s giving biscuit ballerina 😭😂

[@LeeBeeDeeTree51]

Not having attended any ballet competitions, I had no idea that the Cupid variation was overdone. I rarely saw it when streaming YAGP and Prix de Lausanne. I also didn't know it was a good variation for younger dancers. I thought it was considered ideal for short dancers because of its quick tempo. When it comes to overdone, I thought the Act I Giselle variation was the very definition of "Done to death."

[@debbierobertson3173]

How many of these have you danced

[@alenkapintar8660]

Giselle (all of the ballet, but the second act is a dream of music and dance).

[@marianapiresbr]

That was really nice! I got introduced to a bunch of variations 😊 just wish you’d show them a little longer.

[@balletreign]

Thanks for watching and enjoying! ✨✨ we appreciate ur feedback

[@yuyah8294]

I really like the other version of black swan. Somehow this version just don’t have enough character in it

[@MatthewLiu]

Would you do a ranking of Pas de deux? Might be lovely, I'd love to see what yall think of RandJ, black swan or white swan, Giselle, nutcracker!! and all the other ones, leaves are fading, Marguerite and Armand - so much of ballet storytelling is about interweaving stories and relationships and there are so many beautiful pas de deux! Maybe too many haha...

[@balletreign]

Stay tuned 😉😉

[@luigiheinemeneghim9234]

Do a male variations oneeee!!!!

[@balletreign]

Yes, will do! Let us know which make variations you’d like us to put on a tier list :)

[@felicity1877]

I love how you also focus on underrated ballet variations, such also like Satanella or Medora's variation, and indeed, some are "overplayed" as the Sugar Plum variation (; Though, I think you shouldn't be so harsh with the Lilax Fairy variation (honestly, just because of the closure??) What I also love a lot is the variation for Princess Florina in the bluebird pas de deux...I generally love ballet variations with meaning and story behind (instead of only 3d Shade (; )

[@balletreign]

Thanks for your kind comments and sharing a variation you love. We love giving lesser known ballet variations a spotlight :) Haha yes, we will give the Lilac Fairy. another chance 💕 Any other ballet variations you’d like us to add that we haven’t covered for part 2?

[@noreenarnold5723]

I would put the Raymonda (piano) and Lilac Fairy (Nureyev version) in the top category. For me, personally, both can be thrilling. The music for the Lilac Fairy (Nureyev called her the Principal Fairy as Lilac is a non-dancing role in his production) is just so beautiful - a big gorgeous waltz that demands large and generous movement to match its flow.

[@felicity1877]

@@balletreign I love the fairies variation in Sleeping Beauty, especially Canary (Songbirds) and Violante (Golden Vine); then in jardin d'anime (Le Corsaire); then the other black swan variation used at the Bolshoi and in the superb La Scala performance by Svetlana Zakharova (no.19; Variation V; originally composed for Odile?), the Pas de trois variations in Swan Lake (especially the second female(: ); the dawn variation in Coppelia, and then I also like some rather rare variations in romantic ballets, Le Papillon and La Peri - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmi7hGmXpsRmiNU (just as recommendations for you to expand, as I don't know whether you know them, but these needn't be inluded (; )

[@AndrewWhise]

(Not a dancer) Aren't there multiple versions of Sugar Plum though? I watch the video of Nina Kaptsova doing Sugar Plum over and over, and it still floors me every time. Music overplayed, totally agree, but whatever version she did, it's probably my favorite variation so far.

[@PattSBell]

Love the video. For me Grand Pas Classique is my favorite. It can be Exquisite if it's done well or it can be Meh if it's done not so well. Question tho, would you encourage your student(s) to do it in competition? looking forward to your next video. 🥰🥰🥰

[@balletreign]

Such a beautiful variation!! I think it’s a great one for competition if the dancer is strong enough technically, as it is a challenge. But otherwise, go for it! Thank you for watching and we’ll see you in the next one 👍🏻☺️❤️

[@larissaswayze]

Haha Raymonda is one of my absolute favourite variations probably because it’s kind of weird and I’m kind of weird 🤣

[@balletreign]

Love it 😂