'Raymonda' variations with Noella Pontois (1983)

Unmatched to this day by other French danseuses in many of her best roles, I especially like Pontois in the Hungarian variation from the last act. I know many people dislike this approach, but I think Pontois here - like Dudinskaya, Plisetskaya, Tallchief and Makarova before her - found the right balance between power and grace, firmness and finesse, and classical and character dancing, which is the whole point of the Act III divertissement celebrated in honour of Andrew II of Hungary.

[@noblesetsentimentales]

Feel free to share videos of your own favourite Raymondas in the comments section below! You can watch a better quality video of Pontois's Hungarian variation here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l53Ne5afaqefh7M

[@noblesetsentimentales]

artdecochicgirl2 I don't see why Raymonda shouldn't smile in this variation. No dungeon dominatrix for me either, which is why I'm not crazy about renditions by such dancers as Guillem and Gillot. Extremes should be avoided, whether it's too coarse or too bland. Also, the clapping of hands (and yes, they are a part of this solo in every production!) isn't the only way of showing folkloric flavour; for example, very few ballerinas get the characteristic head movements right. They aren't even part of the Nureyev version! I love Kolpakova and Komleva in this also, but theirs is still a very different take from this one and, to a lesser degree, of the older stagings by Gorsky and Balanchine: more delicate and less voluptuous.

[@noblesetsentimentales]

And then there's Makarova, who sort of falls in between: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppjOi3StfrOpfNU -- I like this one: refined but also energetic when the music asks for it. Makarova said of this variation that you had to add "a little paprika" to it.

[@noblesetsentimentales]

artdecochicgirl2 I think that's just Makarova's way of feeling the music, though -- a more lyrical take, I guess. She did excell in the lyric-dramatic register rather than the severely classical (Aurora) or the soubrette.

[@ciceki9522]

probably one of the best Raymonda.every moves she makes seems so easy and natural.she is also very musical

[@alainspiteri502]

There are two Raymonda on Y Tube : Nathalia Bessmertnova Bolchoi 1989 - Noella Pontois Paris-Opera 1983

[@esthercollins4215]

I absolutely adore her here in Raymondas act lll… so exquisite she is in such beautiful form, every move ⭐️⭐️⭐️.. I have watched and re watched this brilliant performance.

[@Dima.Demidov]

adore her 💖

[@YosvaniRamos-Ballet]

Love her

[@user-hl4bt2gw8e]

Extraordinaire une danseuse à nulle autre pareil, ou peut-on se procurer le.dvd. Merci

[@pediatrapaola]

she was a very rafinate dancer l saw her in more occasions usually partnered by vladimir derevianko

[@pediatrapaola]

she is rather tiny

[@alainspiteri502]

@@pediatrapaola M Barychnikov it's tiny ?