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.

[@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.

[@lynnsimpson6467]

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

[@heyryanisonx3141]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@petitluna2571]

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

[@brendadufaur37]

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

[@teerex893]

Wow, she is poetry.

[@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?! 😄

[@maicolacostalemos]

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

[@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!

[@annahasty7191]

She's Stunning.😀

[@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.