Spanish Dance Swan Lake - Mariinsky, Royal Ballet, Paris Opera, Bolshoi

[@iskander21024]

In our Soviet childhood we were brought up on the Kirov version. It was very often showen on tv. And, of course, all the country and especially Leningrad loved famous Olga Zabotkina who danced the Spanish dance at the Kirov - she was an extremely beautiful woman and became very popular after the release of the film "Two captains" in which she was the leading female actress. Wonderful memories! Thanks a lot, дорогая Изабелла!

[@mirtalefkof302]

The Bolshoi and Anna T were mesmerizing 🎊👏🏻 Mariinsky also fabulous! Russian ballet is the best in the world!

[@silvana7201]

The Mariinsky was my favorite. I looove character dance but in my country it just isn't taught 😢 It really is a privilege to learn that style so the more drama the better. 🎉

[@beentheresawthat3982]

In Bolshoi each "national" dance represents a Ziegfried`s bride, that`s why Tikhomirova`s dress is white )

[@Madeline6919]

Ex ballroom-latin dancer here - You're right that the costumes make such a difference to the dynamics of the dance! Interestingly Mariinsky here used a ballroom dance dress pattern for their costume. The dress is tailored to a particular length at the ankle to show foot articulation during movement (e.g. for dances like quickstep) and the trumpet shape of the skirt with multiple light layers of fabric gives volume and shape without any bulk - the RB skirts were heavy all the way down and hid their feet and the POB skirts hit too low in the back and had too much fabric to lift which took away from the lines.

[@pamelamckenzie6135]

So Wonderful that You compare These ♡ All Four Renditions are Separately Stellar. Your Critique, as always, is Affirming (so Great!) Loved the 1st Example (Carmenesque 4Fellas 1Gal) because of the FirePassion of Tchaikovski'sMusic (!) And the RoyalBallet's Casting reflects "Las Llamas Ardientes". And. Although, yes, ALL the Costumes were LOVELY, wouldn't it be a Bonus if ALL those Ladies in each Presentation wore Calf-Length Skirts, so the Better Able were we to Appreciate Their FootWork !!! Enjoyed This so much! Thank You for ALL Your Contributions to The World Of Dance, Ms. Isabella

[@noopy99]

I love this format! Please do more of it in the future 😍🙏🏻 I find it truly insightful and interesting comparing different versions of ballets - especially if you compare it amongst multiple companies like in here!

[@Crewelperleology]

The Royal Ballet takes the prize for best costuming and the set. The Bolshoi for the exquisite performance from the ballerina and choreography on pointe. The final honour goes to the gloriously supple and expressive Mariinsky.

[@lindawoody8501]

I agree with the order you mention. The costuming of the Royal Ballet was extra nice but the Mariinsky dancers were best of all. Drama, flash, character and really good portrayal of that character. The gents too.

[@genesisdelossantos7604]

Mariinsky for the win!!! 🩷 It was so fun, sassy , clean , THE BACKBENDS ARE CRAZY lol but nice, the facials are on point.

[@beentheresawthat3982]

Very interesting! In the Mariinsky version, yes, the first guy is Islom Baimuradov (Kondaurova`s husband), a great character dancer. The second one is Andrey Merkouriev, who later was a soloist with the Bolshoi.

[@victorialy7039]

Love the Mariinsky’s version! I’m so glad to have a Russian character teacher and our backbends are definitely never enough 😂 But it’s truly all the epaulement that really make character dance so exciting to watch 🙌

[@brendastevens9077]

Bolshoi was my favorite!!! Being a Ballroom and Latin Competitive Dancer and ballet dancer. I Love it more as ballet. I just felt it more during that performance.🥰

[@C.f.by-Lialia-A.R]

Please do the Chinese Tea Dance of the Nutcracker as well comparing Mariinsky, Royal Ballet, Paris Opera and Bolshoi!

[@nickim6571]

Bolshoi is my favorite--the more point work the better.

[@Andrea-sx3xo]

Tierney is such a stunning dancer ♥️ very sad she had to retire early 😢

[@isabelaandzico]

Tchaikovsky ‘s Swan 🦢 Lake doesn’t have a single bad note 🎵 but the Spanish Dance stands out as one of my favorite parts of his entire score! Абсолютно идеально!!! Спасибо большое, mulțumesc, obrigada e дякую! 🇷🇺🇷🇴🇵🇹🇧🇷🇺🇦🙏🏻🩰👏🏻 0:26

[@felicity1877]

I feel the same! Perhaps because Tchaikovsky watched Bizet's Carmen before composing Swan Lake, it got one of his favorite operas and he really nailed this spirit. I think it's quite funny and unexpected to tell always that I love ballet, I love Swan Lake, especially the Spanish Dance (;

[@Swimmer47]

I totally agree with you about Mariinsky and Bolshoi but, I tend to prefer the Bolshoi because it’s on point. Although, the Mariinsky “back bends” are so very impressive. But, bottomline. Bolshoi. Great selection to review! Great channel! Thanks!

[@nickvin3212]

Пылкие,гибкие Аджамова и Шевякова просто заполняют всю сцену испанской страстью,от их исполнения захватывает дух.Версия Мариинского театра стала классикой,она символизирует эмоциональность и дерзость желаний претендентки из испании.Версия Григоровича более утонченная,невеста тут одновременно и нетерпелива(Тихомирова вылетает на сцену!) и погружается в сомнения,она отходит на второй план,на первый выходит ее свита,тем самым показывая статус невесты.Интересно что в КГ решили синтетически обьедить обе идеи,А кто постановщик партии в КГ?

[@angelacymerman282]

The Royal Ballet for me is just head and shoulders above the rest - the costumes, choreography and the 4 guys with 1 girl is perfect. Agree that this RB version needed a little extra but ive seen it done even better than this at ROH i think maybe by olivia cowley abd it was just electric 💥💥💥

[@Vale-kg3vd]

Marinsky the best for me

[@dditionproductioncenter6644]

Maestro Gergiev was definitely at the controls, something very fast,)

[@tanisabenulic2861]

I like The Mariinsky version

[@DylanRadin]

Hope you let us know if you ever come teach in the states!❤

[@Bugwingzz]

I would love it, if you could analyse the 3rd shade variation from la bayadere, I can’t find anything about it on youtube, and your analysis could be very helpful❤

[@Chris-op4ue]

For costumes, I prefer the Royal Ballet, but I prefer the Mariinsky's choreography.

[@brocktighe3557]

I really liked the paris opera version. it might have been the cleanliness. but i did really like the expression of the marinsky version. i feel if you had the paris opera men with the marinsky girls it's be perfection

[@joyanngoddard2033]

Mariinsky for me!

[@monicagates162]

In character classes when rehearsing this we was always taught that they wanted to hear that fan whack the floor 😂

[@gonefishing167]

Hi Isabella, loved this. For me, Marinsky and then the Bolshoi. ( Actually loved it en pointe. ). Beautiful ballet dancers all of them. Royal Ballet looked too dark. Not the dancing, the lighting for the stage. Was that just me or did anyone else notice it. Perhaps it was the very dark costumes as well. Did like their costumes though 🩰🩰🩰🩰🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@isabelaandzico]

I absolutely love the Bolshoi version en pointe and the wedding like costume. I did learn and performed this version being trained in Moscow but I also worked all over Eastern Europe and I worked in Romania for a Mariinsky based company and because of the director and my педагог coaching I did perform their version. I LOVE character dancing and I got the part for my “exotic” look and my backbends. I live for the backbend and Mariinsky’s version is my favorite! 🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇷🇺🇺🇦🩰💃🏻 11:09

[@irenem608]

As a Spanish person, the only one that looked kind of similar to Flamenco or other dances like that was the Royal Ballet. The dresses and especially the way in which she places her shoulders and head is very reminiscent of Flamenco dancers for me (although I am no expert since I am not from the region where they originate from). The rest were very beautiful ballet character dances, but didn’t give me any “Spanish” vibes honestly.

[@natashazlobinsky4662]

Agree

[@rrenatabp]

I feel like the costume of the Paris Opera girls was somehow really constricting? Definitely my least favourite. I love the Bolshoi doing it in pointe, very interesting!

[@sweetie_xx]

English nationals trio is my favourite, then the royal

[@roastedpepper]

Mariinsky then Bolshoi. I actually really liked the more “classic-y” take!

[@Minimeowzilla]

I probably like the Paris one the least. Agree they're going for understated and regal, but this is a character dance and Spanish/Latin dances are supposed to be passionate and dramatic and that just doesn't seem to fit so well. All 3 others have things I like about them. The Bolshoi balletic style is def different and love the white fan and costume. And agree the Marinsky ombre tulle dresses just seem to float. Royal ballet's dark black and red costumes really suited the black swan vibe.

[@joleevasquez4461]

Bolshoi!

[@natashazlobinsky4662]

I actually preferred the Royal Ballet rendition over them all tbh. I really liked her use of the head and upper body in general, the dynamics, and the costumes. The Bolshoi version's dancer was great, but I didn't think it was good as a *Spanish* dance. Mariinsky's costumes also a bit strange and not "Spanish" enough for me. I found the choreography a bit boring compared to RB. POB was bottom of the list on all fronts.