The Mariinsky Ballet's 8 Prima Ballerinas 2017

These are the 8 ballerinas of the Mariinsky Ballet as listed in August 2017. Although Lopatkina retired earlier this year, she is still listed as a principal on the Mariinsky's official website, so I hope she continues to dance. Please note that the list is in alphabetical order & that this is a tribute to the greatness of each ballerina. It is not meant as a critical comparison, so please bear this in mind when commenting. Here are the ballerinas in the order shown in this video:
1. Ekaterina Kondaurova - In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Solo 0:19
2. Ulyana Lopatkina - Nikiya Variation - La Bayadere Act I 2:16
3. Yulia Makhalina - Paquita Variation 4:13
4. Daria Pavlenko - Raymonda Variation - Raymonda Act III 6:17
5. Oxana Skorik - Giselle Variation - Giselle Act I 9:13
6. Alina Somova - Variation from Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux 10:47
7. Viktoria Tereshkina - Medora Variation - Le Corsaire Act II 11:42
8. Diana Vishneva - Rubies 13:05

[@etiennewijler6830]

What a magical performance from Yulia Makhalina. The control, balance and elegance that she radiates looks unmatched to me.

[@ВикторияОстренина]

Все таки Лопаткина изысканна и аристократична в исполнении. Она бесподобна !

[@olgashcherbachenko7934]

Лопаткина в этой плеяде лучшая! Изысканная, техничная, грациозная и очень настоящая! Одна из немногих , которых будут помнить по стилю и по почерку танца!

[@lburgess63]

Totally fascinating to see this interpretation of "In the Middle (Somewhat Elevated)" by Ekaterina, vs. the person the role was made on, Sylvie Guillaume. Incredibly talented dancers, both. Ekaterina has a gorgeous fluidity and flexibility. Sylvie has the sharpness and precision of movement (her extensions were no joke, either). I prefer Sylvie, only because to me that's what the music demands. But I also admire Ekaterina's interpretation. Watching different dancers of such amazing talent offer such different -- but equally valid -- interpretations of a role, is what makes ballet such an incredible, living, evolving experience.

[@isamm5579]

Kondaurova's variation here is the variation created for Isabelle Guerin in the original version. To me she's the only other ballerina capable of dancing it for what I've seen on YT. Different from Isabelle but great to watch. Thank you, the bunduballerina, for your work that allows us to see all these marvels.

[@dimalpha5561]

No other dancers can beat the Russian dancers.

[@paulbizard3493]

True. God's grace. Truly incredible, beyond everything. There are the Russian ballerinas... and the rest of the world, the US turkeys, the French chickens, the UK gooses, ...

[@Оксогера]

​@@paulbizard3493 г

[@massimoblast5178]

All my love to Victoria Tereshkina. I saw her performance at the Mariinsky Theater. This is amazing!

[@petetotaro9510]

WOW! For sure, all the Ballerinas are fantastic! I suspect they are graduates of VBA, huh? No matter what, they are spectacular! Mariinsky always has the best on stage anyway! Congratulations for presenting all eight of the best! I've never been disappointed with all of VBA and Mariinsky! So, keep them coming on KZbin where the enjoyment keeps spilling over! I want to thank all that makes this possible! God Bless - Good Luck! Pierre!

[@TheBunduBallerina]

It's a great pleasure and many thanks for your good wishes!

[@sashakateirene]

All of them graduated from Vaganova, excepte for Oxana. She graduated from Perm.

[@patricia2180]

Pete Totaro, I AM so sorry to bring down your party, but there will be no more Ballerinas coming from Marriiinsky Company will be closing the doors NOW. We no longer subject our children to be misguided by evil doers . All children will be released from their oppressors, and the oppressors will meet Their Creator accompanying with their personal fruit- basket, for the World to see. Time for creators to bring their creations to God,

[@marcioaurelio6093]

Tchaikovski Hymn of the cherubimn

[@petetotaro9510]

Patricia - ..I happen to have the “Inside track” of the real situation at the Mariinsky Theatre! The enemies of the Mariinsky are peddling “Rumors” with hopes that it will deteriorate the population of the attendance at the Mariinsky in St Petersburg! This is to try and discredit the Mariinsky Theatre from being the greatest ballets in Russia!

[@РоманНосов-д9з]

Уважаю предпочтения любителей балета, все они талантливы и достойны поклонения, но для меня вне конкуренции Виктория Терёшкина.

[@annastanunayte158]

Балет это огромный труд помимо таланта

[@anishagadre3485]

All of them are great, but the ones that really stood out to me were the first one, the one who did Giselle, and the one that went by Victoria.

[@michelinearthebise2783]

bravo!

[@АлександрЯрков-ш2з]

Браво молодцы

[@gretahassock8914]

Pure poetry and this dancer is beautiful

[@КонстантинКубань-й1о]

Алина Сомлва такая славная.

[@violetta4375]

Красота

[@sashakateirene]

Makhalina!! my favorite

[@efikyriazof9516]

From this video my favorite ballerina is Victoria Tereshkina

[@BrainyWoman]

Why isn't Novikova a principal?

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Yes indeed. Novikova should have been promoted to principal years ago!

[@sashakateirene]

Obviously, the Mariinsky's management has some uniquely "taste'' nowadays. Besides, her husband fell out with the management and join the Mikhailovsky, so I don't think she will get promoted. IMO she is far better than Oxana and Somova.

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Katherine Rosen that’s the big big question. I saw Sleeping Beauty with Olesya as Aurora three weeks ago. She’s a star in Russia. Everyone loves her. Next to me sat a lady who came from Moscow only to see Olesya (she arrived by train in the afternoon and went back by night train 🚊 ) There were standing ovations, mountains of flowers for Olesya, and people were cheering like crazy and just wouldn‘t leave. She doesn‘t get promoted because her husband has issues with Fateev, Mariinskis ballet director. But it’s absolutely ridiculous... and everyone knows it in Saint Petersburg and elsewhere

[@christinestill5002]

Is this a recent Vishneva performance? I know I've seen this in the past.

[@alexalexandra7486]

Терешкина меня поразила-такие длиннющие ноги!)

[@dulcineiasantos6348]

Que linda

[@lil-2826]

Vika

[@bluesfai]

What's the music/variation Somova is dancing in this clip?

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Variation from Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux.

[@bluesfai]

Thank you!

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

I thought Uliana Lopatkina retired earlier this year...?

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Yes, however Lopatkina is still listed as one of the principals of the Mariinsky Ballet at present: www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/ballet/soloists

[@fredruter6286]

Ulyana Lopatkina - an unforgettable and unrivalled Odile/Odette

[@lburgess63]

No one does it like the Russians, do they? The sheer theatrical skill -- clearly, technical virtuosity is critical. But somehow ther Russians teach their students (or select for) the soul of the dance. They make you believe it. And it's mesmerizing.

[@ellenolenska9141]

Interesting that you chose more modern or interpretive dances for Kondaurova and Vishneva, which is what they seem to excel in. Lopatkina supreme in dramatic roles. (Yes she has retired, I believe.) But Lopatkina dances well in everything. They are all wonderfully talented.

[@mariaengracio4849]

Classic Ballerinas are "PIECE OF JEWELLERY" Of RUSSIA!...THEY ARE ASTONISHING!...

[@kipklop975]

they are all so beautiful!! I love how intricate the Vaganova style of ballet technique is, they interpret the movements with such grace and lightness!

[@gretahassock8914]

Very lyrical

[@gretahassock8914]

This is mostly on pointe Marinsky have a special style the dancers enter the character pure poetry

[@markbrandus]

All wonderful. Yulia Makhalina 4:09

[@suavid7553]

Viva balletto russo ,bravi tutti 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤❤❤🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@genesisgonzalez3090]

this has impressed me so much i might sight up for ballet class

[@ОльгаВасильева-ъ1е]

В 2017 году Лопаткиной уже не было в Мариинском театре.

[@emitch9213]

Lovely I just love the post of our lovely diamonds of the company..much to success to each and many joyous years of dance :)

[@EmEnz1]

What a formidable list of ballerinas to belong to one company! All are glorious in their own personal way. Thank you so much for putting this clip together. It is a privilege to watch and an absolute joy to return to.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

It's a great pleasure. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!

[@Marta44339]

Thank you for these great clips! Tereshkina, Kondaurova, Lopatkina are my favorites --all are indeed formidable It's fascinating to see them all and in such diverse ballets too. I thought that Makhalina had retired. i saw her many years ago in New York, and I saw Vishneva in Giselle. She was wonderful.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

It's a pleasure, Marta. Thank you for your lovely comment! Makhalina is still listed as one of the principals of the Mariinsky Ballet: www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/ballet/soloists

[@billtolstoy3876]

I've seen Oksana Skorik and Viktoria Tereshkina many times. However, of all excellent and top artists of the Russian ballet, these two invariably give me the deepest impression of something really extraordinary and beautiful. They turned their profession into ultimate perfection. They are the only ones who make me forget nitpicking for dancing errors and follow them in their "Flight performed by soul" ("Душой исполненный полет"). :)

[@НатальяЛадич]

Many thanks for this video, especially for Uliana Lopatkina! The best of roles by Diana Vishneva are: Giselle, Manon and Cinderella

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thank you too!

[@maryrosedouglasuk]

They are all wonderful, but for me, Pavlenko is the epitome of control and grace in this compilation!

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Rosie Douglas I want to see Pavlenko in Stranvinskis Rite of Spring sooooo bad! She is unique

[@ersteerste]

Lopatkina has serious health issues. Alas, she isn't going to dance again, she can't((

[@nestguatemala6254]

ersteerste is she injured? I was already sad about her retireing, but I didn't know it was health related

[@ersteerste]

Yes, there was an injury which made her cancell all of the planned performances of the whole season. However she failed to recover and in the end of the season she announced her retirement. There wasn't even a farewell performance of hers(( About 12 years ago she had a foot surgery, they managed to fix the problem then but only partially. As a result during all these years she would often have injuries, pains, sometimes she couldn't deal with technically complicated elements and constant strain caused even more problems. During recent years she didn't dance often and yet her performances would get cancelled from time to time because of health failures. Her leave is a huge loss for ballet((

[@nestguatemala6254]

ersteerste OMG thats just tragic, at least she had a kind of long career amd she retired as the queen she is... thanks for sharing

[@Pearlaceous]

Uliana had an operation on her hip earlier this year. A ballerina 20 years younger than her would have had difficulties recovering form such an operation. In early 40s, this just was not possible. God bless Uliana for all the pleasure she brought me and all her MANY fans.

[@banjobearful]

Wish the Mariinsky would do something to honour her wonderful years of dedication to ballet!

[@BalletomaneM]

Kondaurova, Lopatkina, Skorik, and Tereshkina are my favorites!! I love that you put in Kondaurova's In the Middle because she's said so many times that's one of her favorite pieces to perform and she's perfect in it!

[@gretahassock8914]

Great atmosphere with this dance

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Half of the principals hardly ever perform... if you look at Marinskis webside and the casts, it’s the first soloists who do all the work. Is this the same in other companies??

[@jewelmarkess]

I doubt it. Looking at the list of principals on the Bolshoi website, I believe all of them are still dancing. I am not sure why Mariinsky keeps retired dancers on their roster. Maybe they want to save money on promotions...

[@anastasialenkova-molchalin5874]

Somova, Kondaurova rarely. Vishneva never. Tereshkina and Skorik do. Novikova not so much right now but it doesn't count because she's pregnant.

[@nataneg3996]

Can you do the royal ballets prima ballerinas??

[@TheBunduBallerina]

I would love to, but unfortunately, when I put up videos of the Royal Ballet's prima ballerinas, they are taken down due to copyright of the ROH.

[@nataneg3996]

Oh okay :-)

[@TheBunduBallerina]

I have made a video compilation of the Royal Ballet's Prima Ballerinas using content that I found mostly on KZbin. Hold thumbs that it doesn't get taken down. :) Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2HJpJelbspljJY

[@TheBunduBallerina]

I've had to re-make the video a few times due to copyright. Here's the latest version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWWnZp-KqaaVe9k

[@robertamicelli5096]

Dee del Paradiso, tutte nell'Olimpo del mio cuore...una più brava dall'altra!!!grazie per tanta bellezza, il balletto è una delle poche cose per le quali vale la pena vivere, voi incarnate i miei sogni. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ЛесяЛат]

Где замечательная Олеся Новикова?

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Olesya Novikova is sadly not the Prima Ballerina she deserves to be at the Mariinsky. Her rank is First Soloist.

[@zumzin3119]

Oxana is amazing and she is very beauty.

[@sorrowofyoungwerther]

Yulia Makhalina?! Really, she still dances?!

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Yes, Makhalina is still listed as one of the principal dancers of the Mariinsky Ballet: www.mariinsky.ru/en/company/ballet/soloists

[@sashakateirene]

Nowadays she only dance 1 or 2 performances per year. Usually in her own gala or pay tribute to some artists. It weird that Mariinsky just won't let her retired. But I'm glad that I still have the chance to see her on stage.

[@HH-om4uv]

sorrowofyoungwerther i

[@inesmaceratta409]

Me encanta toda ella es Armonia sus giros en fin

[@pliplud1569]

Ma basta co ste gambe sbattute per aria! Questa non è danza, è circo

[@patricia2180]

my LOVE to the BALLERINAS, because I know your struggle, I know what they did to you, JUSTICE is here, beautiful people of God. No rock has been left unturned, this is not meant to discompose or upset you but to make concordant, mellow, understanding, harmonious. WE will restore things for you, I promise

[@TeresaDancerGirl]

Oxana Skorik is so amazing!!!

[@leanderian]

Are there no young ones?

[@kaitlynclem5967]

Skorik is the youngest at 29. It'll be interesting to see how things shake up once these dancers begin to retire.

[@anastasialenkova-molchalin5874]

Hopefully in the future Shakirova, Khoreva, Iluishkina, Bulanova and Khiteyeva will all be primas.

[@danielagonzalez3853]

Somova💕

[@garyranieri3856]

the first one isn't ballet- it's 'modern dance' and I hate it but big on ballet; they should stick with the classics