These Ballerinas are Legends + The Best Sugar Plum Fairy Ever!

[@lewis7515]

Some of the best curated, presented and delivered content on KZbin... This channel is quite the achievement.

[@balletwithisabella]

Thanks!! ❤

[@annahuergo7823]

I’m a simple woman: I see Nina Kaptsova, I click. She’s so beautiful and yet I feel like she’s not as recognised as she should be. I remember watching her Sugar Plum when I was fourteen and being absolutely mesmerised, she was my inspiration to return to ballet after years on hiatus and I haven’t looked back since. Forever my favorite dancer!

[@tarantellalarouge7632]

she is so light and playful, she is an eternal teen ager ! absolutely stunning ....

[@tikitania]

I was just watching the Paquita variation with Pankova a few days ago, and was blown away by her sparkling technique and phrasing. I think it's the musicality that gets me the most. So light and crystalline.

[@denisehill7769]

I was very very lucky to see Mezentseva on stage when the Kirov came to London (90s?) I have a video of her in Giselle, and sadly, no VHS player, drat - her mad scene is one of my favourites. She has tears running down her face as she realises Albrecht was a love rat. Proper old school, beautiful quiet elegance, nothing extraneous. Asylmuratova and Zaklinsky made my eyes prickle a bit - lovely. And Pankova!!! Loved her, such lovely classicism.

[@gonefishing167]

Loved it, thank you Isabella. And it’s full length, love that even more! Beautiful ballerinas all! 🩰 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@kakikatkakikat]

Excellent choices of legends! And still so many we haven't covered. Someone from that same era that I absolutely love was Larissa Lezhnina, who was this perfect doll. Her Aurora is one of my favorites.

[@TwanWu]

13:38 somehow the way Altynai slowly swung that right leg in transition from chaines to arabesque was so eyecatching to me. It looks so commanding, so resolute, like she was half stomping the ground to get super high. I don't think other ballerinas swing their leg that much.

[@Nokiaakaaa11]

I love your videos so much, been watching them for some time and ive learnt so much about ballet❤

[@balletwithisabella]

I'm so glad!

[@sangchi317]

Oh my !! Beautiful !

[@a.phillips6892]

Altynai is my favorite for many years…I agree with everything you said about her💓I am also very fond of Evgeniya Obraztsova of the Bolshoi, and Maria Khoreva of the Mariinsky.

[@gretapetenberg2525]

Ansolutely love Evgenia. She is so expressive in her own way ❤

[@balletwithisabella]

Yes I love her too ❤

[@larissalora3647]

Watch please pure, divine, super light May Nagahisa in "Giselle" with Vladimir Shklyarov (R.I.P 1985-2024). They performed recently in Kremlin Palace on October 24. Please watch them.

[@a.phillips6892]

@ I love May! She’s a very beautiful ballerina!

[@carosoto16]

What are your thoughts on Alexandra “Sasha” Khiteeva? I find her so much more entertaining to watch than Khoreva. Her musicality, artistry, and her arms are so beautiful.

[@hannekekoolen8243]

In the 90's I recorded a vhs with this exact performance of Les Sylphide and Paquita (I was 15 years old, I think). It also has Pankova dancing the lead in Markitenka (La Viviandère). I watched it a thousand times and am sure it improved my dancing. Love the ballerinas you show here. Could you mention Larissa Lezhnina as well? Such a special dancer with a great sense of style.

[@hannekekoolen8243]

Lezhnina dances a solo in this Paquita as well. It's on youtube :-)

[@patmcadams4824]

❤ Love this channel.

[@Erin-el1gi]

Nina will always be my favorite 🤍

[@ellenolenska9141]

Another comment or suggestion - if you do any more of these comparison videos, the Rose Adagio in Sleeping Beauty looks to me like the hardest thing any ballerina could do. I'm not a dancer, so I could be wrong. But that balancing! Oh my God! Anyway, I have watched some of the great Russians and others, including Fonteyn, perform this, but the best I've seen is Cynthia Gregory from ABT from the 1970s. Just AMAZING!

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

Very beautiful and captivating!Recommendations for future similar videos, please: Sylvie Guillem, Darcey Bussell, Zenaida Yanowsky. Thank you for the video! 🙏🧡

[@evetei]

Yes to these, as well as Maria Khoreva ❤

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@evetei yes! 🙏💜

[@fabiolarodriguez7637]

I think that so many ballerinas bring their own special artistry to different roles that I feel like we’re so lucky because we can appreciate many of them. Some of my fav ballerinas and their roles below that I always re watch thanks to YT: -Patricia Barker in Nutcracker (before I had internet this Nutcracker came on cable and I loved it) -Yulia Makhalina as Odile/Odette (there are moments where I feel she is a bird ) - Ashley Bouder as Dewdrop Fairy (every time I feel infused with joy and positivity)

[@anyatre1512]

Hi Isabella, I love your channel. It helps me learn more about ballet. Galina Mezentseva is my favourite ballerina, thank you for profiling her in your video. It would be great if you could include Carla Fracci in your next video.

[@balletwithisabella]

Thank you so much!! Will do!

[@Zoë-br7rv]

Ballerinas are not human ❤ Some day I hope to be not human ❤ 🤣💕🩰

[@deniseharkins7792]

I saw Elena Pankova in Toronto with Kirov in late 80s for full Length Sleeping Beauty. Lovely dancer

[@balletwithisabella]

😍😍

[@rainbows.and.daisies]

Maximova's Faust (Walpurgis nacht) is to die for!

[@cdelane3335]

The first woman is amazing. Different from what I am use to seeing in ballet. Still amazing. So fast.

[@GilianHolroyd-sz9ud]

Very happy to have found this series. I would have liked also to see other of Maximova's roles than the playful" ones she was do famous for. Ulanova coached her for her first Giselle, and footage exists of her second act pas de deux with Sergeyev, I think - she was exquisite.

[@Awaken-the-Spark]

My favourite ballerina is Galina Ulanova, shown here coaching Maximova and Vasiliev at the beginning of the video. You should feature her Juliet on the channel sometime : )

[@mirtalefkof302]

Katpsova is the best Sugar Plum I have ever seen. And I have seen all available on line and many in person!!

[@deniseharkins7792]

Love Galina Mezentseva. My favourite dancer of her generation!!!

[@AdamGNordin]

God bless you!

[@brendastevens9077]

First of all, you have a beautiful face, and beautiful spirit. One of my favorites from Russia is Svelta Zakaharva. Hope I'm spelling her name right.😊❤

[@puteshestwennik]

Svetlana

[@margarethugginssantoro1721]

Wasn't Maximova one of the last dancers from Galina Ulanova?.

[@lilbatz]

Woot!🥰 Sylvie Guillem please!

[@meowchabob]

Hi Isabella, can you explain what you mean in the sugar plum fairy's bit about coming down late on the supporting leg, and how that helps stabilization?

[@balletwithisabella]

Ah I mean she comes down early on the supporting leg after the turns from 4th. Which helps her stabilise the landing, to land slightly before on the supporting leg helps one feel secure

[@lilbatz]

@@balletwithisabellaNunez does this too

[@mayapopova9456]

Maximova and Vasilev were dancing since graduating Bolshoi school. They got married soon after graduating.

[@marianacaldwell2054]

I was so happy to see Maximova at the beginning! I've always loved her. Were Maximova and Vasiliev not husband and wife on real life as well?

[@defaultrg]

Yes, they were married.

[@gelios1970]

Капцова - лучшая ). Можно смотреть вечно, как на огонь костра и воду в роднике.

[@kleineoOoStern]

What do you think about Sylvie Guillem ? I don't know why but Sylvie always brings me to tears when I see her dancing and feeling every move to the fullest.

[@sibylleacatos]

Did Altinai guest w the Royal ballet in Bayadère?

[@balletwithisabella]

Yea! Great cast! ❤

[@sibylleacatos]

@balletwithisabella wonderful in deed ! I appreciate your video very much thank you ! 😊

[@jiviekartinki]

Dear Isabella, Maximova&Vasiliev danced together since school : "Masik" and "Vasik" ☺️. They graduated in the same year.

[@jiviekartinki]

And thank you for including Kaptsova! ❣️

[@Amy-mz5mj]

Wonder if you can share where you purchased your leotard ? I like those leotards ,tights and leg warmer you are wearing .

[@periodboo1]

can you react to argentinian ballerinas someday?? marianela nuñez, paloma herrera, ludmila pagliero, paloma livellara

[@sarahannyoung]

Please please look at Mayara magri, Marianela Nunez, Tamara rojo, and Fumi kaneko

[@ellenolenska9141]

Have a gossipy question. If you've seen the 2006 documentary "Ballerina," following 5 different ballerinas, you will see that Zakharova started out at the Mariinsky and then went to the Bolshoi. Was this because she wanted to live in Moscow, she got more money, or she didn't want to share the spotlight with Lopatkina, who was so highly regarded at Mariinsky, and was coming back from an injury. I always wondered about this.

[@mamascrazyhouse5765]

Can you do Diana Vishneva….her Carmen to me is outstanding

[@BarbaraT.]

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know Yelena Pankova and I found her mesmerising! I, of course, knew the other ballerinas you've highlighted in this video. Whenever I've come across rehearsal footage of Maksimova, I've noticed how she looks kind of fed-up, almost frustrated. I wonder what you think about this (if you know about the footage I'm referring to).

[@balletwithisabella]

I think that’s just a Russian character. Often they can be quite emotional in rehearsals. It’s all due to their deep passion for what they do. I have witness ed many times, emotional breakdowns and frustrations on the classes but it’s often a release as they recover very quickly 😅

[@BarbaraT.]

@balletwithisabella So very interesting! Thanks for replying to me, Isabella

[@a.phillips6892]

@@balletwithisabella I have seen this also with Natalia Osipova!

[@Fuegonova]

@@balletwithisabella maybe that's why I noticed you look like you fit in well there, it's also nice to see you and Suvi lighten things up at times a bit for something taken so seriously.

[@bearnardrovdnal]

they're ok, I'd give this round to Elana Pankova

[@justcurious830]

I think you have a beutiful face Isabella!

[@dmitrykim3096]

Its amazing how after all the bad thinga tussian ballet did to you, you still love it

[@balletwithisabella]

It didn’t do anything bad to me… things happened but nothing was done “to me” I am not what you mean x

[@dmitrykim3096]

@balletwithisabella well I mean that you had your dreams and you had to train so hard and live in Russia and you hadn't chance to shine on big stages for too long. sorry maybe I didn't listen to you too well and didn't understand it fully

[@balletwithisabella]

⁠@@dmitrykim3096I could have stayed/continued and done all of that. I chose a different life ❤

[@tiffcat1100]

MAnège not mOnège ;) ❤

[@divab63]

I’m going to offer a different perspective. While I understand you chose to study Vaganova technique because it suited you, sometimes I think you are a little swayed because of your personal preferences. Personally, I much prefer NYCB and Paris Opera because I think they offer so many more nuances and styles. So many Russian dancers are cookie cutters and while they show beautiful epaulement and,technique, I find them unimaginative and lacking in innovation. Now I absolutely love Vishneva and Lopatkina, so many of the others are lacking in creativity for me. Just a personal opinion.

[@balletwithisabella]

I understand what you’re saying. I am PASSIONATE about great great ballerinas. Of course I studied with just superb teachers and I can’t describe the history you feel being in those walls. I will happily react to other types of dancers, I have also interviewed many dancers from many different companies and backgrounds. One of my favourite ballerinas is Sylvie Guillem, from the French school. Please don’t misinterpret my passion as bias. One can’t argue these ballerinas are just magnificent. ❤

[@divab63]

@@balletwithisabellaI actually did a ballet tour in the USSR in 1984 and took class from a Vaganova teacher. To say it was so different from my Balanchine training was an understatement! I 100% agree with you that the history there and at the Bolshoi Theater was overwhelming! I really love watching your channel and love your interviews. But some of my favorite dancing videos are the ones with the contrasting styles showing the differences. Ballet is still a passion of mine at 61 although I do a much more basic class now 😂.

[@feliciacoffey6832]

Maximova!!! What lightning speed and such a sparkle in that Kitri "fan" variation!! She's unbelievably light, charming and vivacious. My new favorite Kitri! Thanks for introducing me to her!

[@balletwithisabella]

@@divab63 Sure! I have made those videos too. I will do more different ballerinas too. I just enjoy looking back at the historical dancers too :-) There's no limit to videos i can make so I will get aroind it it. Thank you for your suggestions and support x