Ballet Deconstructed: Natalia Osipova, Jumping Secrets | Reacting to Ballerinas | Kathryn Morgan

[@tamei7006]

Watching Marienela is like a meditation, so clean and pure. Watching Osipova is like watching a firework.

[@Emmareads15]

They are so different but both so great. I compare them to Federer and Nadal

[@Teverell]

@@Emmareads15 I went and watched Marienela's Kitri after Katie's deep dive into her turns and she and Natalia are both incredible in showing the Spanish fire yet they're so different, too - and the same with their Giselle interpretations. Both stunning, both with incredible artistry yet both so different. There is a very good reason they are both principals with the Royal Ballet!!

[@Emmareads15]

@@Teverell Both of their Kitri's are stunning and very different. I love how they both have their own take. Watching Nela do those turns, hitting that fifth as if it's the easiest thing and the beauty of the line in her jumps. And Natalia, she has this burst of energy. Both great and distinctive ballerinas.

[@catherinecarterartstudio]

Perfectly stated!

[@konstantinosdafos6603]

You pronounce her name, especially the first time, almost as she pronounces it herself and that's what we should always do with foreign names. It's doubtful if such athletic ability and grace simultaneously in one person have ever existed. No matter how much we analyze it, what she does cannot be taught, she is unique.

[@yaelsbookthoughts9792]

What I love about Osipova is her musicality. She makes me understand the music. When she dances ballet it almost feels like she's breathing. Like it's second nature and she can let her emotions fly. I've never seen anyone quite as artless (in the sincere sense) as her.

[@selini52]

As a dancer this is always my first thing, do dancers make row of technique or are they able to dance to the music and that is Osipova!

[@najah7781]

I was very fortunate to see Natalia in Mayerling at ROH a few years ago. It isn't a jumpy role at all, but her technique was stellar. In the flames pas de deux... Ivan Vasiliev is already a pretty powerful jumper, the fact that she jumps as high as a man is flipping insane

[@truecynic1270]

Osipova is almost supernatural. So beautiful, graceful and remarkably strong! Your commentary is excellent!

[@vermillion9nelson188]

I love her Giselle - extremely emotionally immature in first act and a mature, grown-up in second act (as though the act of dying has made her an adult). It's the only way, frankly, that the ballet makes sense, if indeed, we can expect sense from a fairy tale-style, story ballet. And then, Carlos! The finer nuances of their acting, in both acts, is just superb. Gold standard Giselle. It's the hill I will die on.

[@cathryncampbell8555]

Kathryn, *Thank You* for your wonderful analysis of Osipova's techniques! I have long regarded her as one of the best ballet dancers, but *you* have explained how she accomplishes 'miracles' on stage. I read somewhere that Osipova trained first as a gymnast, which makes me wonder how that fed into her ballet training. One last point: Osipova clearly *enjoys* her time on stage, which enhances the experience for her audience

[@kassandra0]

I love this series! Maybe you could do one about Gillian Murphy (ABT)? Her triple fouettés during black swan are insane and I also really love her kitri!

[@kathryn_morgan]

Love it!

[@amye6853]

Please also do Gillian’s white swan pas! ❤❤❤

[@pennyadlard9491]

Natalia is just amazing. So honoured to have seen her many times at the royal opera house in London. She’s just the best

[@kristiLB93]

Oh my goodness - Natalia Osipova!!😱Such a power house and an incredible actress on the stage -her Giselle is scary it's so good!! Can you do a video on Ulyana Lopatkina? Her Swan Lake is unparalleled!! Her arms are otherworldly. And her performance La Bayadere is incredible as well. Soooooo many dancers you could profile in the video series. Love it!❤

[@conniemandler2001]

Yes, Lopatkina please!!!

[@balletwithisabella]

I remember dancing a Mikhailovsky with osipova when she worked there. We asked her so what do you think about when you jump? She said…. “Push forwards with your glutes!!” Basically use your butt. Oh man it helps. ❤️

[@vivianruiz3481]

Could you explain this further in a video? What comes to mind is clenching my glutes, but I don't think that's what she meant😅

[@Are_We_Having_Tea]

@@vivianruiz3481 like a runner, she drives her hips forward by pushing through her knees, ankles and toes hard into the floor*. Before her jump her ankles and knees are bent and her foot is flattened out on the floor. You’ll note that while her weight is forward, her whole foot is flat on the floor. She is doing what is called in kinesiology “loading” her muscles. Then from that muscle-loaded position she’s able to use her glutes to fire all down her leg chain to the final flick of her toes pushing off the floor. The muscle action starts with her glutes. That gives her the propulsion to A) get her legs up quickly and B) get her really high in the air. If you watch the level of her hips, you see how high she is getting in relation to the people standing behind her, she’s jumping up not forward, she just has so much momentum and is so high she travels a long way. She used her glissade to propel her jump the same way a gymnast uses their jump onto a springboard to propel them onto a vault. Try landing your glissade with a deeper plié but immediately launch your jump. * When you are running and your glutes are driving you forward, it literally feels like someone has their hands underneath your bum muscles and is pushing you up and forward.

[@johnjairo1554]

​@@vivianruiz3481 You need to keep your glutes engaged to propel your hips into the air, but very important to not tuck under. I either imagine my seat bones lifting (or a cartoon getting slapped in the butt and jumping like crazy haha ).

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

These videos are very helpful because while it's useful to have a pro say, "That's an example of good technique", it's actually more useful for a pro to tell us the *how* of the technique. I could watch Marianella or Natalia & naturally fangirl a lot, but not spot that they keep their upper bodies up a certain way, push off with their toes a certain way, etc. And those are the details which help dance students improve their own technique. So, thank you. 😊 Also, one of the reasons why dancers appear to float has to do with conservation of momentum. Your center of mass travels in a parabola when you jump. If you get your arms & legs up faster, you're essentially manipulating where your center of mass is in relation to your head (your CoM is higher when your arms & legs are higher), so it looks like you're floating. That takes ridiculous amounts of skill to do. Edit: spelling, physics explanation

[@debbied3464]

cool explanation - thanks!

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

@@debbied3464 No problem. I teach physics. 😊🩰

[@catherinemurphy9726]

Thank you. I really enjoy her dancing. She doesn't just have fantastic elevation, but her acting is unparalleled. I look forward to your next video on her.

[@bethanneblack]

I love watching her jump in any ballet, and especially in Giselle. She is just otherworldly! ❤

[@kathryn_morgan]

Agreed!

[@elizabethhorn976]

I took ballet years ago, and my teacher emphasized "traveling" and jumping. Yes, part of the secret is speed and getting into poses instantly. For the jumps: she pushes with heels and toes. Any floor is a trampoline at that speed: you think of the floor moving, and use every muscle in the leg, hips through toes. In her case, watch videos of her in the past. One trick was that she took men's classes to concentrate on strength. When everybody in class is jumping high and traveling, it's hard to just do a little and call it a day. Men's work has more leg exercises as well. More dancers should jump and travel more, but some dancers have too many problems like shin splints and can't, so there is one more big thing people don't notice: landings. People don't notice that what goes up must go down, and that takes many Barre exercises that use speed: strict frappés in the correct 3 to 1 rhythm, etc. Pick feet up in piqué (and reaching lets the legs absorb energy too), and keep conscious of every nanosecond of the jumps takeoff and landing. I was watching videos of her a decade ago; just think about the care of doing exercises correctly every day of her career; that is what it takes. That toe press is felt in the glutes. A coupé is often used as preparation for jetés to take less time in preparation, and give more time for the leap. These steps are not even the most spectacular of her leaps in videos.

[@Are_We_Having_Tea]

She’s got killer calf muscles! She also uses her glissade really well. Her fore-foot is flattening on the floor, her ankles and knees are bent and all her muscles have loaded. She drives down into the floor initiating the push from her glutes all the way down to her toes. That explosion of energy allows her to get really high in the air and allows her to get her legs up really fast. It’s a technique that’s more frequently seen in and taught to men rather than ladies. Instead of thinking of “lifting” or “kicking” up their legs it’s “exploding” off of the floor as hard and as fast as you can which just isn’t language or a visual that’s generally used with the ladies classes. It really starts with the glissade, in order to go up you have to go down (in kinesiology- muscle loading) first.

[@nectarina3891]

She has said she takes mens class

[@annanelsen1836]

I was thinking that exact point about her using men's techniques for her toes. Its very obvious in the beginning of the pas de duex shown

[@rebelmama37]

There is an interview by Joy Womack where she describes being allowed to take the men's class at the Bolshoi and she learned completely different technique for jumps that is not taught to women...She said it completely changed her dancing.

[@mariguimars]

A vídeo deconstructing Tiler Peck would also be amazing 😻 she’s so fast, it’s unbelievable…

[@lilbatz]

I know this is OG, but could you deconstruct Sylvie Guillem?

[@sophiafreire7193]

Yesss!

[@SarahHope883]

Omg yes!!!!

[@brindmusicnerd]

Yes! I love Sylvie so much!

[@gailjacobson7088]

Yes please

[@conniemandler2001]

Please! How wonderful!

[@GPCCkitchener]

This video should be required viewing for every ballet student. So many things that most instructors never mention in class.

[@evakelly3640]

I would love to see you deconstructing Tiler Peck's balanchine variations. Her speed and footwork are gorgeous!!

[@divab63]

Beat me to this comment!

[@jessaglenny]

Her feet are insanely strong, which is why she can wear the famously dead shoes, and the deadness of the shoes enables her to really use her feet to get off the ground.

[@oggtastic]

Another Royal Ballet dancer, yes! Highly underrated company.

[@rebelmama37]

Yes but her training is Russian : )

[@RikodiusRex]

My favorite ballerina! This is why I emphasize using the toes to help you degage and using your foot muscles to degage through the toes. Heel ball toe. Toe ball heel.

[@tamirmickens89]

I want to hear more Balanchine talk soon…your fave Balanchine ballet to watch, to perform, ballets you want to do, ones you hated…Balanchine solos/variations you did, loved

[@janellabaxter8372]

I absolutely love these videos! I could watch Marianella and Natalia forever...and to dissect their minute movements! Couldn't be better!

[@user-el2nh5uo1w]

Please keep these coming, your analysis is brilliant and it’s nice to see you admiring the dancers skills even as you analyze their performances. And unlike a magic trick, explaining how she’s able to fly across the stage only marks her seem more talented. Looking forward to you next analysis.

[@elainealexander3043]

Another great ballerina am in awe of her artistry, so good to see in slow mo to watch the mechanics of how she jumps and turns, and I love her extensions so much . Thank you for putting together another great video, so helpful when teaching young students.

[@hollyg2361]

she's very candid about her jumps "not being great" when she was younger (i know) and that she worked her butt off to be an amazing jumper.

[@nathalieenys]

Osipova leaves me in awe. She’s not my favourite in every role, but her Giselle and Nikiya are pretty much guaranteed to make me cry. Ps I LOVE this series, I loved when you would dissect your own dancing as well. Much love 🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@martyjones5750]

.. more.!. more.!. I love seeing all the work manifest like this.. marvelous! Thank you Katie for finding the time.. you are enjoying and learning as much as us..!✨🤸🏼‍♂️🥰💪❤️

[@lourdes5110]

osipova is amazing!

[@candidacarino669]

I listened intently as you gave an accurate evaluation of Osipova's amazing performances ❤ 😊 .. . and for sure Osipova tells a story through dance .. . tho you grabbed the audience's attention with your brilliant story-telling ❤ 😊! Thank you very much for sharing.

[@Albanydancefitness]

So happy to see that you did another one of the videos in this series!

[@Zelenardiana]

Please keep doing this series!! As someone who isn't a dancer this is a way for me to appreciate the art so much more!

[@vivianruiz3481]

I would love a breakdown of different styles of fouette turns (French, Russian, Brittish (RAD), and Cuban). It would help me better understand this very tricky turn. Thank you!

[@sophie7780]

any time i watch natalia i can't help but wonder how she manages to dance on those shoes 😭 her preference for super dead shoes is so fascinating

[@AnnaAnna-zi8ri]

Love this series! Would love to see ballet dancers from the past too!

[@abbyf9689]

This series is so awesome! I would love to see any break downs of Yasmine Naghdi & Tiler Peck❤

[@jangeltrain]

Love this concept! Can we see a full run of the examples either before or after you break them down? It's great to see the whole thing put together.

[@katiefulton9456]

I love this series more than I can express!!!!!! 👏😁🙏💕 Thank you, Katie! 💖, Katie 😉

[@marydavis2312]

LOVE THIS SERIES!!! Could you do more Nela?!! She has SO MANY details!! Thank You!!

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

Russian is my 4th language, but I think it's Oh-SEE-po-va. And you pronounced her name the correct way, nuh-TAL-ya. She actually goes by Natasha if you're close to her :)

[@bernicewan812]

Thankyou so much for such insightful and enriching videos ❤️

[@bessonovafan6454]

I’m loving this series! As a new adult student this is a big help to break down steps! Some dancers I’d love to see are Myriam Ould Braham, Olesya Novikova, Maria Khoreva, Fumi Kaneko, and any NYCB friends you’d like to include!

[@juliashelepkova8612]

Great video! In Russia her name is pronounced Òsipova, so the stress is on the first O 😊

[@thelightdivining]

This series is so informative for non dancers to appreciate every detail of a performance, I am really thankful for your work. We can also see that you really have a great eye and preparation as teacher and judge. I would suggest to deconstruct some performance for artistry, like one of Sara Mearns, or an analysis of a male dancer.

[@katewalker6951]

These videos are so helpful. I look forward to the next one.

[@nectarina3891]

Please do Natalia's Odalisque variation. She does double tours instead of pirouettes in the diagonal and it is out of this world!!

[@isaaaaaburotto]

Yessss, so exited about this series :)

[@ThatOneHairStuckOnYourScreen]

Thank you for this! I have always had a hard time jumping, and teachers give me a hard time about it. I hope this helps!

[@gillianashley1820]

Natalia’s speed and attack are phenomenal, especially given that she does it all on the tattiest pointe shoes imaginable! Her shoes always look ready for the bin. How does she perform in them?

[@debbied3464]

I watched a whole video on this where she explained what she has to do to her pointe shoe to accommodate her VERY wide metatarsal bones -- it's wild

[@millalobo1456]

@@debbied3464 is this vídeo on KZbin?

[@TayaSews]

This might be two sides of the same coin? If your feet are phenomenally strong then you will not want a shoe which is rigid. I also imagine that the force of her feet destroys shoes pretty fast? The shoes don’t have a chance against those feet!

[@Teverell]

She also darns the heck out of them to give her a bigger platform - the part of the shoe in contact with the floor when the dancer is on pointe. (I watch the Pointe Shop channel, there are some really interesting videos on how different dancers prepare their pointe shoes even before they wear them once!)

[@Teverell]

@@TayaSews I can absolutely believe she goes through a single pair in one performance. Possibly even in one act for some of the more intense ballets!

[@cor3944]

La Osipova came originally from studying Olympic gymnastics from very early on, so that’s how she got the basics for her amazing jumping technique.

[@lyra_hou]

Thank you so much for the analysis. This is immensely helpful. Another thing I noticed with her, especially in the pique turns, is how deep her plié is. Often times we cheat the plié because we are rushing to the turn or the jump, but she takes time to prepare with a deep plié and save time by swift execution. Like you said, there is no hesitation.

[@danielniati7126]

Adore your videos! Adore you ever since you were 16 and danced Juliet with Robbie. I appreciate you wanting pronounce everyone's name correctly. Now my Russian is pretty rusty but I believe it is like so... Phonetic pronunciation: nuh-TAH-lee-uh uh-SEE-puh-vuh! I especially love the videos where you deconstruct Balanchine's esthetic and your old dance videos! Thanks a lot.🎉

[@beentheresawthat3982]

stress should be on the first syllable in her family name )

[@rebeccaschiller6489]

Love these videos! Iana Salenko is also another incredible ballerina, her balances, grace and turning ability is amazing.

[@Chels-fz5uq]

The joy in her face in slow motion even as she’s landing is just incredible to see

[@cquinnth]

Amazing to see her move in slow motion…..her front leg shoots out and so does her back leg! So quick……she can really jump!❤️

[@mariguimars]

Amazing video! Katie as usual giving us great content! ❤

[@MaryCosgrove-s8b]

This analysis is really, really interesting - as with Nela. You're seriously good at explaining how it all works to a layperson like me, so thank you heartily! It's clear that you're a super professional yourself with many talents for this profession in the broadest sense. I'd be insanely curious to see an analysis of Khoreva, Illiushkina, Kokoreva (even though the latter has just been made prima, still super interesting to see the breakdown of what makes these dancers so special)....

[@Bunnysteria]

Your deconstruction is gold

[@skatergirl6764]

my new favorite dancer thx to you, awesome analysis. helps me appreciate ballet so much more!

[@celestewatson7836]

Really enjoying this series! I'm a pianist not a dancer, and it's so amazing to learn more about dance!

[@1088RIL]

Giselle with Alina Cojocaru - no one better than her. There is a Blue Ray video of ROH from several years ago - incredible. Also, Manon with Alina Cojocaru by English National Ballet with Isaac Hernandez.

[@meganneuhoff1997]

Natalia, Marianela, Maria and Kathryn are definitely dancers who I look up too! Because of Kathryn’s channel, I have grown so much as a dancer!🩷🤗

[@aldarie]

Love this series! And, actually, you know what would be fun? An episode where you compare two or more dancers from different ballet styles (preferably doing the same/similar variations or movements)-and point out the subtle (or not so subtle!) differences in the style. So, Mearns alongside Khoreva...or something like that? ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJyaiH2Xbtd2Zs0&ab_channel=grapeball / kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXu8gJVsqZ5sY68&ab_channel=VaganovaDream )

[@Missfrankiecat]

So love this series; really interesting having a pro deconstructing technique of these superstars. Thank you.

[@Missfrankiecat]

PS - I tend to pronounce her name as you do (and I did learn some Russian) but I've heard company members in the RB stress the 2nd syllable (os-SEE-pohvah) when saying her name, so I guess that is the preferred pronunciation.

[@ruthmckittrick6279]

Purely the video that just stops me doing anything else and open my eyes wide is the Nureyev Sleeping Beauty male solo, danced by Roberto Bolle, it is the lines and musical timing.

[@Mel-xz8dc]

So happy that you guys are doing the podcast so regularly 🎉

[@joyj5447]

What an amazing analysis! Thank you🥰

[@SanteePrincess]

As a previous gymnastics, her jumps remind me of the quick sprint of energy used before we bust out a hard move

[@cece121234]

Really beautiful jumps and great commentary.

[@Appleinyoureye]

Yay!!!!!!!!! Natalia!!!! 💛

[@liamoreira]

Love this series!!!! So educational

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

My goodness, that Flames of Paris video! She and Vasiliev are both such incredible jumpers, and they are so in sync and both look so excited. Beautiful!

[@gonefishing167]

They were such a wonderful and exciting dance combination were t they? So well suited. 🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺

[@aml6106]

I'm obsessed with this series ❤

[@claudia7858]

Amazing insights! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I cannot understand how she can be so ridiculously, superhumanly fast and still remain the cleanest, neatest dancer! Her movements are so sharp and precise, even at that speed..Insane😮😮 can you do Sylvie Guillem or Aurelie Dupont anything please?

[@SarahHope883]

Love this series! Would love you to do one on Tyler Peck mostly for her musicality but also for her speed

[@emmalay1158]

You talked a lot about getting to the position fast. I would love some exercises and applications for students trying to increase speed. Loved this video!!

[@cristinasabate]

I love this videos, thank you!!😊❤

[@debbied3464]

Yes!!! My favorite

[@panagiotapapasotiriou9729]

I think Elizabeth Platel's Aurora act 1 is great for these series!

[@VGL72]

Love this series it’s so interesting x

[@lanelmuhammad]

Loving this series Katie!!! Maybe Melissa Hamilton or Meghan Grace Hinkins?

[@kathryn_morgan]

Love these suggestions!

[@EmeraldBattersea]

Definitely! Would also love to see anything on Alina Cojocaru or Alessandra Ferri

[@rachicolate]

I saw her perform live once (Giselle grand pas with Sergei Pulonin, they’re incredible together), what’s crazy to me is that you can’t hear her land a single one of her jumps. I’m not sure if it’s super soft shoes or witchcraft, but either way it’s amazing

[@celiabonadies5667]

Her surname is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable: oh-SEE-poh-va.

[@jessaglenny]

She doesn't say it that way, although that sounds like correct Russian to me (I speak a tiny bit). She says OsiPOVa. Perhaps she has anglicised it because that's the way English people always say it.

[@celiabonadies5667]

@@jessaglenny You may be right about her anglicising the pronunciation. Many Russian surnames are accented on the 2nd syllable, e.g., Makarova, Baryshnikov.

[@aleksandrabezmenova759]

I think it’s actually the first O that is accented. I am russian and I have always read her surname that way; but in Russian it could actually be both ways, so I checked russian wikipedia and it’s Oh-sipova))

[@jessaglenny]

@@aleksandrabezmenova759 Thanks. That's the clarification about Russian pronunciation that I wanted!

[@natalyalande]

I believe the first syllable is stressed in her name OH!sipova .

[@alassante]

Oh thank you, Kathryn!! I love Osipova, she's an artistic bomb going off on stage in the best way possible. I know it wasn't the point of the video but I also LOVE how her technique depending on the role isn't as 'clean' as other ballerinas' but carries much more depth and drama, like her Nikiya in La Bayadere. Could you maybe do a video about Zakharova? She's by far one of the most famous ballerinas and she excels in ethereal roles like Odette.

[@alassante]

PS: This series is SO fun to watch, thank you so much for this!! 💗💗

[@rebelmama37]

She is always amazing. It looks like her pointe shoes are crumpling beneath her - anyone know why? Does she wear very soft boxes? I haven't been on pointe for decades so no idea what people wear now.

[@RomeoNJulietLostTheGame]

oh Marzipan!!! When you get a chance can you share the story of when you danced Marzipan please?

[@DarynaFodor]

Thank you for such an intresting series! If you could do one about Iana Salenko - principal dancer from Staatsballett Berlin. It would be intresting to see someone with different natural abilities. Thanks!

[@davidg858]

Awesome commentary!

[@leah8326]

These videos are like ballet cheat sheets 😂 love it!

[@humanchelovek6880]

Jumpability depends not only on her ability to push off the ground but also from her feet and she has excellent high-arched feet. Also natural ability, position of the arms, timing, controlled abdominal muscles...etc.

[@farinachairunnisa457]

Osipova's Act II Giselle please!😍😍

[@EmeraldBattersea]

Yes! And maybe also the Act 1 solo?

[@phoenixharrison8761]

Omg her Giselle is amazing

[@pedinurse1]

jUST LOVE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND iVAN IS AWSOME

[@moiraruff3292]

Thank you, Kathryn. Not ballet trained but being trying to understand what I can see sepatates one good dancer from another. You explain so clearly and I will appreciate so much more now. ❤. I would love more, men as possibly?

[@avocadonabura]

Hi I love your videos and this series is great! Can you do one on Ulyana Lopatkina? Interestingly I much preferred her swans to any other ballerina and her Nikiya is fantastic! (Pronunciation *oo•lyA•na la•pAt•kina.* The “l” a veeeery small separation sound from the YA if that makes sense).

[@curzonproduct]

Looking forward to the Natalia/Giselle video!!

[@megah5028]

Dear Kathryn, Olesya Novikova, please? Her Sleeping Beauty Rose Adagio is perfect. I would so love to hear a dancer’s view of her.

[@lgarvey11]

Love these! Royal Ballet non-Russians say OsipOva, but I've heard Russians pronounce it OsIPova.

[@booluther]

I’d love to see a Sleeping Beauty with Alina Cojocaru video. Especially the grande pas

[@lisawinton2977]

Would you be able to do a Frozen themed barre? I absolutely love your themed barres, especially the Disney one. 🥰