Vaganova. Level 1. Pointe. 1992.

Here's the full pointe work from our level 1 Vaganova exam, with our teacher Olga Semenova.
We just learned how to get up on pointe (at 10-11 yo age), and not strong enough, but tried so hard!

[@kballet2001]

I’m amazed how perfectly they close in a perfect tight fifth each time. It’s super impressive for being new to pointe and in general even lots of principles don’t have perfect fifths. It’s more common with vaganova and bokshoi they screen for children who have the turnout and have been dancing since they were 3.

[@dmitryermakov2113]

Уроки классического танца- в программу каждой общеобразовательной школы!!

[@candycottrell6469]

Excellent work for level1, they all carried themselves beautifully, head and arm placements looked great.

[@andynonymous6769]

I’m jealous. I wish I could’ve done ballet at a high intensity school like this. But of course the grass is always greener on the other side huh? I bet they spent all their free time practicing

[@chilanya]

i have exactly the same envy.. i wish i'd been able to take more and better classes as a young child. my parents always saw it as a hobby, never pushed me and so i had only one hour of class per week until i was 18 :-(

[@FK_loving]

@@chilanya i envy both of you. You had at least some exercises when you were children. I had to study all the time and now my spine says hello to me 😅

[@shieldmaidenforchrist1310]

You can tell they have worked so hard to get to this point. I hope they all felt proud of their accomplishments even at this level, pointe is not easy. At the same time, I see a room full of dead shoes, incorrectly fitted shoes, obviously incorrect vamp lengths. I realize Russia was going through a very difficult time economically at this time, but I would have thought their prestigious ballet schools would have been better funded so that students would not have to settle for a shoe made for a different foot type than theirs and keep wearing that shoe when it is much to soft.

[@anneharrison1849]

From things I have read, I get the impression that having much variety in pointe shoes was (and to some extent still is) rare in Russia, also, having them last a long time was essential. Some of this I read in Monica Loughman’s book, I’m guessing that the scheme she went to Russia on was meant to bring money into Russia, but what she actually talks about is living a fairly deprived life and it must have been worse for the Russians. I’ve also heard of unusual darning techniques they used to make their shoes last.

[@mealteamsixty]

I saw the same. Terrified for these girls' ankles. And half of them look to young to be even en pointe at all, much less in the center and off the barre

[@solhagen00]

Thank you for posting for sharing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻♥️🌸

[@oksana_liaki6240]

Очень хорошие малышки! Педагог -молодец!!! 👍

[@Юлия-м1с5е]

Девочки...Умнички такие🎉

[@ЛарисаПляскина-й7м]

Я очень люблю балет!

[@carolaher289]

Por esto las bailarinas rusas siempre serán las mejores. Esfuerzo, trabajo y disciplina.

[@BrainyWoman]

I would love to know more about these dancers. Are they dancing today?

[@mariaellis2882]

So much talent at that school

[@mariaellis2882]

@@kathymyers7279 because these Russians are the best. They know who’s got talent.

[@An_Gold]

Wonderful girls. Like from different planet.

[@spqrmor]

Красиво! Однако, страшно подумать ,что этим малышкам уже всем за сорок....

[@victuuri_6739]

Poor girls, some of these shoes don't fit at all. Hope they didn't injure themselves.

[@ardishorwich4601]

Not that I doubt what you are saying but how can you tell?

[@ardishorwich4601]

The picture quality is not that good.

[@isabellabowgoal2003]

@@ardishorwich4601 wdym? U can obviously tell how small those shoes are for girl in the second scene

[@shieldmaidenforchrist1310]

@@ardishorwich4601 If you have danced en pointe for more than a short time, or have taken many classes with students who are en pointe, you will know what looks right and what looks very wrong.

[@ardishorwich4601]

I only danced briefly as a young teen. I didn’t have the feet for it.

[@dmitryermakov2113]

Молодцы!

[@aeondflux]

Those shoes😢 and stone tiles😮 oh babies

[@brendaandalistairhunter9593]

I am sorry but allowing children to roll their ankles so badly in demi plie in 5th is very irresponsible. Knees should be held over toes.

[@Elenaelok]

Это было так давно! Они уже пенсионерки по балетным меркам)

[@ValentinaPaddeu]

Yes please!

[@An_Gold]

4:21 - it is Vestalka's dance, right?

[@Sheraz_ad]

Omg they're so skinny 😳 😱

[@monongahelacats]

Their shoes look miserable.

[@NataliaRomanovaBallet]

Thank you for your thoughtful comment :) we were just out of Soviet Union and didn’t have many choices.

[@lu871]

What did you wear inside the point shoes at that time to protect your toes?

[@victuuri_6739]

My mother danced all throughout her school and college years (1974 to early 90s) and she always wore lambs wool inside her shoes.

[@lu871]

@@victuuri_6739 Interesting!!

[@hollyperry]

Лейкопластыри

[@missygee531]

@@victuuri_6739 I did you!

[@painterdawn2]

@@victuuri_6739 I danced in the 70's and 80's and we used lamb's wool.