What it takes to perform classical dance's most demanding corps de ballet number

The Kingdom of the Shades scene in Act II is one of the ballet La Bayadère's highlights, in which a series of arabesques across the moonlit stage demonstrates the strength of the corps de ballet and the beauty of Marius Petipa's choreography. Ballet mistress Samantha Raine and dancers Romany Pajdak and Leticia Dias describe their experience of performing this technically demanding scene.
An iconic 19th-century Russian ballet, La Bayadère was originally performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in St Petersburg in 1877, and was regularly performed within the former Soviet Union throughout the 20th century. It remained unknown in the West until the Kirov Ballet toured with the Kingdom of the Shades scene in 1961. Natalia Makarova saw La Bayadère as a child in Leningrad and created this production in 1980. It was first performed by The Royal Ballet in 1989.
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[@barbaralemere1852]

the key ingredient to the Kingdom of the Shades scene is that every girl on that stage is the ballerina. They all have to move and breathe as one. You shouldn't be able to tell that they are not all Nikiya. It's like the are all her image in a mirror. It's difficult and demanding but so worth it when it works. It's breathtaking.

[@noblesetsentimentales]

Beautifully put.

[@gonefishing167]

So very well said , yes . You got it just right 👏👏🩰🩰👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@elizabethmccarten9997]

I saw a performance of this in Ottawa in the 1980s when one of the Kirov dancers fell coming down the ramp, and the rest went down like dominoes. Unforgettable, but for the wrong reason.

[@gonefishing167]

Oh the poor dears. Hope they reformed and coped. Would love to know 👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🩰🩰🩰

[@mrlopez-pz7pu]

Let us not forget to mention the man who created this - the genius Marius Petipa. He laid these steps down nearly150 years ago!

[@eurekamreum5458]

So happy to see that Gemma was able to overcome her injury and perform this beautiful piece, they all did extraordinarily.

[@hannahringel4892]

Eureka Mreum Same with me

[@jelenanovikova9119]

I admire the ballet dancers (and corps de ballet not less, than soloists!) - they all are like superhumans to me! Such a hard work to make it look so divine and easy on stage!

[@larryslove8906]

Please give us more corp we ballet videos!! We want and love them!!

[@rens3333]

The corps has always been my fav part of ballet

[@ivahahaiva2733]

Annn Niemm Can you please explain what does corps mean? Thank you

[@rens3333]

@@ivahahaiva2733 The corps is the group of girls you see dancing in this video. They're dancing the same steps usually. They're kinda the background, they don't have separate roles.

[@ivahahaiva2733]

Annn Niemm Thanks

[@Poppy-]

@@ivahahaiva2733 corps in French means body. So like she said it's the group that forms "the body"

[@nalabees]

@@ivahahaiva2733 the corps is the entry level position that pretty much every dancer starts out in then if they're lucky move up the ranks to doing the solo roles

[@saeedawhitaker2460]

I love this! Corps videos are always fascinating.

[@a.phillips6892]

My favorites! Love the Corp💓

[@nadialevy7747]

I'm so delighted to see Romany. She is one of my favourite ballerinas of all time.Would love to see her perform Gisele. She is breathtaking to watch.Some of my absolute favourite videos are the technique and ballet history ones she has done.

[@steemdup]

She would be stunning as Giselle!

[@laurajohnson833]

Agreed! I've recently fallen in love with the Royal Ballet and I cannot take my eyes off Romany whenever she's on stage/screen!

[@noblesetsentimentales]

She's a beautiful Cecchetti classicist that spent too much time in the corps. She's been dancing some solo roles as of late, though, like the fairies in the "Sleeping Beauty" prologue.

[@nadialevy7747]

@@steemdup oh I do hope she gets her chance.Shes been overlooked too long

[@nadialevy7747]

Romany is so lovely.She puts the right amount of energy into each step. You can see the younger girls almost too excited and too energetic in certain steps. There's a softness and quiet in her movements that only comes with experience...a sort if ease.Also its just a beautiful personal dance style🤍❤

[@cherylzane7215]

The cinemacast had one of the best Shades scenes I've seen in years. Magical, hypnotic from start to finish. Brava ladies!

[@vanessakim6890]

Romany is the most beautiful girl ever I swear! And when she talked about the music keeping her going I completely related, god I love her

[@Poppy-]

I'm going to see it at the movie theatre this Sunday and look forward to it. Would love to be able to dance it one day. Even as a non professional adult dancer. Thank you ROH for giving us glimpses of backstage rehearsal.

[@carmen9330]

Saw them live last friday, they did beautifully! 👏🎶✨

[@angelle_rose]

Wow this is so beautiful!

[@nadialevy7747]

When will Romany become a principal. She is gorgeous. Such an elegant, delightful performer

[@kleineaugenbrauen]

Their performances are so breathtaking ❤

[@juliada8121]

I saw the cinema lifestream last night, it was stunning!

[@Kimllg88]

SO wanting to see this here in the US. Must wait til it gets to cinemas in January.

[@fabianeknack2879]

Tão lindo ver as brasileiras ganhando destaque.

[@kezyaalmeida8950]

Estamos em todo lugar e isso é muito inspirador, assim nós sabemos que podemos ser oq quisermos ♥️

[@onetwothree9]

Going to see a broadcast of it on sunday at the cinema. I can't wait!

[@Poppy-]

So am I. So exited

[@lucianarib2003]

Leticia Dias ❤️❤️❤️

[@khatunameskhidze7644]

..... To be a best ballerina, it's connected to a lot of & to the sophisticated work!👌👌👌 ..... Good luck! 👍👍👍

[@laurafreedman8770]

Thank you. Beautiful

[@nicolejarel5953]

Watching the Mariinsky perform this in two months, and I know I’m gonna cry. Someday I hope to see the Royal ballet!

[@johamlen8821]

I love this. it is so beautiful

[@msbeejones]

ROMANY P. IS SOOO PRETTY!

[@pauliberg3492]

oh such hard word , such dedication..

[@herrbrucvald6376]

Romany Pajdak is just so beautiful yikes...

[@cynthiafletcher9845]

They dancers are so admirable as they are challenged by this difficult choreography. C❤❤

[@anneharrison1849]

The girls in the blue are members of the upper school? One of was even in the front row. How to they manage their school curriculum along with rehearsals and then multiple nights in the theatre?

[@mingfei1622]

Anne Harrison I want to know too, I can’t even manage upper school on its own

[@anneharrison1849]

@@mingfei1622 It looks like the one in the front is in Gemma Pitchley-Gale's spot, which means she must not have fully recovered from her injury - that's assuming the 24 girls in this video are the 24 girls performing.

[@pinkwings8036]

They go to a ballet academy, so their performances are part of their curriculum.

[@ntricker]

Anne Harrison none of the dancers here are from the upper school. The dancers you refer to are all company dancers. The one in the front row is Sae Maeda.

[@ayladavis6257]

Our school in the middle of the US was privileged to get an instructor from Moscow. She spoke of the ramp as if it were the most terrifying monster to have ever roamed the earth. As students we tried the piece flat across the floor without a ramp. Still very difficult but incomparable to using the ramp.

[@justsaiyansteve]

Wow so beautiful.

[@raphaelavieira2483]

loved seeing letícia!!😍😍👏👏

[@majuuuuuuuuuu]

Um dia eu vou dançar assim 😍😍

[@user-se5kj4ir2j]

ROMANYYY

[@alexiaamador9800]

When they will upload the video of the complete work of the Bayadere??

[@ntricker]

Angelina 133 they won’t. You have to buy the DVD if you want to see the whole thing (it’s out now).

[@barnabyrt1012]

Bravo👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤

[@veronicabalsara6528]

Ballet Beautiful...

[@BeatricerIVA-lm3vp]

Amo il Royal Ballet e amo la Bayadere

[@stellamarishansen3317]

Creo q el Reino de las Sombras es el más demandante para un cuerpo de baile, debe llevar un intenso trabajo para la preparadora y cada una de las bailarinas individualmente para lograr semejante perfección pero cuando se logra es deslumbrante!

[@edfilchev5202]

Original Petipa’s version (which is still performed at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky) is for 32 dancers, not for 24….

[@fabriciarodrigues1897]

💕💕💕

[@tavit1987]

I can barely walk in a straight line omg

[@Bananas904]

Has Gemma recovered enough to perform? I hope so!

[@beafbuger]

strong women

[@qiugezhang6847]

sorry but what does ballet mistress mean?

[@cadaver6665]

Susan Qiuge ZHANG It's the equivalent of a ballet master. Basically it's their company teacher or the coach

[@sordidsorts393]

grreat close up camera work in sttudio and three dimnensional view of the actual choreography withoiut suspension of disbelief . no the fairy tale is for the audience , only hard work this of orchestra pit

[@MsKilala]

I do have to dispute the title Bayadere is beautiful but Swan Lake act 2 is THE most demanding for the Corps de ballet IMO

[@karenaoram]

having danced both , Bayadere is the most difficult.

[@avesraggiana]

Not twenty-four dancers, please. Thirty two! Thirty two shades please, Royal Ballet.

[@fabiesque]

exactly! I find it sooo stingy!

[@Bananas904]

Go to their company roster and find 32 female corps de ballet members. The stage dimensions have to be considered as well.

[@avesraggiana]

@@Bananas904 I believe the Royal Ballet has a roster of well over a hundred dancers. A company of that size could easily field a platoon of 32 shades, even two.

[@RockyScience]

Who’s the second girl after the leading girl - second from our right? Asian looking girl.

[@balletfan4154]

TheRunningOrange Sae Madea

[@Heidiandthe3boys]

Sae Maeda