Zenaida Yanowsky at 18: Esmeralda

Zenaida Yanowsky (now London Royal Ballet Principal Dancer) dancing Esmeralda solo, 1993.

[@BrunaPacheco]

I've never seen any Esmeralda like her, she's brilliant! Her shoulders gave to her a unique personality... I really liked.

[@maggiefogarty-harnish9667]

+Bruna Pacheco very sharp i love it

[@suhseal]

she's the sauciest esmeralda I've seen yet. flawless.

[@Icewyche]

Nice! Of all the Esmeraldas I've seen, Yanowsky is one of the few who actually puts some much-needed fire into the dance. And the earring flying off during the final pirouette made me smile...ah, costume malfunctions. :-)

[@giuliaferrari4492]

The most amazing Esmeralda I've ever seen!! She's a sublime combination between perfect technique and Spanish attitude!! Bravo!!😍😍

[@CordsZ]

She actually brings MUSICALITY to the role! Who knew that still existed? Most of the girls on here dancing this role are more concerned with shoving their foot to a six o'clock or ripping off a triple pirouette. No concern for using the tambourine, much less keeping proper time with it, or using their upper body in the movements.

[@luceafarul579]

Yes this is the best one that I’ve ever seen with this dance. I also care enormously about musicality and unfortunately that has been on a regress. More and more dance is focused on athleticism and spontaneousness because “oh that’s just exciiiiiiting!! 🙄” This is why I still prefer Svetlana Zakharova over the more popular Natalia Osipova for most (especially the classical) roles.

[@highstepnightowl]

I friggin' LOVE Zenaida! She is so spirited and enthusiastic. It's always exciting to see her.

[@rlatimer10]

Wow, actually one the best performance of this piece I’ve seen.

[@aleksandrawos1207]

This is my favourite ballet variation. I saw so many girls dancing La esmeralda but in my opinion only Zenaida is dancing with FIRE. Incredible musicality, pride, maturality... She is basicly "telling" the story

[@hbanana7]

YES!! i love it when dancers understand that on stage they must become that character!

[@ABTBluebird]

I LOVED her interpretation. it was awesome.

[@fantasticfungi]

Agreed. It's so refreshing to see a girl who is right on top of the beat.

[@TotallyMH729TsMH]

TOP 4♥ LOVED THIS. here eyes were so woah

[@merluzasfritas]

There is no point in comparing YanoWsky´s Esmeralda with Osipova´s,Because they are two completely differents imterpretations.Osipova as a ballerina is spectacular, but that is about it, she doesn´t get into the character. But here, I see Esmeralda, I really see her.And I love it.

[@smaaaaaaaalll]

LOVE HER!

[@kdub10009]

This variation shows Zenaida's wonderful musicality, great use of rubato.

[@DemonJizz]

pause at 2:13 i think one of the tambourine metal jingles came off lol! loved the dance!

[@adriie777]

She is one of my top 3 now for this variation! Very beautiful!

[@EVizCol]

I really like this combination!!!

[@grapeball20]

The spiciest and most flawless Esmeralda

[@IracebethLovett]

Starts at 0:50

[@jengirl2]

Fantastic! She is really feeling the character & music!

[@khowweeting]

The Queen of Hearts brought me here

[@genericizeme]

beautiful technique AND personality . . . thank you!

[@saritachan]

by far my favorite Esmeralda variation!!!!!!!!

[@mousieyee]

Ha ha. I see it now, thanks. Despite this, i think her style is brilliant, with so much character =))

[@liliTchaikovsky]

MARAVILHOSO!!! bravo!!!!

[@hairyeahyeah]

beautiful mature seductive interpretation. I agree it's not always about height and multiple pirouettes. Dance must come always from the heart!!!!

[@tatyegian]

tecnica linda super colocada ameiiiii

[@Lolalatease]

I have to say, I agree! She is a real inspiration to me as I am also tall, though not 5'11'' like her, and so I can understand the difficulties that amount with height but even considering this I do not think she is here, or even currently I'm afraid, the same standard as the other Royal principals, I can understand why she is not used as much as the others....

[@Marteixtas]

Excelente apresentação. Forte, mas sem os exageros que normalmente são executados nessa variação. Zenaida é uma ótima bailarina! Conheço esse vídeo há muitos anos e hoje ela deve ter sua técnica muito mais apurada.

[@familyflip310]

how do we make royal ballet use her more

[@dtadancer95]

i totally agree with you

[@bwoodsfinest]

@aliAnAoZgirl Wrong wrong wrong...A lot of people don't seem to know the story behind this particular cariation. It's supposed to be sad. Esmeralda just finds out the man she is inlove with doesn't want her. There is not supposed to be sexinaess and flare. It's actually a rather somber variation. Dancers consistently potray this variation wrong.

[@balletzenaida]

just see my name "balletzenaida"!!! thats because of her!!!

[@danzamore]

nonsense. being tall makes ballet technically even harder, because you're always behind the music, and a longer body is naturally harder to control, so congratulations for that! and you must admit that those long legs just look great.

[@berserkerballerina]

effortless!!!!

[@danzamore]

I didnt say you cant manage to be with the music! Its just a fact that the longer a way is, the longer it takes to go it - no matter whether its from the shops to the bus stop or from a passé to a 5th position. tall dancers need to work more quickly than short ones, because a 45° jeté of a tall dancer just goes higher up that the one of a short dancer. a good dancer like zenaida can of course deal with it!!!

[@bwoodsfinest]

@FyreBalletDancer lol Esmeralda is a french gypsie...this is not a spanish ballet...i didn't think she did poorly or anythign...i was just speaking on the fact that people think this is supposed to be a sexy and happy variation...i think she did pretty well ...

[@icarrus4u]

It's Spanish fare! She's a good dancer.

[@Roccarocks]

No one can beat Osipova!

[@Lolalatease]

lol, true true. i feel blessed in that case to be only 5' 8''! Plus, actually although at school they always wanted to use the small, cute girls, now Im a professional dancer my height has been quite an asset as luckily everywhere seems to be looking for girls at least 5' 6'' and over-the reign of the tall amazonians is here!!! ;) lol

[@mousieyee]

Did something come out of her tamborine at the second last note, just before the end?

[@inbalh]

me too

[@annie102793]

OMG i think i just saw something fall out of her tambourine! =)) XD

[@geckoarmy8]

She's so wonderful and has amazing control! Still, I like Natalia Osipova's Esmeralda better...

[@Sautdechat]

There's a first year student at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts who is easily over 6 foot tall. So next time you think your height is a challenge, spare a thought for her, haha. Poor girl.

[@bwoodsfinest]

@aliAnAoZgirl i meant variation

[@durubesli9173]

0:56-0:57 What the hell was that sound????

[@annie102793]

doesnt her arabesque look like an "arab-econde" (arabesque+al la seconde)?? just asking.:> and she's the only girl i've seen opening her mouth while doing that variation! :> nothing. just surprised. BTW she's awesome! :-bd

[@PammeLim]

um.. unique style

[@Ickisaur]

I think Esmeralda should be flirty and graceful, not scary. o.0

[@dancingwithoutwords]

Tall is Beauty in Ballet, the more extensions the best!!!! I don't like small ballet dancers hahaha

[@rgscballerina]

she is a very good dancer, but i dont think she is good enough to be a royal ballet principal. now im not saying i am better than her, or she is not a good dancer...i just dont think she compares to other royal ballet principals.

[@rgscballerina]

you are not always behind the music! get out in the real ballet world

[@jacoblack02]

i dont liker her she's so agressive.. :S

[@surreallane9730]

Then you don’t know gypsies 😂 they are incredibly sassy sometimes. There characters are more fiery than delicate.