#Yaroslavna Kuprina

[tikitania]

Looking ahead I found this shocker. Sleeping Beauty is returning to the Bolshoi stage — and Yaroslavna Kuprina is dancing Aurora in September.

This is a huge debut for a girl who was injured all last season and has very little experience on the Bolshoi stage.

Of the ‘23 Vaganova grads, she was the one hoped would stay at the Mariinsky. She was so technically clean and had elegant style.

I honestly hope this debut is wildly successful and not another case of Vaziev pushing too much too soon. His track record has me worried.

[patricedumonde]

Do you think Sofya Valiullina can progress further with Bolshoi? Especially with new hires/graduates coming into the company soon. Not sure what the consensus is in Russia but from what I see majority of Russian comments on Instagram and YouTube of her performances are rather negative. I know it is impossible but I really think she is so perfect for so many ballet companies outside of Russia. I can see her at Royal ballet. Also, any news of Kuprina ?

Tough question re: Sofya. It depends on how many graduates are going to Bolshoi and how many of them have soloist potential. Kamila Sultangareeva will definitely be one of them. I still have high hopes for her bc she is being given soloist roles, but you’re right in assuming that it might die down this coming year. It really depends on who’s coming!

Tbh I want to see more Vaganova graduates in America too. I really thought it would’ve been awesome to have Jaden Grimm in ABT or SF Ballet. Sofya in Royal Ballet would be such a dream, her repertoire would increase drastically!

More VBA graduates should consider Vienna State Ballet too, it’s now under Alessandra Ferri’s leadership!! There are also so many companies outside of Russia that would serve them all well. Berlin, Munich, Dutch National, Paris!

As for Yaroslavna, I saw her dressed up like she was going to class back in January/February. This was on her instagram story but that was it. No hints at a return to stage so I’m definitely worried about that.

[balletomaneblog]

Former Vaganova Students as Hebe from the Awakening of Flora!

Here's a collection of Vaganova grads dancing the Hebe variation from the Awakening of Flora. I really love when Vaganova girls perform this variation so I thought it'd be fun to see them all together! I particularly enjoyed Bulanova, Khiteyeva, and Koshkareva, but they're all lovely!

Maria Bulanova at Vaganova Graduation (8th year, 2018)

Alexandra Khiteyeva at a class concert (6th year, 2017)

Maria Koshkareva competing at IBC Moscow (7th year, 2022)

Yaroslavna Kuprina competing at IBC Moscow (7th year, 2022)

Eleonora Sevenard in a gala concert (7th year, 2016)

Renata Shakirova at Vaganova Graduation (8th year, 2014)

[anjelalala]

Yaroslavna Kuprina

"Do everything with kindness and love.��If you approach everything with a bright soul, then any undertaking will succeed."

The poetic combination of first and last name, as if already at birth, determined the future strong connection of our today's heroine with the world of art.

Photos by: Alisa Aslanova for Ballet Magazine Russia

[ballet-symphonie]

Vaganova Ballet Academy Asks

So there is official information of Koshkareva signing a solo contract with Bolshoi and Nikolay Tsiskaridze's close friend (devilonpointshoes on Telegram) and ballet enthusiasts on ballet forums stating that Koshkareva, Valiullina, and Kuprina going to Bolshoi. How do you feel about all the star students going to Bolshoi instead of Mariinsky like many expected? It isn't unexpected that Valiullina is going to Bolshoi given that she suits that company but with Koshkareva and Kuprina being Mariinsky's trainees for a year, and their dance style suiting Mariinsky more, I really do not understand why they chose Bolshoi (perhaps they were given soloist role straight away)? Anyways I'm also confused if Koshkareva is going to Bolshoi like Kuprina, why is her name not taken down from the trainee name list on the Mariinsky website... Honestly idk how to feel about this and ngl Im pretty disappointed that Koshkareva and Kuprina are not going to Mariinsky :(

The Bolshoi is the fast track. These girls have been promoted as stars and BT has likely made them big promises to keep treating them that way. With how the Bolshoi gives out roles at the speed of light to young prominent grads, plus the benefits that generally come with dancing in Moscow (read: money), the offers are likely very tempting. The corps life is tough, no one wants to do it if they don't have to lmao.

I thought with this reinvented MT and more publicized MT trainee situation that MT management would have managed to keep at least one of Koshkareva and Kuprina but I guess not. I am actually more surprised Valiullina is tagging along as I thought her body type might hold her back. While I agree with many that her dancing fits the broad movement and expressive style of the Bolshoi, that’s unfortunately not exactly what goes on stage all the time nowadays at BT, maybe its about 50/50 now depending which principals are cast.

Hi Ale! Any news on Daria Kulikova? How is she doing at the Academy? I think the 2023 class is a powerful one, and my opinion isn't based on who is better. But there's something about Kulikova??? I don't know... but I like her dancing and I'm rooting for her, there's just something special, artistic I see in her.

The 2023 class has just been everywhere and she hasn’t been one of the most hyped ones for obvious reasons. I don’t think I’ve seen where she’s going but I also haven’t been crawling through the TG channels looking for information about her you know? 

With the ‘big 3’ of this class heading to BT, there’s likely some MT spots available, which is theoretically what she would want after changing schools so late in the games.  

Do you think there will ever be a Kovaleva graduate to top Vishneva off? I honestly don't and it's not because there weren't other talented girls to graduate, but it's just that none of the ones who came after, could even compare to Vishneva, let alone surpass her. Koshkareva for example, is really talented, but it's already being called the 'next Vishneva', so... I will say though, after Vishneva, only Smirnova and Khoreva came a little close and probably Koshkareva will too.

I don’t think she will ever top Vishneva, she’s a once in a 100 years type of a dancer. I also don’t know how much longer she will continue to work. Her talent as a pedagogue is immense, she’s proven that she can train exceptional dancers with different body types, backgrounds and ambitions. Her training and her graduates, quite literally is defining the past, present and future of Russian ballet.  

how do the “classes” at vaganova work?? like if it’s class of kovaleva, does that mean that she’s taught them all 8 years at vaganova orrr 

No, if a ballerina is listed as ‘class of Kovaleva’ that means that she taught their graduate year. Generally, the teachers will change every 1-3 years as some teachers are especially skilled at working with different age groups. 

[mariaspir]

Did you see that bolshoi is touring the mariinskii 2 with Romeo and Juliet? We will get to see Sofia Valiullina, Elisabetta Nallin and Yaroslavna Kuprina back in St. Petersburg!

I saw it, I wonder why they're sending a production Petersburg already knows instead of something from unique from their rep. Management supposedly doesn't want there to be a comparison between Mariinsky and Bolshoi, but there's gonna be more now than if they brought their completely unique Pharaoh's Daughter.

[miss-mollys-ballet-blog]

What is your opinion on the 2023 graduates that have been given a lot of soloist roles in the Bolshoi, Koshkaryova, Kuprina, Valiullina, Konovalova, and Netsvetaeva-Dolgaleva? And on the Mariinsky side of favored 2023 dancers, how do you feel about Kulikova and Karamysheva? If you’ve seen any videos of them, of course.

Disclaimer: I do not watch videos of them as students when saying my opinions of them as they are all at least a year into their professional careers.

I don't like Maria Koshkaryova, both her Swanhilda and Gamzatti debuts were incredibly underwhelming. She was lucky her Solor was Vladislav Lantratov because he saved her so many times during the grand pas. Her Kitri was definitely better though, part of which is due to the fact that she has had a bit more time to develop as a professional.

The only thing I remember about Yaroslavna Kuprina was after watching her debut in the Swan Lake pas de trois (last year I think), I really liked her hands. I haven't watched enough of her to form any real opinion other than that detail.

Out of all of them, Sofya Valiullina is probably my favorite. She is the only one who looks like she feels comfortable onstage and she doesn't come across as fake happy, she seems to be very much herself but in a very good way. I really like her in the Naiad and the Fisherman variation she does in Paquita, she just makes you smile!

I've never even heard of Polina Netsvetaeva-Dolgaleva tbh. I don't pay attention to students and it's even more difficult to pay attention to BBA students as they don't publish anything. I also don't follow them on social media.

I've only watched two videos of Kulikova, Princess Florine and Masha, and I don't like either variation so it's hard to separate that from her actual dancing. From what I remember of those two videos, she is a dancer who had slightly sloppy technique but has a cute stage personality. If she continues to improve her technique so the point where she is very comfortable enough that her entire personality can shine through, she has a lot of potential to be quite charming and fun to watch.

No idea who Karamysheva is.

[melmothblog]

Vaganova Ballet Academy student, Yaroslavna Kuprina, photographed by Irina Yakovleva.

[vaganova-blog]

Kuprina Yaroslavna

[gorbigorbi]

Yaroslavna Kuprina (Vaganova Ballet Academy) Photo © Ira Yakovleva

[tikitania]

I found it interesting to see clips of both Kuprina and Koshkareva dancing the same role 'Fisherman's Wife'. They have such different styles/approaches to performance - I'm not sure which is more correct but Koshkareva felt like a Kitri'ish Fisherman's Wife whilst Kuprina was more of a Giselle Act 1 variation'ish Fisherman's Wife.

I found them both in 'tuus' instagram stories - they have a number of clips from the 2 most recent showings of Pharoah's daughter including snippet of Vailulina as 'Congo'.

I saw those clips! I definitely preferred Kuprina’s dancing of that variation. Also, Valiulina looked very good.

Here’s Maria Vinogradova in the same Fisherman’s wife variation. This sets the bar in style and lightness.

[patricedumonde]

Yaroslavna Kuprina is debuting Aurora! I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. They’re really throwing her straight into hot water, aren’t they?

Same here! Coming up really soon, September 8th. It’s a lot of faith and trust to put on one person, for sure. I’m really looking forward to it and I hope we get good videos!!

[patricedumonde]

Came here to write about Kuprina and Koshkareva debuting as Gamzatti and Paquita (as well as a few smaller roles, along with Valiullina) and was definitely feeling like they’re overlooking Sofya in comparison. But now I saw she’s debuting as Myrtha and I’m so happy! She will also be debuting in Chopiniana, which also good. What do you think of all these roles, Patrice? Which of them sonhou think are the most complicated and why did they cast them like this?

Also, speculations were true! Koshkareva joined as a soloist. Not the other two girls, though.

Wow those are really big debuts for all three of them! I am surprised that Yaroslavna and Masha were both casted as Gamzatti but not Sofya 😕 Technique-wise and stage presence, I think she would’ve been the best.

Masha reminds me of Elya who’s been a decent Gamzatti. Both girls (Yaroslavna and Masha) are terrific jumpers and turners so maybe that’s why they were casted. I haven’t seen them in acting roles though and this role demands that. We’ll see how it goes!

Paquita is a lighter role than Gamzatti imo, really challenging and lengthy fouettés for the coda though. I’m also not sure what the usual variations are at Bolshoi but I imagine it would be whatever’s flattering for the dancer. I want Yaroslavna to redeem herself from her Moscow Competition variation. She did so well until the last pirouette en dedans to the last kneeling pose. Is it the full length or just the grand pas? 👀 If it’s just the grand pas, even easier haha.

For Chopiniana, I would have casted Yaroslavna for that too but I think Sofya will do a good job. I feel like this is very different from what we’re used to seeing her dance. Personally, I want to see her more in these types of roles. Perhaps this is good for her so she’s not type casted.

I, personally, think Gamzatti would be the hardest role. Difficult choreography, flaws would be easy to notice, fouettés after Italian fouettés too 😅 Hoping both girls have enough endurance for that role 🤞 I remember Masha struggling with Italian fouettés when she did Queen of Dryads but that was a year ago so I’m sure she’s grown a lot. She’ll probably shine the best in the wedding pas de deux. Yaroslavna will kill this role across all acts, I think she’s more controlled than Masha. I think she’ll do really well in act 1. I cannot wait to see her as Gamzatti!

[patricedumonde]

It’s official! The top 3 graduates of Vaganova are going to Bolshoi. This is really interesting as both Maria and Yaroslavna were trainees at Mariinsky last summer. I wonder what Yuri Fateev thinks.

This also means I only got 1/3 right as I guessed Maria would go to Bolshoi and the other two would be Mariinsky. 🙈

On July 6th, they will all be performing variations for Paquita Grand Pas. Best of luck to the three of them and I can’t wait to see them debut roles at the Bolshoi. 🥹

I will post more updates about other graduates in the coming days. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of them. Yulia Kasenkova and Lyudmila Kovaleva both had amazing students and with the top three going to Bolshoi, this means spots are open in Mariinsky.

[ballet-symphonie]

About Koshkareva, a few months ago I saw a story from a local St Petersburg TV station about their graduation (it was posted on the Vaganova telegram channel) and it said that she’d already signed a soloist contract. So apparently she didn’t even get hired as a corps member. What do you think of her and Kuprina debuting Gamzatti so soon?

Yes, my point was more so that she's a soloist, and Kuprina is doing the EXACT same roles for less. Absolute garabage.

Regarding their casting, it's on par with what the Bolshoi has been doing with all their 'young stars.' Doesn't mean I like it, but I'm not surprised anymore

[tikitania]

Wow koshkareva is freaking going on tour with the troupe to china in October or something and she’s performing Pas de deux from the ballet The Flames of Paris and also the Grand Pas Classique… Happy for her but also sad that the other grads had not been selected to go

Koshkareva is already a star in Russia just based on her Vaganova performances, gold medal at the MIBC, and general hype, so I can see why they are bringing her on tour to showcase her talent. Grand Pas Classique is no joke, so the are clearly have a lot of confidence in her. Part of me pines for when these baby ballerinas/phenoms had to cut their teeth in the corp for a year or so before getting leading parts, but it seems those days are over. Kuprina & Koshkareva will debut Paquita in October. Valiulina will perform a variation in the Grand Pas. Wishing them lots of health and time to prepare!