#mariinsky

[tikitania]

RIP Vladimir Shklyarov….

I woke up to the news that beloved Mariinsky Premier, Volodya, has died. I know nothing about the circumstances. I am absolutely gutted. Clearly, something tragic occurred….He was just 39. Shock and disbelief for now. Updates to follow….

Update: As someone who works in the media, I think it’s important to report the reliable facts of the case, versus what is speculated. At the end of the day, I do believe that this was just a terrible (and utterly avoidable) tragic accident.

Graham Watts, a dance writer and critic sums it up best on his IG post at @gwdancewriter

[balletomaneblog]

Philipp Stepin Promoted to Principal!!

So so happy for him. He's been deserving of this for such a long time! I was starting to worry that it wouldn't happen for him! Yay!!

[elegantballetalk]

But Ballet isn't niche. Just look at balletcore

I disagree. I don't think people outside of the ballet world are able to go further than Nutcracker or Swan Lake. Perhaps they've heard of Giselle. Maybe. They might have seen Black Swan, and have their own conception of ballet.

ballet is so weird that it has niche body standards! Extremely thin bodies aside, just look at how idealised S legs are. No one who does ballet would ever appreciate them in the same way.

For example: I think it's sociologically interesting when pockets of people in a certain niche form specific standards. I was watching a Mariinsky ballet with my boyfriend, and he found arched feet horrendous. He called them bulbs, but to me, they were wonderful, and I couldn’t look away from certain dancers’ feet. Similarly, with hyperextended knees, I loved the S-shape, but to him, it just looked bent. He even asked me why they had chosen a ballerina with "wonky legs." When I explained that this was actually a plus in ballet, he was confused, especially because of the arabesque line. To him, it didn’t make sense that the foot went "fishing" upwards. He would have preferred a pure continuation of the line, I guess. (I actually agree with this, but the fish foot actually aids turnout so there's a reason why its done)

This difference in perception highlights how niche communities, like ballet, cultivate their own beauty standards that can seem utterly alien—or even off-putting—to outsiders. My boyfriend’s reaction is a perfect example of how these specialized aesthetics clash with broader cultural perceptions.

For example, what ballet aficionados admire as arched feet (or those "bulbs" as he called them!) are prized for their ability to create dramatic lines and enhance movement. To him, though, they might look exaggerated or unnatural because he’s not conditioned to view them as beautiful within the context of ballet. Similarly, hyperextended knees—coveted for their ability to create that striking S-shape—might appear "bent" or incorrect to someone used to seeing straighter, more symmetrical legs as ideal.

His comment about the "fishing foot" in arabesques is particularly interesting because it shows how the hyper-idealized shapes in ballet can actually defy conventional ideas of straight, harmonious lines. The upward curve I love is a hallmark of classical ballet aesthetics, but it’s also a kind of stylization that requires a trained eye to fully appreciate.

What’s so cool about this is how it shows that "beauty" is learned and contextual. In ballet, the peculiarities we admire—like hyperextensions and arched feet—are celebrated precisely because they amplify the art form’s unique visual language. To an outsider, though, they might seem counterintuitive or even awkward: they loose meaning.

It’s a reminder that every niche culture, from ballet to fashion to modern art, creates its own internal logic of what’s desirable or aspirational. To someone on the outside, it can look baffling, but to those on the inside, it’s pure magic. And honestly, my boyfriend's perspective adds a layer of humor and humility to the mix—after all, who doesn’t love a good debate about fishing feet versus perfect lines over a Mariinsky performance? 😊

[anjelalala]

"When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night"

Fly High, My Prince........ 🕊

Rest in Peace, Vladimir Shklyarov

My favourite, you are a bright star above, dancing amongst angels. Im in absolute shock and despair. Talented, Charismatic, I have no words.

[vaganova-blog]

Maria Khoreva rehearsing Swan Lake 🦢

[miss-mollys-ballet-blog]

I’m watching the stream of the gala honoring Vladimir Shklyarov and Maria Shirinkina danced Princess Florine in the Sleeping Beauty part. Every time she came onstage the audience clapped for her and it made me so emotional. I cannot imagine how she’s getting through this, but she’s just amazing.

[mariaspir]

I’m just going to say it: I really like Maria Khoreva in swan lake. BUT. Is she just going to be odette/odile for the rest of her life?? Like recently she’s done a Kitri and two Mashas and then just SWAN LAKE. It seems she’s being doing and rehearsing swan lake since she debuted it.

There are a lot of variables in this.

The most obvious one is the recent chain of injuries she has suffered, which did set her back imo. She was getting 1 or 2 performances every week, and that was obviously too much. So I find the fact she's cast less frequently a net positive, she has the time to rehearse everything, but also time to rest and hopefully avoid more injuries.

Another thing is, she's still young. They cast her into everything too soon, and she didn't always deliver. Masha is a technical standout, but she needs time to find her interpretation. Case in point is how her Odette and Kitri have improved dramatically since her debuts, which is very natural and to be expected. In her first 4-5 years she did Aurora, Raymonda, Kitri, Odette, Giselle, Nikiya, Shyrin, Paquita, Medora, Masha... it's a lot of different characters that each needs time to flesh out. Even easy acts like Masha in the Nutcracker need time, especially if you are on the shyer side. I believe that as she grows artistically and matures as a person she will gain her repertoire back, plus some (she's currently rehearsing Juliette). Which again, is not a bad thing. For me, some of the roles she was given like Nikiya should never be given to a girl fresh out of school, what do you expect her to do with it? How much can a teenager act about something they've never experienced? Unless you have Meryl Streep graduating from VBA.

Another thing, Mariinsky rep is atm kinda limited. A lot of their more interesting and new ballets have been frozen because of the war. They try to make it up by adding Soviet or new Russian choreographers' works (Anyuta, Stone Flower, Coppelia, Bronze Horseman, Fairy's Kiss) but it's not necessarily best suited for Khoreva. I'd love to see her in Symphony in C (1st part), Midsummer Night's Dream, Little Humpabcked Horse. She needs parts that have a lot of technical difficulty and a bit less acting, but not no acting at all. She also needs something close to her character, from the new productions, I think Coppelia would be best. Idk when she will do Juliette, but with a strong Romeo and enough time to get into character, she could be a great Juliette.

But again, you have to ease people into these things. If you give her Anna Karenina tomorrow, she'll be lost. But in 5 years with the right coaching (which she seems to be getting these days), she can do it. I don't think she'll be a Firebird or Zarema, but that's not a bad thing. Shakirova and Batoeva have never done Raymonda, Tereshkina and Skorik have never done Shyrin, Kondaurova has never done Kitri(? not listed in her repertoire), Novikova has never done Medora, but her they all are.

[ele-bee]

Diana Vishneva, Schéhérazade, photo by Stevlana Avvakum via Diana’s IG, 2024.

[papaija]

Olga Smirnova and Victor Caixeta in Maillot's Nutcracker pas de deux, Prix de Lausanne 2023 gala

[kameliendame]

Who will play Masha in VBA's nutcracker this year? Any other indication regarding castings?

I’m so sorry, I don’t follow Russian ballet at all let alone the schools…. Maybe some of my followers reading this can give you an answer?

[tikitania]

Saw this interview with Alexandra Khiteeva on IG, so I ripped it and uploaded to YouTube and utilized the closed-captioning translation feature. Nothing earth-shattering in there but I did learn that 1) her mother wanted to be a ballerina but was not accepted into Vaganova, and so her mother dreamed this for her daughter. Luckily, Khiteeva also wanted to be a ballerina. 2) Anyuta was a dream role for her. 3) She was almost rejected from Vaganova because her hips are “too wide,” but a teacher at the academy fought for her, so she was accepted but had to repeat her 5th year.

Repeating that year was probably a blessing, so she didn’t have to graduate in the shadow of Khoreva, Bulanova, Niukina, and Ionova. Interestingly, her career has been the most interesting so far. Although I do hope to see Bulanova in more leading roles!

[balletomaneblog]

The Top Female Vaganova Graduates of the Past Ten Years: Then and Now (Part I)

2015 - Renata Shakirova (Mariinsky Principal)

This was actually a tough one since 2015 was such an amazing year for graduates, especially considering that both the ninth year and eighth years graduated together. But in the end, Shakirova just seemed to me the most professional and technically strong in 2015! A star then and now!

Role I'd love to see her début: The Sylph

Special Mentions: Anastasia Lukina, Nika Tsvikhtaria, Elena Solomyanko

2015 (Laurencia at Graduation):

2024 (Dulcinea Variation in Don Quixote) :

2016 - Alyona Kovalyova (Bolshoi Principal)

This one was a no-brainer. While Maria Ilyushkina is a rising star now, her technique and strength in her Vaganova days were still developing while Kovalyova was the clear featured star graduate. After being rejected from Mariinsky for being too tall, she was offered a contract with the Bolshoi and quickly rose through the ranks, including spending only one year in the corps de ballet!

Role I'd love to see her début: Anna Karenina

Special Mentions: Maria Ilyushkina, Laura Fernandez-Gromova

2016 (Raymonda in Grand Pas shortly after graduating):

2024 (Nikiya in La Bayadère):

2017 - Eleonora Sevenard (Bolshoi Principal):

Another obvious choice, Sevenard was the clear stand-out. She was accepted into both the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi, before choosing the Bolshoi! She spent two years in the corps but was given soloist and principal opportunities right off the bat, including debuting as Masha in the Nutcracker in her first season. She was promoted to principal in 2023!

Role I'd love to see her début: Aurora

Special Mentions: Vlada Borodulina

2017 (Fairy Doll during graduate year):

2024 (Kitri in Don Quixote):

2018 - Maria Khoreva (Mariinsky First Soloist)

2018 was another year like 2015 with tons of amazing graduates. However, the graduate who garnered the most attention before and after graduation and who finished at the top of the class is Maria Khoreva. At only eighteen her technique was shockingly close to flawless and only two months into her first season she was promoted to first soloist! Khoreva has not be dancing for most of the past two seasons due to injury, but she is finally returning to the Mariinsky stage at the start of this season!

Role I'd love to see her début: Parasha (Bronze Horseman)

Special mentions: Maria Bulanova, Anastasia Nuikina, Daria Ionova, Anastasia Petushkova, Biborka Lendvai, Anita Voroshilova

2018 (Paquita shortly after her graduation):

2023 (Odile in Swan Lake last year):

2019 - Alexandra Khiteyeva (Mariinsky First Soloist)

Alexandra Khiteyeva was by far the strongest graduate of 2019. She had been featured in Vaganova graduation performances since her sixth year. After joining the Mariinsky, her initial progress was slowed due to COVID, but after four years in the Corps she was promoted, first to Second Soloist and just recently to First Soloist!

Role I'd love to see her début: Juliet

Special mentions: Svetlana Savelieva, Yulia Spiridonova

2019 (Paquita at graduation):

2023 (Cristina in Paquita):

[elegantballetalk]

Today’s watch:

St. Petersburg’s black snow

[anjelalala]

Bolshoi Theatre New Rising Star: Maria Koshkaryova

Photos by: Alisa Aslanova for Ballet Magazine Russia

MARIA KOSHKARYOVA brightly announced herself at the XIV International Ballet Competition in Moscow last summer, for the three rounds of which she prepared six numbers in a month. Being at that time a final year student at the Academy of Russian Ballet and an intern at the Mariinsky Theatre, Maria did not set herself any overarching goals and went to the competition with a modest “ not to surprise anyone ” attitude , but went home with first prize in the solo category. 

At the same time, she first appeared on the Historical Stage of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, which, according to her, she was immediately fascinated by.After graduating from the academy, Maria moved to Moscow, where she is about to begin her first full season as a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater ballet troupe. The young ballerina told our publication about combining study and internship in the theater, the difficult choice that determines one’s fate, and whether the opinions of others are important.

CLICK THE LINK FOR FULL INTERVIEW:

[patricedumonde]

Happy World Ballet Day!

Here’s Angelina dancing the peasant pas de deux variation from Giselle. Perfect until the last turn but she still did a marvelous job!

Def reminds me of Evgenia Obraztsova 💕 Looks and temperament!