#coda is also a ballet term fun fact

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Can we talk about The Dying Swan moment in Coda? As someone who was once a very serious ballerina, I need to talk about the Dying Swan. Here's your context --

CHAKOTAY: Harry's clarinet solo was okay. I could have done without Tuvok's reading of Vulcan poetry. But the highlight of the evening was definitely Kathryn Janeway portraying the Dying Swan. JANEWAY: I learned that dance when I was six years old. I assure you, it was the hit of the Beginning Ballet class.

Have you seen The Dying Swan? It is dramatic.

Here, take a minute:

First of all, this dance is much too advanced for a six-year-old, even if they’re doing it in demi pointe. (Six-year-olds emphatically should not be in pointe shoes btw.) The dance is almost entirely bourees and arm movements done to very subtle musical cues, not the foundational ballet moves typically taught in Beginning Ballet.

This is a very vulnerable, dramatic dance that is effective because of its subtleties. The performer would need to embody that vulnerability in some way for a convincing performance. It's short, but it's a solo piece -- all eyes on you. I mean, it was choreographed for a prima ballerina, BUT THAT'S NOT MY POINT

Can you imagine our unflappable Captain Janeway willingly getting in front of her crew to do this ballet? I get that it’s thematically relevant to the plot of Coda, but since Janeway is only vulnerable in front of her crew when it means putting herself in harm’s way, it seems like a wild decision. She tends to hold herself apart from her crew, maintaining the professional distance of the captain. Further, when she does any creative pursuit, it is almost always in private, since her sister was the artist in the family and she was the scientist. As a captain, she commands Voyager in a much different way than she would as a dancer with this piece. I'm not saying she never shows vulnerability because she definitely does, but not necessarily in this way. Then when she talks about it with Chakotay, she just casually brushes it off with a laugh like no big deal.

There’s also the question of costume – would she have gone full tutu? Done it in her Starfleet uniform? An impeccable yet flow-y white suit? She does get into costume and command a performance in Bride of Chaotica!, but Coda is still kind of early days for our captain. Arachnia aligns more with what we know about Janeway's character.

Granted, it is Chakotay laying down these complements about her dancing ability and he is clearly biased. To be fair, Neelix does too before they leave in the shuttle. If she did this dance and performed it poorly or amazingly, I feel like the crew would look at her a bit differently afterwards.

Canonically she did The Dying Swan, but I certainly have trouble picturing it happening.

#does everyone let it slide because she gets mind killed a bunch of times and attends her own funeral? #this throw away line has been living rent free in my mind for months now #coda is also a ballet term fun fact #star trek voyager #coda #Captain Janeway #this death doesn't mean anything though because no one else is saved so not janeway self-sacrificing goals #yes yes they probably just picked the first artistic performance with death in the title cause it's thematically relevant #i've thought about it much more than a normal person probably should #No one said I was a good ballerina but I did it for a long time #may or may not have filmed a video about this in my cosplay for a different platform #maybe have been sitting on it cause of editing and weird dudes being into me like why no #also let tuvok read his poetry i bet it's great #alien grim reaper dad is a great concept very creepy bring him back for more angst #just a little insane about the dying swan don't mind me #also insane about coda and voyager and janeway in general ok you got me #meta #I was falling asleep on the couch but then I had to rant about coda I’m sorry

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Deep Dive: Daria Kulikova’s Debut as Princess Florine

23 November 2023 — Daria Kulikova's debut as Princess Florine was perhaps my favorite debut of hers from this season. Daria graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in 2023 from Yulia Kasenkova's class and throughout this piece, all I can think of was how she embodies the best qualities of Kasenkova's students. Alyona Kovalyova and Maria Ilyushkina are one of my favorite dancers from this generation. As early as now, I can tell that Daria also shares the poise and dainty nature of her academic sisters.

In fact, "academic" is the term I would use the most when describing this interpretation. With the music being already excruciatingly slow, this arabesque became even more challenging than it already is. I think Daria executed this in such a a picturesque manner and she landed ever so softly on the ground while also being more liberal with her lean as she listens to the bluebird.

Just for fun, I have included a short clip of a young Svetlana Zakharova in the role. Both dancers were breathtaking in the first few seconds of the dance. Even I, as a watcher, wanted to lean in to hear where the sound is coming from.

Nikita Korneyev was also a very attentive partner here. This is what I am looking for from male dancers when partnering first year company members. Since he's anticipating her every step, Daria only gets to worry about striking her poses. You can even tell from how their looks linger that they are absolutely comfortable as partners and are not just going through the motions of the choreography.

There was just so much clarity (I am not used to) in this interpretation. It is almost an oxymoron for me how slow this piece is but also how crisp they make the movements look. Especially during the coda, we all got to appreciate their chemistry and how in sync they are with each other and by extension, with the music!

Princess Florine's variation. At first I thought, "oh maybe she just has very dainty arms" but there's actually quite a bit of difference between her arms here and in her Queen of Dryads. In my mind, there's seemingly a race in who's got more expressive arms. It's either Alexandra Khiteyeva or Daria Kulikova. I just throughly enjoyed how Daria started this dance. You can almost feel the music emanating even from her fingers.

This wouldn't be a deep dive of mine without an obscure fixation on something small. Daria's choices on where to look, how to tilt her head, and how much farther to lean, were all correct here. It is very rare for me to see such grace and ease from a young dancer.

Perhaps my only two asks from this already glowing performance is to show a bit more clarity with the pas de bourrée. I think the English dancers are really good about this but that is also due to their tempo being faster. There's, naturally, a highlight on the quick step. With this slower version, I understand that the pas de bourrée could get lost but it would make for a nice treat for the diagonal.

The other is in the coda, I already think Daria does a wonderful job, especially with her expressive arms. I think a more pronounced lean towards the standing leg will help bring the other leg higher and help prolong the extension.

In the coda, I think Daria does a wonderful job in being dynamic with her movements. Slowing down, and seemingly stopping time, before quickly closing in for her turns. It was just an absolute delight to watch.

Overall, this debut was my favorite of the new graduates this year. Happy holidays to all!

(Credits to Ma Iru for the video)

#russian ballet #mariinsky ballet #ballet #ballet review #daria kulikova #yulia kasenkova #vaganova #princess florine #dancer updates