Perfection! Tereshkina’s recent Aurora! She looks incredible and danced this impeccably, but one has to wonder how many more opportunities will there be to see her dance this role.
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!
She is sweet, playful, and carefree. Her personality suits aurora perfectly! I may have been fooled but it seems that this is but a fortunate coincidence. By nature, she embodies Aurora.
youtube
2. Evgenia Obraztsova
In my (perhaps controversial) opinion, she is the greatest dancer of her generation. The most absolute classical lines with such great charisma and personality. She has the sweet charm of youth, and the maturity to show the growth and change in responsibility by act three. An absolute fairytale princess.
youtube
1. Alla Sizova
The Aurora. yes, she has incomparable leaps, extraordinary technique, and is all around absolutely darling. But it's more than all that. Her seemingly effortless interpretation is unlike anyone else. I'm not sure it can be captured in words, at least, not by me. If you are yet unfamiliar, please enjoy the most perfect production of The Sleeping Beauty
youtube
honourable mentions
olesya novikova, stunning in the role but she has made such an impression in other roles that i don't automatically think aurora for her
altynai alsmurtnova, again just beautiful in what i have seen, but there is such little video and none of very good quality that it’s hard to place her as a favourite
Even narrowing myself to this one company, I could go on adding so many incredible dancers. So, I will stop myself here. Please let me know your favourites!
Guess what? I'm starting a new overview of fairy tale adaptations:
Sleeping Beauty Spring
From now until the end of May, I'm going to watch and write about every screen, stage, and radio adaptation of Sleeping Beauty.
Or to be exact, every version with a "once upon a time" setting, which isn't a parody, which is based on either Charles Perrault's The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, the Brothers Grimm's Briar Rose, or both, and which is meant for families, not adults. The same rules that applied when I overviewed the various versions of Cinderella, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and A Christmas Carol.
First on the list: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's classic 1899 ballet The Sleeping Beauty.
youtube
This is a complete performance from the Mariinsky Theatre, 2015.
🇷🇺Поздравлаю Рената! Сейчас прима-балерина Мариинского театра!
🇪🇸¡Enhorabuena, Renata! Ahora es una bailarina principal en el Teatro Mariinski
🇬🇧Congratulations, Renata! Now she is prima ballerina in Mariinsky Theater!