Hello:)
Do you know who will dance at this year graduation performances at VBA and BBA? VBA is doing 4 performances: Ballades, Children pas de deux?, Classical Symphony and Suite from Don Quixote (is that the first act or the third act?). They have good 7th graders and 8th year graduates so the solist roles will be interesting.
And do you know if there will be promotions at the Mariinsky theathre? I have a feeling they lack of young women and men solists.
P.S This summer is Moscow ballet competition and it will be interesting to see who will go there from VBA and BBA. Some 7th year girls from VBA follow it at instagram. And I think that Maria Koshkareva will participate in a senior group.
Hello Anon, answers in order below: 1) Vaganova & BBA casting... I have no idea! I'm assuming that the names bandied about as the top girls and boys will be cast in the leads, but I have not paid a lot of attention. I am, however, very excited that Classical Symphony is one of the chosen ballets. I love the Prokoviev score, and it's great for showcasing Vaganova students. Love this choice.
I'm also very curious about the Ballades piece as I follow this choerographer couple on TG, Sofia Gaidukova & Konstatin Matulevsky (NEVERDANCEFORCER.) From the few rehearsal clips that I saw, it looks very much like a big ensemble piece that will feature a few couples. As for Don Q, I'm assuming that it will be Act 2 because it has some good character dance sections as well as the Dream Scene that showcases corp formation work and highlights standout students in the three main variations: Cupid, Queen of the Dryads, and Dulcinea. Act 1 feels too much like scene setting and doesn't really pay off in a divertisment program. Act 3 would be asking a LOT of students, and I just dont' see it happening. Act 2 starts around 01:12:00
2) Mariinsky Promotions. I love to speculate on this topic, but given that they've recently promoted Kuznetsova, Enikeev, Baibourdin, Peneva, Gudalev, and Orohovsky to 2nd soloist. Khiteeva, Bulanova, and Borodulina to 1st soloist, I don't really see that much movement. BUT here's what I think should happen just based on each dancer's debuts and workload this past season: Corps —> Coryphée Anastasia Yaromenko Daria Ustyuzhanina Maya Paliolinis Polina Parfenova Veselina Ilieva
Kahlid Mardini Akim Bakaev Anton Osterov Mikhail Barkadidja - He got injured in his Ali debut, but hoping it's not serious Danil Zinoviev
Coryphée / Corps —> 2nd Soloist Maria Chernavskaya - assuming she'll be 100% after her rehab Evgeny Deryabin Ramanbek Beishenaliyev Aaron Osawa-Horowitz 2nd Soloist —> 1st Soloist Anastasia Lukina Maxim Izmestyev - He is way too talented to be 2nd soloist Alexei Timofeev 1st soloist —> Principal Roman Belyakov
Nikita Korneev Christina Shapran ** ** I've been hoping that they give her classic roles again (Giselle, Odette/Odile, Nikiya.) I'd love to see her dancing at the level again next season. If they do, they should make her a principal. I've read that she's prone to injury, but she is so lovely on stage. I'm truly puzzled why she is so underutilized. Lilac Fairy every blue moon doesn't seem fair. Just look at her!
3) MIBC - From the Mariinksy, I think Peneva, Orhovsky, and Gudaleva will be there — the latter two definitely since their coach, Leonid Sarafanov, confirmed it in an interview. All three have something to prove…that their hiring as soloists wasn't a mistake. I'm a huge fan of Gudalev. He's very special. From Vaganova, I have no idea! Your guess is proably better than mine. I'm thinking that any student who wants a contract with the Mariinsky or Bolshoi who already hasn't been offered a contract will enter. But I can almost guarantee that Koshkaryova will not be there. She's already a leading soloist at the Bolshoi and rising star in the ballet world. She has no need. Dancers who enter this competition are trying to get noticed: Either they want to leave their regional companies and work in the major cities. Elena Svinko was a leading ballerina in Krasnoyarsk, and got an offer from the Mikhailovsky after the 2022 competition, followed by a Mariisnky contract; or talented students who are trying to get noticed outside of their school; or corps members looking to advance their careers within their own companies, which Maxim Izmestyev did in 2022. Fateev couldn't ignore him after that!
