#sofia valiullina

Kovaleva’s daily class at Vaganova; Sofia Valiullina center barre.

So happy for her!!!!!!

Hello, Anon!!!! Thank you for the update — and also to the many other Anons who write in to let me know. I AM THRILLED! Valiullina is a natural for the role of Jeanne and I CANNOT WAIT to see clips!

I think it was universally agreed that she was more of a Mariinksy style dancer—and I remember watching a Ballet with Isabella video where she also remarked on Valiullina's presentation during the Vaganova exams. Maybe Valiullina will eventually make it back to her "home" theater, but I really want to celebrate her current successe at the Mikh, which is no small feat. Now about Flames of Paris…it's one ballet that I have not seen fron start to finish, and I cannot really tell the the difference between the Bolshoi's version ostensibly by Ratmanksy, and the one at the Mikhailovsky that is credited to Messerer. I know they both heavily rely on the original Vaionen choreography…but are there any real material differences? But given how familiar the main variations are, one would think that The Flames of Paris would be more frequently performed in the West, but it's not…anyone know why? Is it a licensing issue?

In the meantime, I'm hoping that I can find some Mikhilovsky fans on TG who liberally share their footage. But until the debut, enjoy this little clip with Oksana Bondareva and Ivan Vasilieyev from the Mikhailovsky.

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 

The only thing that comforts me is that her being pushed less can garner less hate comments about her body, and her dancing skills (which have nothing wrong btw) like the comments I’ve seen for the other young debutants.

Valiullina has posted very little on social media, so I don't really know what's going on. Injury? Favoritism? Novelty? The Bolshoi pushes the "brightest new thing" every year and then kind of abandons them for the next bright new thing for whatever reason. Uliana Moksheva, Darina Moseeva (debuting O/O in the same block as Kuprina, Konovalova) Koshkaryova and Anastasia Smirnova — and who knows what's in store for next season with a batch of recent graduates — are the new faces of the theater. The fact that Valiullina is being passed over for roles that she once danced: Prince's friends, Spanish Bride, Myrtha doesn't bode well. If it continues like this for another season, I'd jump ship. Here's a clip of her Raymonda while still a student. Soooo good:

Look at Sofya going for a more normal Italian Fouettés tempo! 14 april 2025:

in 2022: