Irina Kolesnikova in pas de deux from Swan Lake

[thecurledfreckle]

She looks like she could hold that penche all by herself...amazing!!

[JustFlutterby]

vvvv it sucks alot. trust me. after awhile your muscles start to lock up lol we had to stretch a TON after rehearsals because our muscles would get so stiff. but it is totally worth it to be apart of something so beautiful :)

[femmedebelle]

Imagine having to be the dancers on the side and standing perfectly like that for so long...

[portiabelmont1]

Does anyone know how tall Irina is?

[1931JC]

There is no best when it comes to dancers as everyone "sees" the dance in a subjective way. Having said that, this is my idea of The Dancer of the present time. 

[slokind]

Every Swan Lake is of interest (every important one), including non-traditional and including the all-male version (so truly swan-like). I first saw it with Margot Fonteyn (but not yet Nureyev) when Sadlers Wells first came to the USA, in San Francisco, I think in 1950.

[KittyUSF]

i loved how she had so much emotion in her face... the only other dancers i can think of that's nearly as emotional is gillian murphy and sofiane sylve.... there's so many great dancers in the world but when they lack the emotion component the performance always seems to lack no matter how GOOD they are

[tutugirl4life]

Try Uliana Lopatkina in Swan Lake... The most amazing I have ever seen

[Bellasbest]

There is a lot of depth in Iruna's interpretation. I remember seeing Irina live, and it was unforgettable, but still not as perfect as Leslie Ann Larson. Her performance was as near to perfection imo. You have to remember that everyone perceive's odette diferently. But this was enjoyable to watch.

[dancerdafi25]

Her acting was breathtaking. compeletly breathtaking

[natashkk]

I saw her last night in 'Swan Lake'. She is incredible! Where can I see the whole pdd?? :)

[balletprince87]

Could you please post the whole pas de deux???I'd be very thankful:-)!!!!

[siouxsiesioux18]

Irina you're simply beautiful!

Every move you make is simply perfect!

I'm so proud we share the same name!

[azepher]

does anyone know what ballet company this is?

[JealousyBallet]

St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre

[taraelizabeth09]

I think that the passion for the movement is much more essential than technique. At least for me anyway. Her passion and emotion shows here is absolutely moving, and has touched me like no other interpretation.

[balletprince87]

What really amazes me is her dramatic face.I've seen so many Odettes and none of them had that dramatic and deeply sad look she has in here.Perfect interpretation....I don't care about her ugly attitude en avant in this case,because she is SO SO MOVING!!!!

[alwaysinthespotlight]

hey I've Just read Irina is performing with the Peter Schaufuss Ballet at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue London in Divas playing Judy Garland, wow I can't wait to see what she will be like, she is my favourite ballerina.

[nessballerina]

One of my very favorite parts of Swan Lake, its so beautiful

[SkinnyDancer]

Turn out is NOT the only thing in ballet. Great feet and beautiful arabesque is much more ballet to me!

[mayushka123]

in this role,amaaaazing

[MissLilyEvans]

my only criticism, she uses no turn out. each time i saw her do an attitude devant a part of me died. she is turned out...you can see it in her passes especially, but it's obviously the first thing to go when she's tired... and as i can fully predict the response someone will to that last comment, i'm not saying we could do any better...though we would try. otherwise a lovely dancer with fabulous balance!

[eviecupcakes]

i love it

[balletfakts]

TenduYou is definitely mistaken Irina is not performing in a school in Kalamazoo I belong to IK Club on Irina's website and have checked this The full details regarding the USA are on her website.

[Nienyalie]

her pure emotion and connection to her partner are stunning.

[FeySylph]

I wish I had such lovely, long arms so I could touch the floor en penchee like her [on pointe as well!]. Amazing!

[balletfakts]

As a YouTube fan I see there are a lot of American fans ...does anyone know if Kolesnikova is performing in US next year??

[balletfakts]

As a YouTube fan I see there are a lot of American viewers ...does anyone know if Kolesnikova is performing in US ??

[TenduYou]

I think she is performing in the Swan Lake production coming to my school in February! (Kalamazoo, MI)

[TenduYou]

Normally I enjoy Irina's hyperextension, but I think it's a distraction here in her penchees. The line isn't as beautiful. Other than that, she was wonderful as always.

[panyatna]

I agree. The interpretation comes down to the dancer. This is a old old ballet, and people's ideas of odette have changed over time. Irina is amazing live. She made me cry.

[tenngirl4401]

This pas de deux is so beautiful it makes me cry.

[balletfakts]

We all have our favourite dancers (and those we don't like) but surely the interpretation of the character is created by the dancer. How can anyone say exactly what Odette is or should be?

An imaginary role in a fantasy ballet must be solely the dancers interpretation ....there is a fine line between anguish and pain, and between dying emotionally and dying physically. I have seen Irina's live performance in London and the power of emotion brought almost 5,000 people to absolute silence.

[cutiealexa]

dont tell me she is rly that skiny.. otherwise it was good.

[joWlovesballet]

Kolesnikova makes her look like she's dying. This is NOT dying swan and I wish Kolesnikova's interpretation were more like Leslie Ann Larsons. Hers is perfection.

[joWlovesballet]

I don't like her interpretation at all. Yes, Odette has a tormented side, as she was once a princess but has been transformed into a Swan queen through the workings of Rothbart. But she is not in pain, like Kolesnikova appears to be. Odette is regal, the queen of the swans, she is regal, a princess trapped in the etheral body of a swan. She is also falling in love, a soft emotion. Also, she has a touch of protectiveness to her, as she presides over fellow princesses.

[todanceXtolive]

She's undoubtedly better than Zakharova.. but still can't compare to Natalia Makarova.

[ncamastra]

she is almost the *best* at this role.....Gillian wished she could move like that

[medorah]

she's an Artist!

[balletfakts]

Lopatkina performs a wonderful swan Irina becomes a wonderful swan I think that is what makes Lopatkina "dry" I see Irina is going to Paris this year The French wont believe their eyes

[ballerinette1]

She IS a tormented, 'bestial' swan. Amazing...one of the three most beautiful Odettes I've ever seen.

[valeriefoucachon]

This is the most dramatic version I've seen, very expressive. Beautiful!

[MizziConverse909]

Truly Amazing!

[majere090]

Uliana Lopatkina is very beautiful but very dry compared to Irina Koleskinova.Personally I would like to see Koleskinova on performing rather than Lopatkina executing technical feats. Still they are both amazing in their own rights.

[WitchCoven]

Thank you for your opinion. I wonder what you mean "dry" though. Personally, I think Lopatkina is not just about technical perfection but also of depth in her interpretation.

[WitchCoven]

beautiful, but still, it cannot be compared with that of Uliana Lopatkina

[Batavia007]

The best swan lake that I've ever seen...Irina you're amazing babe...

[purplebubbleprincess]

i watched *Princess Tutu* and in the last ep of first deason she does a pas de deux that's really pretty on her own and i was like wow i'm gonna look it up! I'M GLAD I DID!!! it is so pretty!!!

[hoovb]

Not only sublime technique, but exquisite feeling as well.

[winxgirlbloom]

Amazing!! She really good!

[dancermm]

she is soooo good!!!

[youyouooxx]

ha, luv the make up on her face, very thick bottom eye liners