Alina Somova Elena Vostrotina 2003 Vaganova 8th Year Graduation Class

[littlesheep11]

I´m sorry to ask but just out of curiosity, how much do these dancers weigh? beuatiful dancing :)

[SafariGirls]

which one is she?

[jennyluvballet]

wow, they're allowed to place their arms in different ways. great dancers, both.

[LifeResort]

alina is beautiful here in terms of look. I like how she presents herself on 0:31. But she needs to practice more control. She is so far from "student Zakharova". If you focus on Elena, you will feel she has more control and the girl beside her keeps on "falling"

[PrincessSakuno]

jesus those legzzzz are neverending

[JLepsch]

Can you make a video explaining the difference between the "vaganova arms" and other school arms? I have some difficulty understanding this. Thanks!

[sypointe]

Elena seems to have stronger technique thought Alina has wonderful stage presence :) Both are enormously talented!

[sangfroidjen]

I think Alina has more expressive upper back than Elena, but Elena maybe better technician. Both are great, it just depends on what qualities one prefers. For me it's Alina between these two.

[balanchinedancer]

@sangfroidjen As it happens I saw Elena Vostrotina on stage when she was still with Mariinsky. She was fantastic - clean, precise, sensitive, but not without certain largesse characteristic of dancers endowed with beautifully shaped elongated limbs. Not particular favoring Somova at the time, I couldn't help but wondering whom of the two, not dissimilar dancers, Mariinsky was going to promote. It was clear that both were HUGELY talented.

[sangfroidjen]

@balanchinedancer I think Vostotina as more like a Sylvie Guillem type of dancer: beautiful technician, killer legs and feet, wonderful "cool" qualities like Sylvie. I love Sylvie type of dancers. But I think Vostotina did the right thing by leaving MT, her talents and size weren't going to be used to best showcase her talents at the MT. I watch Elena's videos that Semperoper Ballet puts up, it's clear she still has that commanding presence and technique

[mozart1942]

Thanks for sharing!

[312charlene]

are there more videos from Svetlana Zakharova as well??

[elenaratelimit]

Lovely... Alina just seems more musical to me and I prefer also her arms. Not that Elena isn't also a good dancer. :)

[mydancetv]

Their arms are diff at around :43 how are they supposed to be I wonder do they get marked off?

[mydancetv]

Such a presence and not even on stage. Also enjoyed reading the video comments! So many people passionate about ballet! ;)

[rayssa9240]

is pretty

[Pearlaceous]

Both girls do of course have extraordinary extensions, but even in this difficult examination situation Alina Somova presents herself as though she is on stage, finishing the exercize with refinement and presence. She draws the eye.

[russianballetvideo]

@Pearlaceous Great comment and that is what I have told friends about the difference between Alina and Elena. Alina was amazing in school where every exercise from 1st year to 8th year,was as if she was on stage. She was born to be ballerina.

[sipplenoreness69]

@russianballetvideo Elena is better.

[sipplenoreness69]

@Pearlaceous Elena is clearly better.

[rosy879]

I think Alina actually looks quite controlled here. Both girls do.

[lebedovo1]

What danced Elena Vostrotina at their graduation concert?

[russianballetvideo]

@lebedovo1 pas de quatre, Grand Pas Classique, variation in Paquita

[palubob]

Two girls with almost freakishly loose hip sockets. If such is a criterion for entry into Vaganova Academy then boo on them, and boo on teachers and coaches who fail to curb the inappropriate use of this gift.

[russianballetvideo]

@palubob There is nothing wrong with a ballerina who can raises her leg 180 degrees. There also is nothing good about having a ballerina who cannot raise her leg above 90 degrees. Many ballerinas with little flexibility are praised for their good taste in not raising their leg high, when the truth is that they have no flexibility to raise it any higher.

[palubob]

@russianballetvideo. No, there is nothing wrong with a ballerina who can stick her leg behind her ear with the greatest of ease; there is something wrong with a ballerina who does this inappropriately just, apparently, to impress a certains segment of the audience, such as in Giselle for example.

[bolshoiboy8]

@russianballetvideo Elena's technique looks better because of taste imo. Lenas obviously flexible, but shes not going to just swing her leg up to a position she cant sustain. Also, its not flexibilty that keeps a leg up, its strength. You can get your leg up, but your generally taught not to do it unless you have the strength to back it up because it looks incredibly sloppy, but what I find impressive in Alina which matters most overall is that soul you mentioned. Passion. Shes giving a perform

[Pearlaceous]

Look at those extensions! :-)

[DancinFeet1994]

Elena is obviously the stronger dancer of the two

[EvanescenceROCKSS]

@DancinFeet1994 she is the one on the left, correct?

[DancinFeet1994]

@EvanescenceROCKSS yes, the red head, I believe. She dances with the Dresden Semperoper Ballet

[EvanescenceROCKSS]

@DancinFeet1994 ahh I see. Yes definately the stronger dancer.

[DancinFeet1994]

@EvanescenceROCKSS What I find ironic is that Elena took the job with Dresden and Alina got the job with Mariinsky. Maybe Mariinaky did offer Elena a job but turned it down to dance in Germany...

Anyway, I believe that yes, their hips are definitely hypermobile, but Vostrotina can control them, unlike Somova who looks almost frantic in class.

[russianballetvideo]

@DancinFeet1994 What are you looking at? You must be insane to say Alina looks frantic. She is in great control and there is never any sign of being frantic. Stop reading the hate campaign comments on Alina, started by a woman who praises dancers vastly inferior to Alina and only insults Alina out of some sick hatred. Open your eyes and watch and stop reading lies.

[DancinFeet1994]

@russianballetvideo Omigosh I cannot believe my comment drew the attention of russianballetvideo! I am somewhat honored lol. Anyway, I am not lying, only stating what I see. Saying that she is frantic is a little harsh, but I did notice she does not have the same control as Elena.  My apologies I did not mean to offend you.

[russianballetvideo]

@DancinFeet1994 It is not you who offended me, but the hate campaign that has been going on for years by a woman that raves about ballerinas from minor ballet companies & major ballet companies around the world, but for some unknown reason has a deep hatred for Alina Somova. I am constantly seeing comments from teenagers, what Alina does wrong and this all due to this one woman. Two people in early Alina Vaganova videos claim this hate campaign was due to her love of Obraztsova & Alina as rival

[russianballetvideo]

@DancinFeet1994 Elena danced with Mariinsky and did Odette/Odile and maybe one or two other other principal roles. She danced for 3 years with Mariinsky and left in 2006, obviously since she was not satisfied with her position. Dresden did not hire her at a high level, but she is principal now..Alina was regarded as the top student of 2003 and in the 2002 Vaganova Prix, Alina received a medal and Elena did not, but got a prize, less important than a medal.

[DancinFeet1994]

@russianballetvideo Thank you for the clarification. You are obviously well educated in the history of russian ballet.

[russianballetvideo]

@DancinFeet1994 some knowledge

[MrRight1000]

@DancinFeet1994 It is obvious to me that Somova has much more control over execution of grand pas. Both girls are lovely.