Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta - Swan Lake

[omfgAardvarks]

I do think Acosta is the best male dancer in the world.

Rojo..It's difficult to say because her Juliet is sublime and she admits to not acting so well in "plain roles" like Aurora. But I always thought the Black Swan number was always good to act to. So it's difficult to say whether you can judge her acting in this or not..

[josephinea1]

swan lake is a right of passage for us ballerinas. its like winning the lottery to get to perform it twice, even once. she is ruining her chance and her right of passage. DRY

[TheMiscreantK]

She doesn't interest me at all.. stone-faced almost the entire time.. : /

Check out Maya Plisetskaya's 1957 performance. The best Odile ever, IMHO..

[dunlopben]

So borrrring

[sophieshaeffer]

the music its just perfect!

[BengiTheTurkishOgre]

she is bewitching

[muticancan123]

his Cabrioles are breathtaking!

[ilovejosephriviera]

I love her technique. She's so amazing. I don't care that she's cold here, her dancing is amazing. I love Gillian Murphy too!

[jinpitakki33]

that stage is ridiculously small. i would rather have a whole staging of swan lake without props on that stage to give the dancers a bit more room to breathe...

carlos acosta is MAGNIFICENT. but again, you can tell he was holding back a lot because of the size of the stage.

i watched this straight after watching rojo do don quixote, so yes i found her pretty boring in this until after she finished her fouettes when she finally relaxed. maybe this role just isn't for her...

[Tusson07]

I must say I saw that Swan Lake at Covent Garden and was not moved a bit by Tamara Rojo. The worse is she does not bring the best out of Carlos Acosta. Also disliked the choregraphy. A far cry from Fonteyn & Noureev & N's choregraphy. Came all the way from Morocco and did regret it.

[MrKLT1945]

@repn87 Agrred! Some ppl get their opinon/knowledgeof ballet and dancers from the land of Received Wisdom! lol

[pamriquel]

I think she's concentrating so hard on the dance, at the end finally she relaxes and she takes over the role. I still really like her, she has very nice feet. The guy is great too!---watched it again at 5;39 she's actually talking to herself she's concentrating so hard...I guess I would be too in that position lol.

[pamriquel]

I think she's concentrating so hard on the dance, at the end finally she relaxes and she takes over the role. I still really like her, she has very nice feet. The guy is great too!

[ParanoidAndroidDA]

I think this performance livens up more towards the end, Tamara has very little emotion before the fouettes despite being a fabulous dancer. Carlos Acosta is simply amazing of course.

[pianogeekguy]

i agree with @repn87. it annoys me when people say that tamara rojo lacks expression. what do you mean by expression? maybe in today's competition-obsessed world of ballet, people want only to see brash smiles or sexy eyes. i believe that tamara is a wonderful actress. she communicates subtly, with much thought and depth. instead of youtubing variations, maybe people should come to the opera house and watch her dance a full-length manon, or juliet, to see how much of an artist she really is.

[JennaN1337]

She doesn't seem to enjoy it?

She is really good and everything

but there is nothing that shows that she likes it.. :I

Exept the end..

(Sry if my english isn't the best.. xo)

[adelaidegems]

I never thought it possible to have zero expression doing Black Swan variation. Is she always like this?

[kiwifruit12301]

@adelaidegems she isn't always like this!! i saw romeo and juliet with her and Carlos Acosta a few days ago - Tamara as Juliet. The amount of expression and emotion she put in was amazing. It made me forget that they were perfoming, it was all so real because of the strong emotions Tamara portrayed so well!

[trixiness101]

Whats with her weird foutte arms? And yeh, over crowded stage. Don't really like Carlos Acosta.

[jororoa]

Tamara boring???? A joke



[javiergigi]

I'm not impressed...I like Marianela Nunez better in this role...but she is a great dancer just bot this role.

[loliesmanamna]

The physics engine broke.

[lyhsa]

I love Tamara;but her arms in the fouttes are kind of weird !

[lena22elian]

Why is the stage so small? Give the dancers some space!

[MrNocco]

i actually didn't find him so interesting as a prince... he dances so small and abit stiff i think...

[punkd87]

she turns...he flyes!

[monica12789]

I like 5:32 – 5:36. I’m sorry but that prince really is dumb… You would think he would’ve figured out that she’s not Odette by now…

[CN4109]

what is the first piece of music called that carlos acosta is doing his variation too?

[mumpelmipskin]

can i just point out, none of the royal ballet like swan in one way; that it shows that ballet is a career which makes you paranoid, self harm, take drugs and do… errr… y'know. but everyone has film preferences, and some liked it as a film and others didn't.

tamara rojo is my favourite dancer though so i am a bit biased :3

[saneedblozio]

love rojo

[TomboyActress5]

OMG that was absolutely amazing, I don't think I've ever seen Swan Lake done so perfectly in technique, emotion, and performance before.

[Dtenor87]

her precision is amazing

[regios4ever]

she's so tiny! yet she still dances beautifully =)

[regios4ever]

@repn87 lol

[veletez]

Tamara´s black swan interpretation is simply perfect... she is dancing so strong and emotionally!!

[dmann3g]

She needs to be slapped for those fouettes!!!

[Flaflaronio]

This power couple is such a delight to watch- Tamara is a wonderful actress and certaintly can't be accused of not putting thought into her interpretation. It's a subtle and not very obvious take on the black swan and you have to focus on the little things, the way she looks at Acosta and the little smile she's cracking at the end of her fouettes... Anyway to each their own I guess!

[Flaflaronio]

This power couple is such a delight to watch- Tamara is a wonderful actress and certaintly can't be accused of not putting thought into her interpretation. It's a subtle and not very obvious take on the black swan and you have to focus on the little things, the way she looks at Acosta and the little smile she's cracking at the end of her fouettes... Anyway to each their own I guess!

[danhe13]

no wonder she didn't like Black Swan... she's flawless but dull :S

[kimmois1]

@danhe13 And you're a stupid brain dead cunt whose mother is a cocksucking whore who should have had you aborted. Probably too busy visiting your rent boy dad in jail where he was sucking big cocks and taking major loads up his ass for cigarettes, that is if he wasn't someone's wife you sad stupid cuntish fucktard.

[66jjma]

Même si les bras manquent de lyrisme et si ça manque d'interprétation(surtout pour Rojo) je dois reconnaître que les deux "déchirent". pas mal

[Bwwbe]

She´s dancing so strong, beautiful and timeless.

[KarmaNicole94]

@repn87 Um as far as technique no. That's why I'm not a professional dancer. Because I'm 16 and still training. Emotionally, probably so yeah. :)

[joanarcs]

They sould make a Swan Lake with Acosta and Marianela Nuñez, they work really well together like in La Fille Mal Gardée ...

[TheMariannarm]

both are awesome, but Swan Lake is such a BORING ballet ._.

[thebloodyheartgirl]

viva españa!

[grossiroma]

Well, luckily Carlos was there to warm up the theater, Rojo reveals grand tecnique and studies ...but unfortunately this is not enough to make a ballet complete...in addition the stage was not big enough for Carlos...restricted in there.

Carlos Acosta takes all the applauses...

[isai9025]

Her arms are open, not closed in the pirouttes and in the chaines.... Sorry for my english

[KarmaNicole94]

Whatever she is doing with her arms is just terrible.

[KarmaNicole94]

I love Carlos but that stage is WAY too small for him. And as far as Tamara.....that was awful. Sorry.

[XxBallerina4ChristxX]

Tamara is a magnificent technician, but as far as artistry goes she is comepletely lacking.

[Balletdancer771]

I would like to locate the person who decided to put Carlos Acosta in black tights against black scenery and hang them by their thumbs until they repent.

[florafeyify]

what criticism of one of the most exquisite ballerinas of her generation.All dancers put their interpretation of odile in their dancing.Tamara obviously prefers the enigmatic approach which I prefer,Odile shouldn't be smiling and charming she's bad and and should show a wicked expression out of the princes eye.

If you want to see acting ability go to the Royal Shakespeare co. Tamara's balances are breathtaking particularly in Don Quixote.She finishes her fouettes on point with no tremors,superb

[lacouerfairy]

She needs more emotion. Beautiful technique but there's no feeling.

[opera72]

The arms are NOT week,she is just trying not to use them which technically is even more difficult but sadly they are not place properly.This being said the fouettes are outstanding by any standards so is the variation ...

She might review her points as ,though it is not the case,they visually give the impression the foot is not fully extended.Shame as she has beautiful feet!

[saraht931]

Carlos acosta is such a good dancer and so is tamara rojo :) i like alot

[kyntae411]

Tamara's arms look very weak during her fouettes. She does them still AMAZING though.

[venturedance]

I feel like my comments were really harsh and I want to just say that obviously she has incredible facility. She's just not using it the way she could :(

[venturedance]

I'm sorry but I find her performance to be heinous. What technique? Are we watching the same video? Is she injured, ill or just indifferent? If you want to see this the way it should be done then watch Marianela Nunez.

[kyntae411]

@venturedance:

I fully understand where you are coming from. Tamara's arms are what bring her down in technique. Sure she can do an amazing triple pirrouette from fouettes, but the look isn't complete when your arms look like a ballet beginner's arms.

[MrsNitr0]

Tamara's black swan interpretation is the perfect example how great technique on its own doesn't make a great ballet dancer, nor a great memorable performance. Tamara doesn't give any emotion, or artistry to this character; just mere execution is all she does. The dullest, most boring black swan I've seen. What a pity for a truly outstanding artist like Acosta to have such a BORING partner.

[merluzasfritas]

@MrsNitr0 I really love you! u must be the only sensible person in youtube. I think this is such a boring partner that in fact people who have paid to watch it should get a full refound in the ticket. Acosta deserves better, in fact with Nuñez he should dance

[MrsNitr0]

@merluzasfritas Thanks, you're so nice! I indeed love Nuñez much better, she's a true complete artist.

[CMGGOttawa]

@MrsNitr0 I could not agree more.

[Beam261]

@MrsNitr0 I was really disappointed with her performance too...her face is like cement, not a hint of expression!

[kurichka]

@MrsNitr0 I think it depends on the role they dance. I agree with you that she's very cold here, but if you see her dancing Manon or Romeo and Juliet, her interpretation and character are amazing and touching. Dancers have their days, perhaps this was not hers.

[92SimplyMe]

@MrsNitr0 I agree......her almost perfect technique doesn't give her the perfect interpretation.....SHE ISN'T A SWAN!!!

[kontrabass20]

@MrsNitr0 You probably should upload some videos of you and show us how better you can do it. I guess even Tamara is curious to get some tips from you! 

[cabinthewoods90]

@MrsNitr0 Rubbish

[cassismira]

She is a doll, beautiful!!!!!!!

[lindaxheart]

how come that she can make this beautiful piece of ballet so boring?

[yatedijotumama]

Tamara nows the only imperfect thing are her arms, the most dificult part...

[TheGalassio]

SuperTamara!!

[prettygabby]

she's so good! :)

[cca1954]

Maravilhosos!!

[jeanemail7]

martha Graham once said "When you are bored, you're boring!" I think of that line every time I see her dance. It really doesn't matter if you have all the facility in the world. BORING IS BORING.

[papageorgerocks]

HOLLY SHIIITTTT

[mcronoz]

whats her name the song??

[ellieadams1]

shes is amazing but she puts nothing into, she just looks bored even when bowing. Also her arms on her foutes look kind of like puppy paws. If you watch marianela nunez doing this her performance as well as technique is beautiful!!

Exactly how it should be done.

[Kata397533]

Rojo is great, but there's something about the arms I don't really like

[lolomck]

Amazing technique, boring portrayal!

[nairigrigorian]

eres bastante "limpia",pero no es todo...lo que te falta,hija mia,... es arte...

[wigglebells]

they are both amazing dancers....but so stiff! and tamara's arms make me cringe a bit.....

[saritachan]

if only we can see the white act too...

[sachlaura10]

They are both amazing.

[likeafirstday]

Tamara İs amazinggggg.....

[chun25011]

@likeafirstday I prefer gillian murphy doing this :P

[KatieMillerX]

why is the stage so tiny :O

[mysticmeg111]

Because most of the British Theatres are ancient and people were a great deal smaller even 1 generation ago. Also look at the props taking up all that space. I agree that it is a small stage.

[emmsteemmastewart]

@KatieMillerX it's not actually that small it just come out funny on the screen and the scenery in this part of the production does take up alot of the space...

[Kiarpb]

acosta has amazing jumps and surprising pirouettes! wow! I loved Rojo's triples fouettes and all, but she's just not a black swan!

[MrNocco]

i miss back when carlos was young and wild :P

dancers dont age like wine i suppose... only baryshnikov :P

[Lissbirds]

This is from the ROH Archives? Wow...how'd you get this? I'm impressed. Thanks for posting!

[ballet7up77]

um carlos, u need to work on being so stiff! work on the arabesque !

[tennents40]

i love tamara rojo she is my fav dancer !

[herculiez25r]

AMAZING both of them... the only shame is that the stage is sooooooo frickin small... would be nice to see them be able to travel more...

[alexander28111]

4.36, carlos blows out a breath

[BoBence911]

Tamara is so amazing!

[cubanmiamiboy]

Me imagino si Rojo, con esa tecnica de acero, bailara la coda por version de Alonso, con esos backward traveling sautees sur le point en arabesque penchee...wow...solo la imagino

[littleacousticlover]

i see what you mean about the arms, its a real shame, because otherwise her performance is clean, sharp and precise... and her turns are lovely.. and there just aren't words for carlos acosta tbh...

[vianneynadege]

i think she must have been told to do those dodgy arms cause ive seen her so many times and shes never done that before. i dont understand.

[Stellicious]

rojos arms in first position are not good! and she should strech her toes. but all in all a great gracefull dancer!!

[amelikan1]

acosta is tooo fantasitique!!!!!!!!!

[TheNat93]

rojo doesnt pointe her toes!!!

[ballet81895]

talk about dead shoes! how does she dance in those?

[romanticrosegirl]

Wow, Carlos Acosta! Those final spins he did at 5.12 ... :)

[OMGitstheDANCER247]

SHES AN AMAZIONG TURNER

[OMGitstheDANCER247]

1:27-1:31 is sooooo pretty!

[kattheballerina]

oooh, I like the part at 2:35 ish...it's very different from the other choreography I've seen, sharp :) I love Rojo, she has a really firm attack!

[GaraPuxi]

fantástico ;)

[balletnut]

Thanks for your reply raymonda. Regarding it, I was lucky enough to see them live in 'Romeo'. Is 'sublime' enough? They were....words fail me!

[balletnut]

What a pity Acosta's tights were so dark against a dark background - his jumps were not shown to full effect, and they're something else! WOW, what a couple.

Many thanks.

[raymonda200]

Yes the tights have to go! They should be white or light gray. I don't think Odette is Tamara's best role. She looked stiff and nervous and her foutees, while technically amazing, lacked energy and excitement (a la Osipova). I think their best pairing is in R&J, in which they are both sublime.

[tomekf93]

I'd rather Angel Corella and Guilian Murphy in black swan. They're a hundred times better. :P

but it's good too :)

Tamara has to work on her arms!

[cherylzaneisinsane]

If Tamara needs to work on her arms, the same applies for Gillian as well. With that said they are both superb ballerinas, although I do overall prefer Tamara.

[skattynatty8]

part 1?

[rosacotton]

The stage looks so small!

[nessballerina]

Thanks =)