Zhou Yu (周瑜) Black Swan variation and Le Corsaire

[Buondelmonte123]

I honestly don't understand why an oriental nation with its own culture should so wilfully misread something from a western culture as the Chinese are doing here.

Everything here is hopelessly wrong. Its not merely a question of arched feet or high extensions, it's the aesthetic that totally eludes them, its not her fault, poor kid, its her coaches and those in the politburo who attempt to reduce ballet to competition level, because they have to be seen to be WINNERS.

[sinyeesinyee]

節奏及停頓也掌握得不好.



[MrKLT1945]

Competitions 4 top young dancers so nerve-racking; ppl expect them 2 B prima ballerinas when they R still on a learning curve, for pete's sake. Stuff like the Black Swan Act 3 is so hard, emotionally, out of context, as there has been no build-up as with the full ballet. 'Arches' obsession indicates little knowledge of the different types of ballet feet and low arches are the strongest; high arches very weak and need a lot of care. Lovely flow, super jumps; artistry can B developed with age.

[Buondelmonte123]

@MrKLT1945 Disagree, Artistry, as we would define it, is alien to the overall concept of those who direct Chinese ballet. Look how in the alleged Corsaire variation, she puts her hand, Nureyev-like on her shoulder, that has nothing to do with any female variation in Corsaire. High arches create an aesthetic line, unarched feet don't. I do wish the Chinese would not try to hi-jack ballet for their own political ends. "Stuff like Black Swan" wasn't meant to be taken out of context.

[hoshiamehanauta]

Her feet aren't that great, but over all, she is pretty good.

[XyourcutebabbyX]

fuck pretty much all of you every one who says bad things about her have to atleat do that other wise just go fuck ur mom

[SimplyMovement]

Wow she is AMAZING! look at her length and her extentions! The only thing that she needs to work on her arches but they are already beautiful :) Keep dancing! You inspire me and alot of other people!

[Steph11love]

She has the balance down! Woah.

[xsexyminxyx]

Destruction through seduction.

[CeNedra2917]

All I can say is its nice to still see this variation posted instead of the allegro russian one. I miss seeing this one.

[MissVictoryGirl]

Her dancing is very casual even though the technique is very technical, it's kind of a strange mix but very beautiful. For example, she doesn't seem to thrive on extension like a lot of dancers do but when she does it, it appears to the audience to be effortless (as well as a lot of what she's doing does - very hard, appears effortless) and I think that may be confusing to people.

For those who are saying, yes, I'm better than her? Prove it, I'd love to see it.

[jinpitakki33]

I liked her le corsaire. yes, her arches aren't high but what makes a good dancer is making the best use of what you have. those of you criticising her feet, and saying that you have nice arches: that's of no merit of your own - you were just lucky enough to be born with it. saying you're better than her and therefore can criticise her doesn't mean a thing. why don't you post up a vid and prove it instead. let's see everybody criticise the crap out of you :)

[nananaana1410]

she's great! i really love how she dancees!! 

[danceingisart]

im sorry but i agree she isnt that good and dont say anything about me not being better because ive took ballet since i was 3 and have performed all over and in mine and many others personal opinions i am better

[junetee]

She performed Le Corsaire better than Black Swan...

[sylphida]

she's absolutely lovely!

[yonjooheero]

What a great dancer. :) The technique is fierce and I can't help but stare at her back because it's so strongly held.

One thing I did dislike though was the Black Swan tutu. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I didn't like how the back of the tutu was lifted so much that whenever she had her back to the audience, you could see her whole butt.

But other than that, she did a great job. :)

[iDancer101]

She is a pretty dancer, but it doesn't look like she has the passion to be beautiful. She doesn't look as if she is enjoying it.

[PsycheOfTheWind]

personally i think at a young age, it's important to focus on having rock-solid technique... emotions and feelings come with maturity and life experience. it's like asking her to portray heartbreak when she hasn't even fallen in love before. hey, my opinion :)

[XxBallerina4ChristxX]

what are people talking about?? I see a lot of emotion and artistry here!! This girl is talented technically and artistically. Geez people get a life!!!

I for one love her dancing... she especially dance and acted Odile very well.

[TheSoulflower]

Antisocialist: Thank you. Well said.

[MagicFantasyLover]

beautiful tutu

[flapjackballet]

I'm so bored of seeing this good technique with no emotion, passion or stage presence. Ballet is an art, not a sport. Some of these girls should just do rhythmic gymnastics, instead. :/

[dinosaursarerawraful]

@flapjackballet you do understand that at chinese ballet schools they dont allow any emotions. if you show any they WILL beat you. ive had it happen to be before. its all technique, technique, technique.

[dragoslavac]

maybe somebody knows...where this music is taken from? incorporated as Odille variation...

[loveballetrika]

emotional ,so beautiful

[avesraggiana]

That's an unfortunate design oh her bodice and tutu.

[l0ls0m3b0dy]

I thought her Le Corsaire was better than odile =)

[yorouichi17]

JUST perfect tecnique as always

[rougeteckel]

no emotion, no feeling, just technic, it is not good

[dancebea92]

i agree..not fun to watch

[xenassidekick1216]

if she had emotion it would be perfect!

[natalie2405]

(The Black Swan)

She has to work on some small technical problems, but besides that - gorgeus! She is really DANCING THE CHARACTER!

[WolligesHangschaf]

Wonderfull Ballerina but she is not Gillian

Murphy!

[icarrus4u]

Yeah her name is Zhou Yu LOL!

[WolligesHangschaf]

I do not mean it as am marvelous as Gillian Murphy

[iperuranioangela]

she is so precise...

[ModerinaViolaTutu33]

aw she didnt do the huge sissone in black swan! thats the best part! o well, very good dancing anyway.

[Cristinalocutora]

She`s wonderful! Congratulation, Zhou Yu! Cris

[WenlongSun]

nice

[danceedanceedancee]

i bet most the ppl critisising her cant dance as good as she can!

GET OVER IT SHES AMAZING! :)

[balletbunhead777]

no emotion wat so ever

[Homurakitsune]

Wow! Awesome. ^_^

Nice spinning. =)

[Farennah]

I find this part amazing : 3:53

Maybe the variation of the Black Swan does not exactly looks like as the original one, but it's beautiful too.

[antisocialist87]

First thing, folks.

1. This is a technical dance.

2. Some of you are expecting emotion out of this girl. Chinese Ballet Schools pretty much BEAT the emotion out of you. They've been training so hard to the point where they're like, "Screw Emotion."

3. Not everyone has insane arches. Arches in Ballet are a more recent issue - that crap came in with Pavlova. She can still dance better than most of the people commenting, with or without the insane arches. Low arches = strong feet.

[balletbunhead777]

not to be rude but you can be strong with or without low arches everyone at my studio has big arches and we are all very strong.

[boggydance]

most definitely low arches does not equal strong feet.

as for the girl in the video i don't think she doesn't have feet i think the point work need work and refinement. or better point shoes

[Astrathiul]

@antisocialist87 THANK YOU! Sorry, i have low arches and be and my sister both do ballet. She has high arches and she is constantly pointing it out...i wanna slap her sometimes! But it's not professional ballet without emotion, it might be GOOD and maybe even EXCELENT but it's not professional.

[hechen96]

@antisocialist87 I agree mostly with you, but i go to a chinese run ballet school, and they haven't beaten the emotion out of me!!!!!! :D

[theAnnafilms]

@antisocialist87 that's not the case with me.... i just was NOT born to dance. I have low arches, weak ankles, short limbs, long torso, short neck, large head.... all the things ballerinas AREN'T supposed to have.

[antisocialist87]

@theAnnafilms

Ballet dancers are actually expected to have a shorter torso and longer legs. Also, if you know how to work everything well and if you exercise enough, you'll know how to work WITH, and not AGAINST, these things and you'll be able to also strengthen your arches. What's much more practical in ballet are strong arches and not beautiful arches (unless you are company bound).

[theAnnafilms]

@antisocialist87 i want to be a professional..... so, yeah.... ):

companies probably won't accept me.... but i'm only 12 so i have time

[bwoodsfinest]

@antisocialist87 Low arches do not equal strong feet. Strong feet=strong feet whether your arches are low or high. Arches also do not equal insteps.Your arches are on the bottom of the foot. The part that is walked on. That instep which is what most people are actually speaking about is the top of the foot, opposite the arch.

[SonyaNatalia]

That Odile tutu is hideous.

She needs to learn that sickling is not going to cover up her bad feet.

[avesraggiana]

She needs coaching, and a lot of it. I hope she gets one in time to save those sloppy feet and unstretched knees.

[ix3cheeseheads]

what kind of floor is she dancing on?

it doesn't look like marley

[xdancerforlifex]

I have to agree with most of these people. She didn't point her feet all the time or rise on her box. On the pique turns she was particularly stiff during the black swan. Maybe if she relaxed more she would be found more likable.

[dway2myheart]

bad turnout. horrible feet. and that was not enjoyable to watch. amazing technique...but she got no heart while dancing it. real sad. if she added emotion it would be amazing

[coolfeifei]

her spins are very well centered.

[ModernSlyDancer]

yeah i agree. i personally think that it was just a technical dance. she was so stiff. and i didn't feel any emotion coming from her...sad...

[BlazerEmpire]

lol!! i tot zhou yu from three kingdom

[vanillabean001]

yeah, i personally think that it was just a technical dance. there was no personality. i found her quite stiff and not always completely straightening her legs. but nothing against her technique! i'm not trying to bash this a dancer!

[massykudai]

SiMpLeMeNtE BeLlOo...

[Heartistic4Him]

She really shines in that second variation.

[rubiaa06]

great personality and technique

[123BALLET321]

the second variation is a guys variation from paquita

[GuguRose]

i believe she has great techniques, she can do better.,.,juz tat she need to go over her toes when she's on point.,.,sometimes she's not balancing well.,.,a dancer cannot even lazy a little bit especially when there camera video taping.,.,will look more obvious.,.,

p/s:juz trying to giv some comment as im taking dance critic as 1 of my subject now.,.,anything can juz reply me.,.,im learning.,.,

[LilacQueen406]

She has pretty lines. She did really niceeee:)

[KAOLA73]

Sorry but she's not amazing...son placement n'est pas terrible...

[lostchild7]

wow! we all agree that le corsaire was better than odile variation but anyway this girl dances really really really good. If she won the third prize i can't even imagine who won the first.

[shalom93danseuse]

She needs to lift her knees when doing her pirouettes. Outside of that, she's fairly good!

[coolcats95]

you people know nothing. she is amazing.

[DancrBethany]

She never pulls up her knees.

It's annoying me.

[mrlopez2681]

The second variation is not from "Le Corsaire". This solo is traditionally found in the "Paquita Grand Pas". Although in the west it is danced by a man (as in Makarova's staging for ABT) as well as in the St. Petersburg Malay's staging, it is actually for a woman (it turns up in the Mariinsky's staging on occasion). It is taken from Cesare Pugni's score for Petipa's 1866 ballet "Florida".

[fefa1431]

FANTASTIC !

[FancyEarings]

i loved le cosaire much better than the odile variation, probably cuz her movements were a little too stiff in the first one.

[allthatjazz343]

she isn't the best Odile I've ever seen. But it's ok. On the other hand, Le Corsaire was beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BryndisSnae]

beautiful coda! absoulutely gorgeous!!

[RahBallerine]

SHE IS GREAT!

( She doesn't have to dance so perfect like a big dancer to be a good dancer )

[criddifa]

You no what it shits me all that is dissing her in her turn outs yes she may not have correct turn out but its technique there are many dancer that havent the feet but remarkable and i would love to see all ur turnouts and techniques since u know everything about ballet and ur the best

[heybabuh]

she is so good. but she barely straightens her knees in the turns.

[AcemanJones]

I think she's a bit off her leg. Also, she lands her pirouettes on flat foot and then spins the last half way around instead of finishing with a lift. Nothing special here. Sorry.

[irenaponisova]

I hate it when people say "bad" turnout for dancers like these because the truth is its not really bad at all its not perfect but I wouldnt call it bad. Shame though that she couldnt show that sly expression and side that is odile :( Bu dancing was beautiful!

[georgewu5]

danceforevah: one of the reasons I wanted to introduce more Latin and Ballroom dancing to China is because I believed the Chinese people( I was born in Hong Kong) are too conservative. My mother held me in her arms only twice since I was a baby. Expression of passion is badly needed if China wanted to catch up with the rest of the world!dancewu dot net

[georgewu5]

The teacher is the most important influence for a beginner. cbrik15 said that she was asked to do the same thing for five months, and she hated it. I once took chinese painting when I was in high school. The teacher had me doing the same stroke all day long for three days. I hated that so much I asked for transfer. Bad teachers could ruin your initial interest before you had a chance to succeed! dancewu dot net

[cbrlk15]

my ballet teacher tought us that corsaire variation. it was the only thing we danced for almos 5 months. I ended up by hating it.

[xmikah27x]

Those pointe shoes don't flatter her feet as well as they could.

[SharpieTattoo]

It's the turnout. She has bad turnout. Her a la seconde is pretty poor as a result. And her posse in the turns.

[Grisi93]

i dont think shes good at all.

[Astrathiul]

@Grisi93 If you're so good at it then why aren't you famous? because, to judge someone with that skill accurately you'd have to be better, but then again, maybe you're just a nobody with nothing better to do than think oh so highly of yourself when in reality, you're just a lonely douche.

[PokemonTCG88]

@Grisi93

i think you're just jealous.

[danceforevah]

The girl is just dancing. Were is ur expresion?

[esmeraldacolumna]

ella esta nerviosa!

[prn4ustat]

i agree. she has great technique, but she needs to 'play' with the character, bring it to life..she's still very very good though.

[youyouooxx]

i don't like her artistry and i don't like her body proportions ...

[ravenfire1313]

You don't like her body proportions? o.O She can't do anything about that. It's the way she is.

[cutiealexa]

personally i think she had great artristy but her feet could be a littl worked more. it was good but i have to agree russians out beat this by far

[thapprado]

she could work her feet, but the rest is pretty good

[BryndisSnae]

i didn't like the first girl's pointe shoes but both dances where great;)

[catullo1983]

The second variation is not from le Corsaire but it's the Male Variation from Paquita....by the way I think she has great technique, even if I don't like Chinese ballerina's point shoes!

[dreamofyou]

She's a beautiful dancer, but I think I've watched too many versions of this dance performed by Russian ballerinas, who are unbeatable. Chinese ballerinas just can't really compare to those Russians, although I still love both =]

[Grisi93]

how do u know they are chinese?? u mean asian im guessing??

[sugarsweet87]

Because Taoli dance competition takes place in CHINA? Also because I'm Chinese, and her name in the introduction is in Chinese.

[afrucrhieando]

magnifiquement magnifique, waouhhhhhh,

[pattersonjk]

good: her double pique turns look awesome

not so good: she completely loses her turnout during chaines

[19Christi70]

2 dance was good

[baboylove]

Whoa. the first ending: her landing was a bit jumpy.

[DopioLaMusica]

She's very shaky, and it seems almost as if she's unsure as to where to go next in her Black Swan variation. While in the other variations, she is quite good, the first seems to lack control and stability.

[tenshinokage]

in the first act she seemed to scile her foot right before she did a pique in one of the sections, but otherwise she is pretty good.

[Manuelgoldenboy]

belloooooooooooooooooo

[radostsguy]

Watch out, America. Here comes China!

[Crazycaz91]

she needs to turn out just a lil bit more espec in chaines and loosen up in her upper body!!! v nice jumps tho! and her fouettes r lush they would b perfect if she fondued a bit more then she would b even more secure then she actually is! but other than that shes lovely!

[ECBarnes3]

what are you people talking about, Can you say get and stay on your box. Also where is the turn- out...

[tutus4life]

i like her as Odile, shes got really good exspressions even at the end when she doesnt complete her turn.

her second part is the music from Paquita, not Le Corsaire. the coda is from le corsaire.

[toippo]

my friend did that dance in my recital its nice

[danseurella]

swan arms are too stiff. nice techniques though (:

[janeeyre78]

haha fouettés à la seconde

wow

[bebel0512]

her turns are amazing...

[llamalope]

needs to pointe her feet in her shoes particularly when turning a la seconde.... and there is tension in the fingers, otherwise a good performance

[mrlopez2681]

the second variation is not from "Le Corsaire" - it is traditionally danced in the west by the lead male dancer of the "Paquita" Grand Pas, while in Russia it is danced by a woman. It originally comes from Petipa's ballet "Ariadne", music by Yuli Gerber. The last solo is the coda from the so-called "Le Corsaire" PDD, music by Drigo in an orchestration by Lanchbery.

[rballettom]

fabulous!  especially Corsaire.

[Syncretic00]

Missed the "essence" of Odile - very stiff; much better in Le Corsaire. Terrific showcase in the coda.

[omg1129]

i think the pirate..it is called le corsaire?

[sugarsweet87]

Hmmm, I think it is... :D Thank you so much!

[FredeBrz]

crazy!! xD