2/2 Алина Сомова Лебединое озеро Alina Somova Swan Lake

[camille32087]

I am just now starting to see some of the maturity charisma it takes to carry a ballet. When I first saw her, she was just a flurry of awkwardness. Now, there are still awkward moments, but she is a little more polished and controlled. I blame the powers at Kirov, as its a lot harder to change a first impression than it is to make one. I think she should stay away from these "tutu" roles where her style is too much of a hindrance and makes it difficult to make a connection.

[sweetaliena]

Everything was just perfect except her exit. I wish she could have reach more on Danila like she doesn't want to go. Trying to counter the force that's pushing her towards the lake.

[MrRight1000]

@sweetaliena Oh well, she did but so very slightly. In her interpretation pool of Rottbarth who turns into shadow like creature is too strong. Personally, I appreciate the undertones more than clearly stated emotions. Although I realize that folks who occupy back rows appreciate just the opposite.

[chamuda610]

Her port de bras and use of her ENTIRE upper body is breathtaking. I don't understand how some people can still literally hate her. Several years ago I wondered, "What is the Kirov thinking?!?!?" Now I know. She has grown so much and her principal title is well deserved.

[sangfroidjen]

Alina has matured into an artist. She can dance nothing but Odette from now until end of her career, and she still would be regarded as a wonderful ballerina. Just my opinion, I know some will disagree.

[DarkbloomVivian]

Everytime she strikes a pose I wish she would hold it just a moment longer -- everyone who's posted says she captures the emotion so well, but I just don't feel like she is "feeling" the choreography. It looks to me like she is going through the motions, and in almost everything I've seen of her she has (I don't want to say vapidness) a vacancy. That's just my impression.

That said, I love watching her! She's remarkable, really.

[puppylove0808]

@DarkbloomVivian Her Odette made a transformation from force of nature to studied, but her Nikia went from moving to sublime. Just my 2 cents.

[DarkbloomVivian]

First of all, I really enjoyed watching this, thank you so much.

I hate to disagree with everyone, but I have trouble watching Somova dance. She does everything correctly, she has formidable technique, she is astonishingly flexible. Yet I watch her and am unconvinced. I feel like I'm watching a very precocious student, who has been carefully instructed on each of the steps and expressions, but lacks understanding...

[Leonnidik]

It's got soul.

[Bnesque]

What a magnificent variation! She dances Odette 's soul beatifully with meling ultra solid balance and center into mercurial liquidity. This performance is a rare gem of great Mariinsky tradition!!!

[Leonnidik]

@Bnesque - Hello Benesque!, just as I finished my comment, I read yours. We got it right.

[Bnesque]

@Leonnidik We did! I think if a person has beautiful heart, mind and soul, he/she can get Alina's performance right.

[Qbendanny]

I have never noticed Somova give the same performance twice. In each one there is something new and artistically relevant to the role she's dancing. Here the leaning forward with the arms like running her hands through the tears her mother cried. It is just stunning.Not to overlook her steely sharp, centered chaines and turns. She is a complete artist and the prima ballerina assoluta of the Kirov.Her bow is an ode. Gracias NINA! for your channel, you make her fans very happy.

[russianballetvideo]

That great moment during the adagio when she moves away from him, she motions her arm & her face clearly tells him to not get too close, unlike any ballerina has ever displayed here & is so perfectly done. From her acting to her amazing arms & hands & fingers too, Catherine, this is a ballerina with no equal today. Her technique has amazing balances, beutiful slow moments & the power & speed during her coda to rival any Odette. This is a true Miracle Ballerina & the best Odette Nikiya Dying Swan

[balanchinedancer]

@russianballetvideo If by Catherine, you mean Pawlick from CD, you are wasting you breath . This ballet “critic” wanna-be would never amount to anything higher then moderating a second rate ballet forum. Same old story of Mozart and Salieri.

[MylenaBallerina]

@balanchinedancer It is clear who Mozart is in your comparison. But Pawlick a Salieri? Not in a million years !!! See, maestro Salieri had certain talent and did something positive for the art - same can't be said about this 2nd class scribbler-moderator. Alas!

[AmyKauai]

@russianballetvideo yes I also noticed that great moment. Somova is a true ballerina in every sense of the word. She fully embodies the artistic. She is only going to grow as an artist.

[russianballetvideo]

Now this amazing performance displays everything great in a ballerina taht few ballet fans coudl even imagine seeing. Her emotions are out of this world. We see at the end of this video before she bourees off, her complete feeling of joy as she lays her happy head on him. i have never seen an expression like this in this scene. When she first sees him, her fear is fully evident in her great acting. During adagio, there is a great moment when she leaves him, looking at him. To be continued.

[jengirl2]

gorgeous! 

[looovecats]

I've read one junk review of this performance saying that Alina's Odette 'has no soul' or something like that. For me she could give a bit of her soul for all 32 swans who accompany her and she would still had enough to give amazing performance.

Thank you, Nina, for another treasure!

[magnumSuper]

@looovecats I've been readin' all reviews and I don't remember anything like that, maybe you are talking about smth happened years ago. I know that even SPb bloggers who were harsh on her and this part of hers earlier, after seing this particular performance said she was very very good, and all noticed a great deal of improvement, some others said "kudos to Terekhova", I'd say - they both produced a miracle, bravi.

[russianballetvideo]

@magnumSuper After seeing the best Odette performance my eyes have ever seen, executed by Alina Somova in this video, the review of this performance by Catherine Pawlick in Critical Dance uner the title Mariinsky Ballet Season 2010-2011 season, page 6 of 6, is a disgrace to the ballet community. I can understand idiots making stupid comments, but an idiot would have seen how great Alina is. I can understand the blind not seeing, but she has vision & talks about lack of emotions which are A+++++

[russianballetvideo]

@magnumSuper Continuion of Cateherina Pawlick's disgraceful review of the phenomenal performance in this Swan Lake by Alina Somova. With her knowledge in ballet it is impossible for a ballet fan not to be in love with this performance..My only conclusion is that there are two possibilities. One is that Pawlick was temporarily insane when she wrote the review. The other is that she is an outright liar, out to make Alina look like bad ballerina which goes in line with Critical Dance & Ballet Alert