Martine Van Hamel 2nd Variation

[chamuda610]

Guillem was great, but I prefer this. To me it's more...convincing.

[kissobsessed]

everyone else is saying it i'm just reinforcing it.. she. is. FIERCE.

[bobjot]

What a joy to see this clip after so many years! I just watched a bunch of more recent "circus-y" current ballerinas do this variation and Martine's is in a class by itself. Her womanly sensuality, regal nature, and wit combined with her elegant musicality, phrasing, epaulement and port de bras just put the young upstarts to shame. This is how the character or Raymonda should dance. She is glorious!

[lashenova]

She has such a tiny waist! I am jealous.

[shelaghmckenna]

My favourite for this solo actually.

[BallerinaBel]

Does anyone know which act this is?

[hnbballerina]

I thought this is her wedding variation, so I think last act..

[Paradiselost89]

can you post the part with the pase's in the coda she is lovely in those

[Paradiselost89]

00.13 makes me fall in love with her in my opinion the only correct Raymonda interpretation

[Paradiselost89]

wonderful the first great raymonda i saw sadly it was in film but you can feel it thru the creen

[ballerinaju]

i think that few ballerinas capture the spirit of this variation.

she does.

pure finesse and acuity.

lovelly...

[camcandance]

This is pure, classical ballet at its finest. No tricks, no frills-just pure command of the technique, musicality, characterization, phrasing, and most importantly, the stage. Ms. Van Hamel was probably one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, and how anyone could even begin to critique this performance is beyond my comprehension. Yes, Sylvie Guillem is impressive, but take away the freakish body and prodigious techniqe and see what's left of the variation...

[bwoodsfinest]

@camcandance Take away Sylvie Guillem's BALLERINA body and technique, you would still have an amazing character and performance from Sylvie.Her performances were more than just her technique and body. Her body isn't freakish at all. 90+% of ballerinas share that body type. They are both great in their own ways. People may have their preferences. People should just stop comparing dancers and appreciate each one for what they bring and that's it.

[kdub10009]

Anyone who says Martine's characterization is "way off" clearly doesn't know the story of Raymonda. She is an aristocrat, a noblewoman, and Martine carries herself in exactly the proper manner to convey this. There have been more 'exotic' renderings of this variation, by the likes of Makarova and Guillem, but van Hamel's interpretation is exactly right within the context of the ballet.

[tutus4life]

oooooh martine! this is the only performance that I like, and it closley matches that of Sylvie. wonderful wonderful wonderful.

she reminds me of darcey bussell, she looks very tall and commands the stage easily.

[jeemoney210]

Wow.. just wow

[skarlit2007]

Astonishing. No one today can match her in this role.

[kdub10009]

I remember my teacher telling me that if I ever wanted to see true, pure, classical ballet at its finest, to watch Martine as Raymonda. He was soooo right.

[dncr2dir]

OMG so good to finally see again, I have SUCH memories of her in performance. I LOVE her phrasing; how she uses technique to punctuate. She does not "float" through this variation, but takes command of it, as she should. How I miss her.

[affectivity]

I have many memories of her in performance too, and she was wonderful, not just in terms of technique, but also in terms of projecting a character's personality. That's why so many ballets were made on her compared to the average ballerina in her day. Choreographers loved her.

She'll always be my favorite Queen of the Wilis :)

[tightlygagged]

What stupidity. Van Hamel was probably the greatest modern Raymonda. Only Gregory ever matched her in terms of grandeur, dazzling and impeccable technical command, and understanding of the role. Why don't you try seeing a few Raymondas before you blather about 'characterizaion'? LMAO!

[spunsilver]

Now this one is just sublime. It is wonderful to see her again.

[tinkabel33]

Her placement, port de bras and technique are great, but the characterisation of this is way off.

[danceqt37]

i agree