By watching this, it finally dawned on me what makes Makarova's dancing so wonderful...it is not her pointe technique, but her ARMS! HER ARMS TELL THE STORY! JUST LIKE IN HULA!
Ah, here she is. In all her absolute, infinite glory. Natalia Makarova, the greatest ballerina there ever was and perhaps will ever be. And if Misha himself is in fact the God of Ballet, than Natasha is Ballet's Goddess.
A woman who may not only rival this icon, but perhaps... even stand above him.
She is further evidence (as if we honestly needed any) that the greatest ballet dancer of this generation or any other will always be a Russian.
Makarova's Slavic facial features go a long way towards projecting a character she wants us all to believe; a Magyar princess - haughty, regal and supremely in command of all her powers.
She has the face of a godess statue, impossibly slender body...
With her shapely face, big expressive eyes, large cheekbones and perfect svelte, yet rubber-like flexible body and long, willowy limbs, Makarova has emerged as one of the greatest ever to put on a pair of tights and toe shoes...
I believe she put on earth for the sole purpose of ballet...
Ms. Makarova's great performance is in no way enhanced by those unnecessary upper-body shots. It's too bad that dancers don't all demand to be filmed full-figure & forbid close-ups while dancing as Fred Astaire did.
Yep, absolute perfection expressing the slavic feel of this piece. Literally seen dozens of clips of this variation, and Makarova's is still THE best. In the late 70's, I was blessed to see her do this variation live in Miami and she was inspiring. BTW, the videographer is forgiven for cutting off her legs -- what we lose in seeing the choreography, is far surpassed in what is gained by seeing her languid arms and expression!
Her contained but fluid movements make this my favorite interpretation. Other dancers (e.g., Sylvie G.), in my opinion, tend to interpret this role too literally and be too stilff...
I love how she captured the sensuality of the music. She's the one who first inspired me to take up ballet when I was little. Everything about Makarova -- technique and artistry, body and soul -- simply IS dance.
What a tremendous artist! A great actress as well as a great dancer. Danced like a true Russian.
Filmmaker should be shot for cutting her legs off. Learn the choreography, prepare your shots. This isn't a spontaneous home video, it's a great performance.
Just the smallest of movement here Makarova seems to make grand and meaningful--somehow she is able to project herself as a much larger person than she actually is! Even though her eyes are at a distance you can't help but look at them and get a reading. She puts a huge amount of artistry into her dance--I think she is an amazing dancer and MESMERIZING!
madam makarova a true lagend . when you watch sylvie you are in aw of her and it is indeed to watch . but no one dances with more passion then makarova . u get the since from watching her in any role that she is never more happy then when she is dancing
i love both this and sylvie guillems interpreatation. i feel that it would be wrong to even compare them though, because theyre both so different. nathalia makarova is so fierce in this variation, even if she doesnt have a body like sylvie, when you watch this your not looking at her legs. its incredible to me to see her passion. watching either of the dancers do this variation always gives me chills. this is def one of my favorite varations
Like so many grand ballets, Raymonda was choreographed by Marius Petipa at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre and intorduced to the westerners by Kirov/Mariinsky people as Ballets Russes, Balanchine, Nureyev or Baryshnikov. They've been preserving the essence of choregraphy. So questioning their integirity or interpretations seens very pointless.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
The problem of Makarova and other russian dancers is that they don't really understand the formal essence of choregraphy. Because they don't have access to the meaning of forms (figures, shapes), they lose the unity of the choregraphy. Therefore, their interpretations are nothing but a collection of ornamentations. You can esaily verify it : compare with Guillem. With Guillem meaning, form, body are completely united in an expression called "dance".
I guess it's a difference of school, of point of view. I myself agree with you. Raising the shoulders, moving arms around just to give it some "style", i thought it kinda killed the choreography, because it was too much. I don't mind adding some personal style to a choreography, thus adding a soul to it, but you still need to maintain a certain "rigueur" and subtlety. It's a bit to diva-esque for my taste.
But then again, difference of school, french vs russian :) i'm not telling which is better
I agree with succotashmybalzac in the sense of...you can't compare them because they have their own style, and essence. Ever dancer who has EVER done this part has their own style, their own flair. That is what makes ballet so wonderful. You can see two different dancers dance the same steps, and get two totally different interpretations of the ballet or storyline.
I am well aware of her achievements. I was simply stating that I did not the version that she is doing her. It doesn't capture the mood of the music to me. Also, I don't really think that this piece of music is very lyrical. I would love to see more accents! I would like you to remember, sugarplum239, that everyone has a right to have an opinion and you may disagree. Also, I would like a better argument as to why this is good other than things that have nothing to do with this variation.
i have to agree with you on this one! as much as i love makarova, i thought Guillem's raymonda variation was better. also here, i feel like you feel/see too much of makarova's old age in this dance.
I do not like the version that she does. To me, it doesn't capture the somewhat intense mood this usually brings. It doesn't have the wonderful accents, musicality, and timing of the version of say Sylvie Guillem and most others.
i have to agree with you on this one! as much as i love makarova, i thought Guillem's raymonda variation was better. also here, i feel like you feel/see too much of makarova's old age in this dance.
Wow, definately a personal preference matter... I really like how well trained and technical guillem is, but Makarova just sums up everything that is sutil and beautiful about dance.
I agree. She is FEELING all the movement. Many of the ballerinas in other vertions limit themselves just to do the correct movements, accents, and to have beautiful lines...but Makarova has soul and expresion. This is about feeling and sensations.
this is an example of real good dancing not just stupid and pointless pirouettes and mecanichal dance, but of course this is the great makarova, a living legend
one cannot truly appreciate how exquisitely and musically makarova dances when the video is out of sync with the sound==poor editing. she dances the variation with an unparalled fluidity.
sylvie guillieum is equally stunning though her rendition is completely different. it is hard to compare apples and oranges. these are 2 brilliant artists, they own raymonda. they have transcended to a class ot their own where they are free to break any of the ballet rules they like.
I agree. Makarova is warm passionate in this variation, while Sylvie is icy and seductive. At any rate, they're both brilliant, though in deifferent ways.
It's positively exhausting how a small contingent of YouTube bunheads (you know who you are) insist on nitpicking the technique of vanguard artists. It's about the expression of an individual within an honored and limited repertoire at a moment in time that is of importance, and that individual's adherence to--or rejection of--the concept of "perfection" is only corollary. Alone, if you must, worry yourself about bent knees and sickled feet. Don't share.
While you're not supposed to stretch your knees in a bouree, you should at least keep them close together, which Makarova fails to do in this clip. I always love the way she uses her arms and upper back, though. It's what brings her dancing to life.
The announcer talking is a German translation of Natalia talking about her dancing Hungarian style dancing. This is from a show called "Ballerina" it's a three part series that came on A&E back in the 80's. My mother taped it for me when I was a little girl and I still watch it all the time. It's a wonderful program and I hope to convert it so I can put it on youtube.
First off "sweaty", it wasn't 40 years ago. Second, as others have said, you can't bouree with fully stretched knees and travel- if that were the case they'd all look like ice cream sticks. Last but not least, show some respect for an ARTIST like Makarova. She held the standard for many years, and she still does in this role. Looks to me like you know very little to nothing about great dancing, so shut up.
Let's get this straight, everyone (pardon the pun) -- you do NOT keep your legs totally straight when you do bourrees en pointe. I'm tired of ignorant parties commenting on how some dancers don't fully stretch their knees while doing this step. It's anatomically impossible to do the step with straight legs, come on!
Technically speaking, one picks up the feet and places them down, very rapidly. In the beginning it is taught in high conditional position (foot about halfway up the leg), until the dancers learn to pick the feet up, not stamp them down. Then the step is made smaller and faster. Sometimes it is done parallel (turned in), and that is very painful, because turned in the weight is where the toenail meets the skin of the toe.
Look at how she simmers in the movement !! WWOOOWW
jessDance00 5 months ago
My goodness! She has skinny legs!
flubished 7 months ago
@flubished Pilates! Long and lean but super strong and muscular.
chamuda610 5 months ago
Natasha is so victorious and seductive at the same time in this...and she moves like soft breeze,INCOMPARABLE!!!
FerocityQueen 8 months ago
Her best role
miranditasdad 11 months ago
wow, her attitude, mood, and emotions are well displayed in this dance. Love it
colorsilk30 11 months ago
By watching this, it finally dawned on me what makes Makarova's dancing so wonderful...it is not her pointe technique, but her ARMS! HER ARMS TELL THE STORY! JUST LIKE IN HULA!
WTFOVER1901 11 months ago
this is truly amazing
dance309 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
She looks old.
ilovebenton 1 year ago
excelente
5****
saludos y feliz comienzo de semana
Anita
TheLunapurpura46 1 year ago
awesome
tonydmen1 1 year ago
Ah, here she is. In all her absolute, infinite glory. Natalia Makarova, the greatest ballerina there ever was and perhaps will ever be. And if Misha himself is in fact the God of Ballet, than Natasha is Ballet's Goddess.
A woman who may not only rival this icon, but perhaps... even stand above him.
She is further evidence (as if we honestly needed any) that the greatest ballet dancer of this generation or any other will always be a Russian.
--Long Love Natasha, Dane Youssef
SURFUR 1 year ago 6
@SURFUR what about Ms. Sylvie Guillem??
dancer4freakinlife 1 year ago
Very nice !!!!!
ErikaRagazzi 1 year ago
Makarova's Slavic facial features go a long way towards projecting a character she wants us all to believe; a Magyar princess - haughty, regal and supremely in command of all her powers.
avesraggiana 1 year ago 3
maravilloso!!
pscialfa 1 year ago
what's the name of the music!
SuperMissballet 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Oh, how I love Lady Makarova...
She has the face of a godess statue, impossibly slender body...
With her shapely face, big expressive eyes, large cheekbones and perfect svelte, yet rubber-like flexible body and long, willowy limbs, Makarova has emerged as one of the greatest ever to put on a pair of tights and toe shoes...
I believe she put on earth for the sole purpose of ballet...
Perhaps the greatest... will ever there be...
--Immense Star Worship, Dane Youssef
SURFUR 1 year ago
she has such lovely feet! shame we don't see more of them in this video
yentlmort 2 years ago
Ms. Makarova's great performance is in no way enhanced by those unnecessary upper-body shots. It's too bad that dancers don't all demand to be filmed full-figure & forbid close-ups while dancing as Fred Astaire did.
eyesk8er 2 years ago
Yep, absolute perfection expressing the slavic feel of this piece. Literally seen dozens of clips of this variation, and Makarova's is still THE best. In the late 70's, I was blessed to see her do this variation live in Miami and she was inspiring. BTW, the videographer is forgiven for cutting off her legs -- what we lose in seeing the choreography, is far surpassed in what is gained by seeing her languid arms and expression!
AuthenticNavyPeaCoat 2 years ago 4
so expressive...so beautiful.
832486426 2 years ago 2
Her contained but fluid movements make this my favorite interpretation. Other dancers (e.g., Sylvie G.), in my opinion, tend to interpret this role too literally and be too stilff...
nondescriptnyc 2 years ago 2
I love how she captured the sensuality of the music. She's the one who first inspired me to take up ballet when I was little. Everything about Makarova -- technique and artistry, body and soul -- simply IS dance.
osnodaigh69 2 years ago 8
What a tremendous artist! A great actress as well as a great dancer. Danced like a true Russian.
Filmmaker should be shot for cutting her legs off. Learn the choreography, prepare your shots. This isn't a spontaneous home video, it's a great performance.
DCFunBud 2 years ago 7
i think you spelt her name wrong
its natahlia
balletgirl2009 2 years ago
Gorgeous! She and Lopatkina dance this dufferently, but both - amazing.
natalie2405 2 years ago 4
I would like to also add to the "list" Aurélie Dupont (who is so dramatic!) and Sylie Guillem.
natalie2405 2 years ago 2
She is hypnotic!
amalishe 2 years ago 5
Just the smallest of movement here Makarova seems to make grand and meaningful--somehow she is able to project herself as a much larger person than she actually is! Even though her eyes are at a distance you can't help but look at them and get a reading. She puts a huge amount of artistry into her dance--I think she is an amazing dancer and MESMERIZING!
OriginalMoonbeam 3 years ago 23
ahhh gorgeous--she is the music
Lucylives08 3 years ago 6
She has such grace. She is a true prima ballerina.
elvis3700 3 years ago 28
we feel every note passing through her body...sente-se cada nota musical a passar através do corpo...grande bailarina!
sofiabaptista 3 years ago 7
madam makarova a true lagend . when you watch sylvie you are in aw of her and it is indeed to watch . but no one dances with more passion then makarova . u get the since from watching her in any role that she is never more happy then when she is dancing
RONIDC1979 3 years ago 8
beautifully said!
Lucylives08 2 years ago
Pásmem: o Tutu q ela está usando é IDÊNTICO a montagem de Dom Quixote, Ato II, do ABT com Cinthia Harvey e Baryshnikov!
Ui!
mpip1973 3 years ago
Beautiful face. Great dancing.
But I like Sylvie's cold, icy Ramonda to Marakova's flirty, softer style seen here.
Fits the character that I envision in my head more closely.
murkin11 3 years ago
what's the difference between uliana lopatkina's and sylvie guillem's versions?
i feel that both has each lovely style.
can anybody tell me please?
crystalized899 3 years ago
i love both this and sylvie guillems interpreatation. i feel that it would be wrong to even compare them though, because theyre both so different. nathalia makarova is so fierce in this variation, even if she doesnt have a body like sylvie, when you watch this your not looking at her legs. its incredible to me to see her passion. watching either of the dancers do this variation always gives me chills. this is def one of my favorite varations
xballetfolifex 3 years ago 5
Like so many grand ballets, Raymonda was choreographed by Marius Petipa at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre and intorduced to the westerners by Kirov/Mariinsky people as Ballets Russes, Balanchine, Nureyev or Baryshnikov. They've been preserving the essence of choregraphy. So questioning their integirity or interpretations seens very pointless.
Bnesque 3 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The problem of Makarova and other russian dancers is that they don't really understand the formal essence of choregraphy. Because they don't have access to the meaning of forms (figures, shapes), they lose the unity of the choregraphy. Therefore, their interpretations are nothing but a collection of ornamentations. You can esaily verify it : compare with Guillem. With Guillem meaning, form, body are completely united in an expression called "dance".
rikiboum 3 years ago
I guess it's a difference of school, of point of view. I myself agree with you. Raising the shoulders, moving arms around just to give it some "style", i thought it kinda killed the choreography, because it was too much. I don't mind adding some personal style to a choreography, thus adding a soul to it, but you still need to maintain a certain "rigueur" and subtlety. It's a bit to diva-esque for my taste.
But then again, difference of school, french vs russian :) i'm not telling which is better
succotashmybalzac 3 years ago
I agree with succotashmybalzac in the sense of...you can't compare them because they have their own style, and essence. Ever dancer who has EVER done this part has their own style, their own flair. That is what makes ballet so wonderful. You can see two different dancers dance the same steps, and get two totally different interpretations of the ballet or storyline.
bRuNn3tt3 3 years ago
i love this costume..!!!
tinaballarina9 3 years ago
I dont really like the way she dances this
irenaponisova 3 years ago
what a stunning tutu. It is gorgous just ike her flawless dancing.
hieveryone6687 3 years ago 4
I am well aware of her achievements. I was simply stating that I did not the version that she is doing her. It doesn't capture the mood of the music to me. Also, I don't really think that this piece of music is very lyrical. I would love to see more accents! I would like you to remember, sugarplum239, that everyone has a right to have an opinion and you may disagree. Also, I would like a better argument as to why this is good other than things that have nothing to do with this variation.
blackhairedbitch 3 years ago
i have to agree with you on this one! as much as i love makarova, i thought Guillem's raymonda variation was better. also here, i feel like you feel/see too much of makarova's old age in this dance.
ohbudda 3 years ago
what's the music???!thanks
elli1807 3 years ago
its alexander glazunov
calbalgal 3 years ago
I do not like the version that she does. To me, it doesn't capture the somewhat intense mood this usually brings. It doesn't have the wonderful accents, musicality, and timing of the version of say Sylvie Guillem and most others.
blackhairedbitch 3 years ago
Actually Natalia Makarova is known for her lyricism.
Regarding your comment, animalpins, Makarova is also known for her delicacy. An attribute hardly synonymous with that of an 'awkward cow on stilts'.
You both ought to remember that Natalia Makarova is a Prima Ballerina who danced with ABT, Kirov, and the Royal Ballet among other companies.
As well as the fact that she won a gold medal at Varna, the Anna Pavlova Prize, and Merited Artist of the RSFSR.
sugarplum239 3 years ago 4
i have to agree with you on this one! as much as i love makarova, i thought Guillem's raymonda variation was better. also here, i feel like you feel/see too much of makarova's old age in this dance.
ohbudda 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
After watching Sylvie Guillem's interpretation 56920682 times, Nathalia Makarova dances like an awkward cow on stilts.
animalpins 3 years ago
she has a completely different interpretation that's beautiful to- if you don't like it whatever but she does not look like a cow!
calbalgal 3 years ago 4
Wow, definately a personal preference matter... I really like how well trained and technical guillem is, but Makarova just sums up everything that is sutil and beautiful about dance.
mistercleopatra 3 years ago 8
After watching Natalia Makarova´s interpretation 56920683 times, Sylvie Guillem dances like an ankward cow on stilts
merluzasfritas 3 years ago
haha thank you
calbalgal 3 years ago
Ballet is a dramatic expression not a gymnastic exercise. Nathalia knows it and the sensuality of the piece as well.
Bnesque 3 years ago 5
I agree. She is FEELING all the movement. Many of the ballerinas in other vertions limit themselves just to do the correct movements, accents, and to have beautiful lines...but Makarova has soul and expresion. This is about feeling and sensations.
ambargavilano 3 years ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
BITCH NOOBS FUCKING BALLET ...
Joninopo 4 years ago
You're gay. You're like, the ONE dude that DOESN'T like ballet and is still here watching it.
You secretly want male ballet dancers to do it to you. Hahahaa! Big fag!
mistercleopatra 3 years ago
How I love her expressiveness!!! Her Raymonda is sensual, and provokes emotion. Her ARMS are just to die for!!!
hbanana7 4 years ago 4
Wonderful, fabulous, that Markarova!!!!
Bad lighting here, though. It makes her look as if she's wearing a mid-thigh black leotard! Kind of spoils the video.
radostsguy 4 years ago 2
We're doing this at the conservatory I dance at and now that I see her dance I can truly appecite this ballet. This is my fave variation!:>)
NutmegBalletLover 4 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
please. see sylvie guillem do it.
pointemeout 4 years ago
She is amazing.
NutFreeZone 4 years ago 2
truly ahead of her time
chicharonspice 4 years ago 5
this is an example of real good dancing not just stupid and pointless pirouettes and mecanichal dance, but of course this is the great makarova, a living legend
merluzasfritas 4 years ago 4
just SPLENDID.
hevidt 4 years ago 3
repeate that agin please??? huh!?
1maddy3 4 years ago
Beleza, ela pode ser diva. Mas, hum... o joelho dela ainda parece estranho pra mim. :/
ThaTchubi 4 years ago
TRuly classical and lyrical and expressive another one of my favourite dancers the great makarova
NeLii91 4 years ago 2
even stars sometimes bring eggs to a bad market. this interpretation has nothing to deal with raymonda of petipa
gemeni0 4 years ago
one cannot truly appreciate how exquisitely and musically makarova dances when the video is out of sync with the sound==poor editing. she dances the variation with an unparalled fluidity.
sylvie guillieum is equally stunning though her rendition is completely different. it is hard to compare apples and oranges. these are 2 brilliant artists, they own raymonda. they have transcended to a class ot their own where they are free to break any of the ballet rules they like.
kentish62 4 years ago 3
I agree. Makarova is warm passionate in this variation, while Sylvie is icy and seductive. At any rate, they're both brilliant, though in deifferent ways.
fionasputnik 4 years ago
Her feet are amazing!
Reeca1 4 years ago 2
Who's the composer for the raymonda music, specifically for this piece?
Reeca1 4 years ago
Alexander Glazunov, This is the Variation from the last act, the wedding scene.
egomi24 4 years ago
now that i think about it why is she so off the music?
crazychick411 4 years ago
i love nathalia makarova but i love sylvie guillem's version of raymonda a little better
crazychick411 4 years ago
thank's!
anaminalwafdi 4 years ago
It's positively exhausting how a small contingent of YouTube bunheads (you know who you are) insist on nitpicking the technique of vanguard artists. It's about the expression of an individual within an honored and limited repertoire at a moment in time that is of importance, and that individual's adherence to--or rejection of--the concept of "perfection" is only corollary. Alone, if you must, worry yourself about bent knees and sickled feet. Don't share.
mrowwrrr 4 years ago
While you're not supposed to stretch your knees in a bouree, you should at least keep them close together, which Makarova fails to do in this clip. I always love the way she uses her arms and upper back, though. It's what brings her dancing to life.
TenduYou 4 years ago
such passion!!!!!!!!
brn2dance 4 years ago 2
I wish that announcer would shut up.
Anyway, beautiful variation, she does it very well
fionasputnik 4 years ago 3
The announcer talking is a German translation of Natalia talking about her dancing Hungarian style dancing. This is from a show called "Ballerina" it's a three part series that came on A&E back in the 80's. My mother taped it for me when I was a little girl and I still watch it all the time. It's a wonderful program and I hope to convert it so I can put it on youtube.
mydiorella 4 years ago
ohhh, I didn't know that.
I hope to see it on Youtube in that case ^_^
fionasputnik 4 years ago
sylvie guillem reste la meilleure dans l interpretation de cette variation
stebast 4 years ago
wonderful arms, totally dancing and expressive.
stelamenezes 4 years ago 3
umm those are called bourres, youre not supposed to stretch youre knees fully, because they bend one after the other to make you travel.
natalia is the greatest dancer ever
tutus4life 4 years ago 4
that was 40 years ago darling tu tu
try to see a few current up to date performances
sweatysarita 4 years ago
First off "sweaty", it wasn't 40 years ago. Second, as others have said, you can't bouree with fully stretched knees and travel- if that were the case they'd all look like ice cream sticks. Last but not least, show some respect for an ARTIST like Makarova. She held the standard for many years, and she still does in this role. Looks to me like you know very little to nothing about great dancing, so shut up.
Andante735 4 years ago 9
she tends to not fully stretch her knees, but she has gorgeous port de bras!!
therealodille 4 years ago
Let's get this straight, everyone (pardon the pun) -- you do NOT keep your legs totally straight when you do bourrees en pointe. I'm tired of ignorant parties commenting on how some dancers don't fully stretch their knees while doing this step. It's anatomically impossible to do the step with straight legs, come on!
kdub10009 4 years ago 3
Thank you!!! You are NOT supposed to keep your legs straight when doing a bouree. It's physically impossible! Finally, someone else who knows!
fionasputnik 4 years ago
Technically speaking, one picks up the feet and places them down, very rapidly. In the beginning it is taught in high conditional position (foot about halfway up the leg), until the dancers learn to pick the feet up, not stamp them down. Then the step is made smaller and faster. Sometimes it is done parallel (turned in), and that is very painful, because turned in the weight is where the toenail meets the skin of the toe.
bigposercroise 4 years ago
Great!! Up to my favorites for my ballet-library!
balletvideo 4 years ago 3
She always dance with her soul...love her...
Batavia007 5 years ago 3
Muito, muito linda.
You have very good taste!
Toy1976 5 years ago 3
Really beautiful
pia063 5 years ago 3
i luv this variation. its so passionate
bigbuttsowat1864 5 years ago 3
I just learned this variation! loves it
lulututulove4 5 years ago
Very intense.
medorah 5 years ago 3
bravissimo!
cahsandman 5 years ago 3
Brava!!!
michaelfraydon 5 years ago 3
very sensual Raymonda..
michaelfraydon 5 years ago 3
Beautiful thanks for opsting
jamsmen 5 years ago 3