December 29, 2011 Vaganova Academy Russian Ballet Nutcracker General Rehearsal Mariinsky Theatre

Excerpts from the complete video of all 3 acts, with two girls as Big Masha..
The cast of girls shown are
Little Masha - Yulia Speridonova, first year student, who should graduate in June 2020. Hopefully in 9 years, this Yulia S'nova will have better fortune with the then Mariinsky Ballet artistic director, compared to a current Mariinsky ballerina, Yulia S'nova, whose immense talent is being wasted today in the Mariinsky corps de ballet,with roles like an ugly looking fish in Little Humped Back Horse corps, where her gorgeous face is hidden and she wears a ridiculous costume, hiding her fabulous womanly body..
First Big Masha - Arina Varentseva, June 2012 graduate
Second Big Masha - Ksenia Shevtsova, June 2012 graduate
Another Ksenia, 7th year student, 2014 graduate, Ksenia Zhiganshina, was in the waltz of the flowers.

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• Vaganova
• Academy
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• Russian
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• Mariinsky
• Bolshoi
• Nutcracker
• Tchaikovsky
• Vainonen
• Asylmuratova

[GymnasticDancer]

Thank you for this amazing upload! Is Varentseva's prince Yaroslav Baybordin?

[russianballetvideo]

@GymnasticDancer Yes, you seem to be up to date.

[GawkyBallerina]

When did the academy add a 9th year?

[russianballetvideo]

@GawkyBallerina 2007

[abbytree52]

What? Yulia stepanova?! I wish I could c her more in important roles n fully unleash her great talents to all the audience! she is great!

[dorong48]

why is the nutcracker like that :s

[jengirl2]

I thought Arina was gorgeous. Nice glimpse of the future!

[vamaloveballet]

Thak you for uploading !

Do you know who is Big Masha of other day ?

And do you know who is other role,　like solist of snow flakes ,Spanish dance, Arabian dance ,Chainise dance etc?

[cecilegreard]

@Pearlaceous I realize that but it doesn't mean that their limbs are strong enough to support the weight of their whole body on the tip of their toes.

Anyway, I think we should agree to disagree or this discussion could go on forever.

[Pearlaceous]

@cecilegreard These girls have undergone a rigorous selection process, probably the most important element of which is their physical suitability for ballet.  Their whole body - proportions, length of limb - everything - has been scrutinized to give them the best chance of withstanding ballet training. They are the genetic elite and then they receive the best training in the world.

[cecilegreard]

@russianballetvideo In that case, the system is different from the Paris Opera system where kids have to be a certain level at a certain age. e.g., they can start at the school at 8-10 years old but if they enter the school at 12 years old, they have to be the level of third year students as that's the class they'll join.

That being said, that little girl didn't look older than 10 and so too young to be on pointe without any support. I got that you think otherwise though...

[russianballetvideo]

@cecilegreard Vaganova has changed their practice of when girls start in the school. For many years, 10 years old was the minimum age, but in recent years, Vaganova has made restrictions based on height and weight, plus of course talent, and now a first year student could range from age 10 to age 13, with the latter being for short girls. As was the practice for many years, girls who fail to make the school can try again and start late. 1980s, 2nd 1/2 1st yr students took pointe

[cecilegreard]

@looovecats Still funny how most prestigious ballet schools would never allow it and they aren't a bunch of amateurs either...

[looovecats]

@cecilegreard

Note that "these people" who allowed her to dance on pointe are not some bunch of amateurs but teachers of most prestigous ballet school. They know what they do.