1998 Alina Somova 3rd Year Vaganova Student Mariinsky Ballerina

Alina's arms, head movements, expressions and overall movements scream out she is super special. Alina was the smallest girl in class
All the Alina haters who call her unmusical with poor turnout should look at her great musicality and turnout as a young Vaganova student. Vaganova students do not lose what they had in their early years. Alina has great musicality and turnout in 2011, regardless of what Alina haters try to force others to believe.

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• Kirov
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• Alytnai
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• Alina
• Somova

[balanchinedancer]

The illusion of hate can be easily created by merely erasing positive posts about a dancer. Although it didn’t happen to me ( I wouldn’t dignify that crowd by writing there) , I noticed that many positive comments simply disappeared from the pages of CriticalDance and BalletTalk/Alert. No explanation had ever been offered. Somova is dearly loved all over the world and very much admired by Kolpakova, Baryshnikov and others whose opinion is worth listening to.

[russianballetvideo]

What I have seen her doing close up in person at Mariinsky recently, she has already surpassed them. One day new videos will come out showing what a great artist she has become under the direction of Tatiana Terekhova since Olga Chenchikova was the worst possible coach for her, but her husband was ballet director. Her acting ability is amazing & she has refined what some hated, plus has the best arms of any principal in the world. Only recent videos of value are Dying Swan Giselle

[Beam261]

I have such mixed feelings about Alina. Obviously she is very gifted and has amazing tecnique. She can be just mesmerizing when she is "on". But the first thing that struck me about seeing her perform (before reading any comments or even knowing who she was) was that she seemed off the music. Also I personally hate her fouettes, they don't look graceful at all.

I hope this doesn't make me come off as a "hater"

[hnbballerina]

Emotions have nothing to do with 'putting a smile on your face', that would be a fake emotion. Emotion is being able to feel and express what your role is going through. Emotions should be expressed with the whole body, not just the face. And I absolutely think that emotions are very important. That turnes a dry, technical enchainement into an interesting storyline. It also means, listen to the music, not only hear it, feel it, dance it. I think Alina is much of a performer!! She was at least.

[hnbballerina]

I believe that Alina is a beautiful, very special dancer. But I also believe that she was made a principal way too soon. At that time she was not strong and controlled enough to actually carry the technically very demanding roles. I personally think that that ruined her a bit, though she is is getting stronger now. I deffo liked her more at this young age!!!

[Consofdance]

Arms back head neck is so beautiful!!!-Vaganova!! Who was their teacher??

[Cherubfish]

Thanks so much for the clarification

[woaibailewo]

I believe that the reason American's focus on emotion so much is because, for many, the only ballet performances we get to see are often filmed. When the performances are filmed, if the dancers don't have any emotions during close-up shots, it makes the performance look stale. As for only Americans worrying about emotion, in the Vaganova School, the ballet students have 'acting class' to work on developing their emotion and connection to roles.

[BootyBallerina]

i, as an american dancer, couldn't agree with you more.. i mean emotions are important but no more important than technique is

[coffee52398]

I feel her pain, I'm the smallest in my class too. xD

[huskytail]

Many people talk about technique, but to me one of the many special things in her is that even as a young child, when she performs she looks for example at her arm/hand as if it is something reaaaally interesting and thus making the observer as interested in her arm as she is. I can't move my eyes off of her.

[Gymlover1984]

To anyone who is able to: could you explain to me why she is in this particular video any different than the other dancer(s) involved? I don't see much difference between them. I'm not an expert at all so that might be just the problem but they all look equally talented and perfect?