I have watched many renditions of the Arabian Dance and always I come back to this one. As others have said, the lead dancer fully embodies truly beautiful dance whereas great athleticism could only diminish the subtlety of the presentation. I am, every time, left speechless. Edited for clarity
I swear! That soloist is absolutely breathtaking! I remember watching this version of "The Nutcracker" on TV and have been searching for this one dance scene ever since - I'm so so glad to have found it here, the only thing is that the music is very faint and I can hardly hear that wonderful piece, but, that ballerina is the absolute BEST!
Hi there Frame Frame-I typed that link into my search bar and it didn't come up with anything - do you know how I could view the better version another way? Thank You!
I used to think it was boring as well, but after repeated listenings, I now think that it's so beautiful and hypnotic. This is one of my favorite movements in the whole ballet. I like the cello/bass pedal point. It makes this whole movement so much sexier!
The reason to put Persian is because has sooo many similarities with Ballet! Classical Persian dance has also many similarities with Arabic dance...So the compination was just so clever! Bridging all together in one magnifisent dance!
Lovely! I've been looking through all the videos of this dance. This is the only one that captures the elegance and delicacy of the dance that I saw as a little girl, which led me to ballet.
I first heard this piece of music on a vinyl record player as a boy of ten at a wealthy family's house of it.. Years later when I saw the Nutcracker on stage, I remembered the music. This performance brings out the beauty and the gentle sensuality of it.
its not about how easy a dance is, its how well you dance it!! yes maybe you could dance it but i bet you couldn't make it as mysterious as these girls do!!
Boring?Boring? You have got to be kidding. This is the most beautiful dance I have ever seen and the lead dancer is just mesmerizing. Something is seriously wrong with anyone who thinks this is boring. Go play your stupid video games.
If you really like this ballet it is available on Amazon for about $20. Search for "Kirov Nutcracker". It's the one in the pink and violet case. I very much like the slowed tempo of the music in this version of the Arabian Dance.
The Nutcracker is like entering into a totally different world full of magic and fantasy. Like a dream. Tchaikovsky wrote the perfect score for thie fairy tale.
absolutely love it; there's only one small thing I would add and that is a small veil to show only the eyes for each woman to make it even more authentic and mesmerizing
i go to baltimore school for the arts and i got the part of arabian in the ballet...but its not just a girl i partner her...and its teh best dance in the whole thing...i love it...
Well, it could make the next costume change go quicker if they have their pointe shoes already on~ I do remember at least two occasions where the principal dancers performed Arabian on pointe. Once was a soloist and another was a duet. The duet was very beautiful and sensual. The dancers were guest artists from Russia. To be honest, their dance was the most memorable for me.
omg my dance skool just did the nutcracker and our arabiand ance was exactly like this one! usually pple switch the choreography around a little to suit the dancer's skills, but our choreography was EXACTLY the same!
the arabian dance is also called "coffee" the spanish dance is also called "chocolate" the chinese dance is also called "tea" and the russian dance is also called "trepak" that should be all :) i love this piece of music and the dance!! my favourite!!
Those of you that feel you need to critique the style of dance that this choreographer chose need to get in a time machine and go talk to P. Tchikovsky. The entire third act of the nutcracker is all about fantasy, and the prince taking Clara to a celebration of diversity which was a rare thing in the time it was written. As un-authentic as you may believe it to be, you should be less wanting to critique the style of dance, and applaud the choreographers beautiful display!
Totally mesmerizing, power, beauty, elegance, strength, grace, femininity. Spectacularly alluring. and I don't even like ballet as such. May have to look into it further.
@TheAmaul Haha. The Clarinet plays the melody The English Horn (much like an Oboe) plays at the same time, but raises the second note (the clarinet lowers the second note) Lol sorry if that is confusing, but hope it helped... :)
WOW! I've seen the NYC Ballet version three times live, not to mention the Pacific Northwest Ballet and NYC Ballet film versions a million times, and this has always been a solo. I've never seen it like this! *Though I know there's a pas de deux version out there.
The version of this last night in Orlando Florida and the Convention center was way different... The main dancer was basically on a ring hovering over the stage doing amazing stuff... Very different from past versions i have seen...
@johnra70 Ballet is not only about technical skill. This particular piece of music is so powerful and persuasive, it doesn't really need feats of strength, just grace.
this is a bril video. i've played in the violin section accompanying the Nutcracker ballet and this has held me spellbound,a russian composer writin an arabian dance..its apt though.
Actually, baletpotskhishvili is correct. The music is adapted from a traditional Georgian lullaby. Look it up if you don't believe it! I wouldn't call it "stealing," though. He used traditional music from other countries in his other works, especially the 1812 overture (he used the French La Marseillaise to represent Napoleon's troops).
This is Georgian folk music theme which was used by the composer as the base of the melody; The original name of the theme is "Iav Nana" and it's Georgian lullaby
okay, i know that there are some other names like this is also called tea but the others? spanish dance= ?? russian dance= and so on xd btw, mariinsky is absolutely great!
I like their style. The way they move their arms are so sensual like arms of a swimming jellyfish. Although I have to ask why are they not wearing pointe shoes. I've seen a different variety of arabian dance and the woman is wearing pointe shoes and she still manages to dance sensually and seductively.
