When I first saw Sarafanov dance I thought WTF!? He looked about twelve. But despite his juvenile appearance, his dancing is anything but: he's the cleanest jumper of his generation and his musicality is always a joy to watch. I think he holds his own as one of the greatest premiers danseurs of his generation.
Magnificent dancing from two of the finest dancers of all time! More Kudos for getting through this performance with one of the .. strangest orchestrations I have ever heard. Please, orchestra, ALL TOGETHER.. with the metronome!!
He has amazing turn out for a male dancer, so flexible in the hip areas. His legs don't look super muscular but the landing is so soft and light. Love them both.
On second viewing, this performance is quite astonishing, especially Osipova’s fouetté sequence in the coda. Sarafanov is a classically gorgeous dancer, beautiful line, faultless technique. What DOES’T work for me is his boyish, Peter Pan looks. In this role, I miss the masculinity, the overt manliness of Ivan Vasiliev. Now HE is a Man’s Man-Basilio.
This danseur needs more lead in his pencil, more testosterone in his cojones to really pull off a macho Basilio. He looks a too classica and too pretty here.
Talking of testosterone.... don't Sarafanov and his wife Olesya Novikova have four (4) children? Appearance can be deceiving. Sarafanov is man as man can be. Pity the pathetic choreography.
