FAMOUS BALLERINAS YOU NEED TO KNOW (and why they're great) | Ballet Reign 

Svetlana Zakharova = Total control. Natalia Osipova = Aerial and dramatic. Marianela Nunez = Genius technician. Tyler Peck = POWER BALANCHINE. Fumi Kaneko = Elegance personified.

I have a friend who did/does some work as a pianist at the ROH. About two years back or so I got an ecstatic text from them needing to yell to someone that "omg omg omg Natalia Osipova said at the end of the rehearsal that she wished she could always have me as a pianist in her rehearsals". That she'd thanked them very heartily for being such a great rehearsal pianist. It's a full job, very different from being a pianist in another context, and they were so fucking happy they were good enough that after six months at the ROH Osipova would pay them such a compliment. She just seems to be such a genuinely great person !

Arms do it for me. Legs can be pretty standard but the dancers who have what i call "liquid arms" just melt me.

My favourite thing about Nela is the sheer joy she shows on her face when she’s dancing- it never fails to make me smile! 🩰🥰

As a black ballet student Michaela Deprince and Misty Copeland☺️ they actually show me that a black woman CAN be an amazing Ballerina. We need to see more Ballerina’s of color☺️

I would have added Maria Khoreva. She is perfection in person.

Osipova is different every time you see her. The steps are the steps but because she IS the story, it's always nuanced slightly differently. And that is stunning because she seems to draw more out of everyone on stage as well - just by being her brilliant self.

I'll always be fond of Darcy Bussell. I was lucky enough to see her in her final production with the Royal Ballet in 2005, Sylvia.

I'm adding Maria khoreva, literally perfect in every sense of the world

Osipova in Giselle, especially in the ‘white’ act, is supremely ethereal …

A clip of Fumi rehearsing as Oddette used to live rent free in my head for months. the characterization of her arms and head alone when she did her mime scene just blew me away. just the way she really committed to embody a swan instead of settling for just graceful was so inspiring to me. she was one of the people that really kept my love of ballet alive during a time when I was super burnt out and also opened my eyes to just how different people dance even in a genre as seemingly ridged as classical ballet.

Just saw Marianela yesterday opening up the RB season with Don Q, and yes, you've hit on everything she does. She's so generous to the audience and the corps and everyone around her, she's interacting with Don Q as she's doing the Kitri variation, or she's winking over to the matadors, she's so active but not in an over the top way or a way where it seems like acting. Her technique and dance, perfection, if anything she was better than ever last night. Also adore Fumi, a real highlight from this year was seeing her Lilac Fairy to Marianela's Sleeping Beauty. Such a ballet treat!

Zakharova & Núñez - assolutas different but absolute perfection & unmatched in every regard.

I love Iana Salenko. The fact that she is 40, mother of 3 children and still dances like an angel is astonishing.

My favorites are Nina Ananiashvili (superb port de bras), Alina Cojocaru (soft and graceful with excellent control), Nina Kaptsova (exquisitely her own), and Natalia Osipova (high energy that’s so addictive to watch, I saw her Sleeping Beauty live and yes her stage presence is no joke). For solo variation I also like Marianela Nunez’s Kitri and Aurelia Dupont’s Tchaikovsky PDD.

A dancer that is less talked about that I really love is Diana Vishneva. Watching her Giselle absolutely melted my heart, her dancing has such a softness yet expressiveness. I wish there are more footages of her dancing 🥹

These are ballerinas that made ballet history, she shaped my journey in ballet. Svetlana was my first big inspiration, the first ballerina I really came across to, followed by Natalia Osipova and then Marianela. They are with no doubt icons of the 2000s, that set the standards for the entire following generation. I had then the luck to watch a gala in Rome where Tiler Peck danced Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and I was MESMERIZED! She hit me with her unbelievable technique, musicality and art, definitely an icon of modern Balanchine ballet. I had the honour to attend Fumi Kaneko's Aurora premiere as she jumped in very lasy minute, and I loved her, but I do consider her already belonging to a new generation of ballerinas that are inspiring young dancers and on their way to become such legends. I'm not saying Fumi doesn't deserve to be in this list, I just think she goes together with other dancers and still hasn't reached the peek of her career, which is soon to come. Maybe I would have put Aurelie Dupont or Sylvie Guillem even tho they aren't dancing nowadays, just because they were legends that represent another part of ballet world such as the Paris Opera. Maybe Fumi Kaneko would fit perfectly in a list of upcoming ballet legends, while all other ballerinas mentioned are already established icons (Svetlana was even given the title of prima ballerina assoluta). Maybe a honourable mention to Iana Salenko, she has also stolen many hearts. It would be amazing to also see a list of male dancers (I can see Bolle, Sarafanof, Simkin, Muntagirov, Acosta...) and a list of ballerinas from last century that made history (such as Carla Fracci, Marcia Haydee, Darcy Brussel, Elisabeth Platel, Maja Plisetskaja...)!!!

Natalia and Tyler are thrilling…the others are perfection incarnate, esp. Nunez. Love them all!

My favuourite and adored ballerina since Fonteyn and Sibley is Alina Cojocaru - for her great sensivity and musicality. Osipova’s Act 11 Giselle is very extraordinary. It was a revolutionary interpretation. So visceral and so expressive. You felt she knew she was doomed to exist in this terrible world of the Wilis for eternity. When she first did the role with Acosta in 2014, I think, all reviews gave her 5 stars. I have been watching ballet for nearly 60 years . . . . . I came to London when I ws eighteen solely to watch Fonteyn and Nureyev . . . .

Legendary prima ballerina are Alicia Alonso, Maya Plisétskaya, Margot Fontein, Alessandra Ferri, Natalia Makarova, etc.

Performing a Balanchine ballet requires mastery of musicality because Mr B always emphasized that the music 🎼 and the dance should be equal partners. I performed a few Balanchine’s ballets and the company has to host someone from his foundation to preserve his legacy. Gelsey Kirkland was my coach and it was a welcome challenge for me, a professional ballerina trained in Moscow.

Natalia is my fave, for sure! Such beauty and grace, embodiment of what draws me to ballet. Goosebumps and tears:)

100% Fumi Kaneko! 😍One ballerina I watched when I started out with ballet was Gillian Murphy. Maybe it's the fiery red hair but her Odette & Odile 🤑

My list is 1. Victoria Tereshkina 2. Diana Vishneva 3. Svetlana Zacharova 4. Altynai Asylmuratova 5. Ulyana Lopatkina 6. Natalia Makarova 7. Marianela Núez 8. Natalia Osipova 9. Olga Smirnova 10. Nino Ananiaschwili But in the end it doesn't matter. Because ballet is an art and there should be no competition for better or worse

I loooove Nela’s expressiveness. She always looks like she’s having the time of her life dancing and that’s what I want to bring into my own dancing too

So glad you chose Nella and spoke so warmly about her artistry!❤

A prima who retired but is my favorite dancer is Sylvie Guillem to me no one beats her lines, power, or personal character

Fabulously done girls. There are so many one could add. And I wonder if you could do a male dancer video? I love Nela and am lucky to have seen her. Fumi and Mayara are new favourites of mine at RB . Wish I had seen Osipova. All fantastic and so different.

My absolute favourite has to be Maya Plisetskaya - the emotions, the technique - simply chef's kiss. As for more recent dancers I adore Renata Shakirova, Ulyana Lopatkina and Viktoria Tereshkina.

Great selection. I'm a big big fan of the Royal Ballet myself. I live in Spain but I go to London very often just to see them perform. Seeing Nela as Kitri in a couple of weeks, can't wait ❤

I love this channel. Thank you for the commentary and the information. We truly enjoy it. We also would like to add Maria Khoreva to the list 🤩

I want to see their fav prima and their reason for it, can't wait for another ExQuIsItE ballet nerding later

Nela is just breathtaking❤ and i also love Fumiko, its so beauty

I've always loved Tan Yuan Yuan's arm work!

I don't know if these are related, but when Jordan spoke of MN's balance, for years I've really marveled at her aplomb, in the Cecchettian sense. Her physical centeredness is just wild. There's a really popular (views) footage of her doing Black Swan and she never falls out of her aplomb/balance/centeredness.........never waivers. All of your picks make it look so effortless. Well done.

I love your presentation in all your commentaries- how both of you free associate, not requiring a script. Your knowledge and love for this beautiful art is truly inspiring. Thank you.

Natalia combines the ballon and overall doing the most with the acting of the Royal Ballet. Natalia = fearless.🩰👏🏻

I am a Frankie Hayward stan 100%, but honestly the entire Royal Ballet is absolutely amazing.

fumi kaneko is one of my favorite dancers right now. she's so graceful and fluid, and her lines are to die for. her facial expressions are also so, so sweet and easy to connect with??

Sylvie Guillem : " the one dancer no company can afford to lose".

Golly, that blooper was soooooooo entertaining! 💯% agree with your selections.

love LOVE LOVE !! this. I am a life-long fan of ballet (never a dancer) and I appreciate the two of you explaining things so even non-dancers can understand. You are definitely my favorite ballet youtubers. Funny, knowledgeable, loving and diving into all aspects of ballet (music, costumes...). I wish you all the best and to grow your channel and make many, many more of such awesome content 💜🩰

Thanks for the video. I liked the way you guys summarized each ballerinas strongest artistic point. For me I guess Svetlana Zakharova is the most weightless and emotional ballerina I would like to see in my real life.

Absolutely love Tiler Pech and we both are Balanchine dancers so thats amazing. However I am kinda sad that Misty Copeland wasn't on the lineup. She has been a huge inspiration for me as a young black dancer who has faced discrimination in the ballet world. She made me feel seen and validated when others didn't. My one word to describe Misty Copeland is "Inspiring".

Ever since I began living in England a few years ago, I've been taking every chance I get to visit the Royal Opera House for both opera and ballet. I was going to see Osipova as Kitri next week, but got an email saying that she's sustained an injury and is taking time off to recuperate (Mayara Magri is subbing for her.) Somewhat disappointed with the news, but I would rather she take care of herself so she can keep doing her art for as long as possible!

Oh, I miss that with balances...when you master enough to know you don't need to keep going. You KNOW you can keep going. Balancing was one of my specialties. Loved the video!!! Thanks for introducing me to Nunez!!!

I love nela and fumi and im a big fan of Akane takada as well!!!! Also tiler peck is brilliant and so is Isabella Boyleston. You chose such amazing ballerinas to showcase!!!

I absolutely agree with your choice of the three ballerina queens, I have to admit that I was always more fascinated by the past ladies of ballet...Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Margot Fonteyn, Moira Shearer, Beryl Grey...(before my time, of course (;) Somehow I'm also someone who would also not get to the obvious choices. Perhaps because I'm not so much focusing on technical skills, but because I love more expression and performance...and I love these vintage ballet movies (;

For me, I think they are each an epitome of one role. Zakarova: Odette/Odile Osipova: Giselle Nunez: Kitri Kaneko: Aurora I don't know Tiler Peck as well so I can't say for her, but if anyone has suggestions!

I love your list of famous ballerinas. Can you do the same with the male ballet dancers as well? 😊

As a Londoner I’m incredibly privileged to watch the Royal Ballet perform very often. I never get tired of these incredible dancers

Divine Sylvie Guillem !!!

I have a soft spot for Lynn Seymour... She played the vampire Aunt in the Canadian production of The Little Vampire... she left us ealier this year.

natalia's fouettes are out of this world, from a very young age on, she mastered that coordination, balance and strength perfectly! flames of paris has to be one of the most impressive roles she's done, all the jumps and turn...

Great choices - totally agree (especially Nela, love her). If you have the time have a look at the very few videos on here of Miyako Yoshida, who I was blessed to see several times. She had a true quiet classical style, great control and perfect placement, and when I've seen footage of Fumi I am reminded of her. Thank you for the video!

Your videos are sheer delight!

Sveta, and Ulyana before her, have been my inspiration in my career because I have extremely long arms and legs and hyper mobility so attaining control of my body has always been a priority. Being hyper flexible is all fun and games until you have to brace your core for multiple turns/balance/petit allegro. I’m thankful to all my coaches who give me parts to challenge my weaknesses. Adagio, jumping downstage on a raked stage are a dream but I’ll never forget finding out I was promoted and would not be doing the trio of Precious Stones, but the soloist Diamond Fairy (that precise and quick footwork made me appreciate and excel at speed) in Sleeping Beauty… love this video 🇵🇹🇧🇷🩰👏🏻🫶🏻

Can you do a video about Altynai Asylmuratova? I watched a lot of ballets with her (or ballet fragments) when I started to discover the wondrous world of youtube. She is so expressive and dignified, and even though I recognise that the way she uses her elbows and upper body is a totally different, antiquated style, it never feels overly theatrical.

Fumi Kaneko has the most graceful arms I have ever seen.

I recently-ish discovered Fumi Kaneko (thank you, Covid!) and I *love* her elegance. I absolutely *obsess* over her port de bras and hands!!!! Nela is amazing. I love the way she acknowledges her partners and her technique is 👩‍🍳 💋!!

Marianela nuñez 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷

I haven't watched many performances of Tyler Peck or Fumi Kaneko, but for the first three ballerinas you mentioned, my words to describe them all start with "E": Svetlana Zakharova - Elegant; Natalia Osipova - Energetic; Marianela Nunez - Engaging. I agree w you about Osipova's jumps. Equally impressive for me are her turns. That lady could do 32 fouettes in her sleep!

This is AMAZING! Proposal to do a version for Male Ballet Dancers as well!!!

For me, all the balerinas in this video are spectacular, in my opinion my favorites are Marianela Nuñez, not only because of her golden technique, but also because she is from my native country. And I also greatly admire another dancer, who is the first soloist at the Mariinsky theatre, Maria Khoreva.

I love them all, but as an argentine I am so proud of Marianela Nuñez and Ludmila Pagliero, that I think is also one of the ballet stars of this time. I have recently find your channel and I am really enjoying it! Well done!

I love Tiler Peck. in addition to everything you mentioned, she has Broadway pizzazz!

You managed to hit on both of my favourites in one video (Nela and Tiler)

me just vibing to the background music. Idk why but you picked the pieces I danced lately😂

Watched Marianela Nunez in Manon last weekend and was just….wow. That ballet was 2.5 hours it felt like 20 minutes watching her. I’m planning on seeing her in Swan lake this summer! Bonus add: Gillian Murphy - especially as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake! Makes those 32 fouettés look easy 😂

They are all Queens, but my personal favourite is Natalia Osipova.❤

Marianela is my favorite, I clicked on this video for the most part to hear you girls talk about her😅. I had the privilege of watching her dance a few years ago in NY in the role of Cinderella. I think she’s the best actress of the three, even better than Natalia, she has the most expressive face which reminds me of the dancers of the first half of the XXth century, who lacked the technical perfection nowadays dancers have - specially a ballet star like Nela. I’m from South America like her, so I love to see one of us be so successful hehe. Anyway, perfect selection, these five really represent the best of the best out there atm, Tiler is probs the best Balanchine dancer and Fumi Kaneko has become one of my favorite dancers in the past couple of years, certainly the next big star in the Royal Ballet. I hope you make a list for the men too! Or a list of best retired ballerinas.

I personally like Olesya Novikova. She is lovely in person with a music box ballerina figure and enormous control. She and Viktoria Tereshkina are my favorite Mariinsky ballerinas. Awareness of how a ballet dancer is built and their proportions is ingrained into Russian ballet appreciation, not so much in the US and the UK.

I love Marianela So much ! I did a two week summer intensive with her in August and she is the nicest person !

I'm sorry that you didn't come to France, where one major ballerina is still on stage, I mean the great Dorothée Gilbert !

Sylvie Guillen is my current all time favorite

Love all of them!! Two that continue to inspire me are Alina Cojocaru and Alessandra Ferri!

I couldn´t have limited my choices to only five, there are so many more beatiful ballerinas out there, like Skylar Brandt, Isabella Boylston, Maria Khoreva, Maria Kochetkova, Iana Salenko etc. etc.

omg you chose my 5 favourite dancers of current times! Have seen them all live (except Tiler- one day!) and they are all absolutely mesmerising in their own way.

Great video. Only one I didn't really know was Tiler, and I wasn't as familiar with Svetlana, but I'm a big fan of Nela, Fumi and Natalia. Would love for you guys to do a video like this of historical ballerinas or male dancers.

I would add Diana Vishneva and Sarah Lamb to this...but I am biased. Vishneva, occupied every role I witnessed her dance. Sarah Lamb is stunning, especially in the tragic roles (ie Mayerling or Manon). Thanks for sharing your list!

as a ballet newbie i appreciate this

Sylvie Guillem!!!!!!!

FUMI KANEKO (ROYAL BALLET) for me the number 1

I don't know anything about ballet but I always loved it. The other day I discovered your channel and now I can't stop watching it! I love your videos! It makes me want to be a Ballerina😂 PS: Aguante Marianela Núñez! Double PS: I love your background, it seems that Mr. Darcy is about to appear at any moment.😂 Greetings from Argentina!♥

I am super proud of you two for showing that Texans are more than Cowboys and Oil! I just found your channel but intend to watch all of your videos, especially since I am too old to go out and watch a live performance these days. Best wishes to you and your school. .

I need more videos reacting to Marianela

Thank you both for this articulate, thoughtful and genuine presentation. I've recently fell in love with the beauty of ballet and you helped me understand this natural appreciation even more. I look forward to learning more.

Nice job, young ladies.

"I picked at age two" - Eden . Loved your selection. It's such a hard one but you nailed it. I would love to see your favorite ballerinas of the previous generations too. Or, the super new ones, the up and coming.

I totally agree with this list, and i would like to add a name that fails to appear even in the comments: Tamara Rojo. Powerful technique, incredible acting, enormous stage presence. And probably the best fouettes and balance.

A most valuable video affording many opportunities for learning. I have a particular liking for Kristina Miklhaylova; I think she brings a most magical femininity to her roles. Giselle being a good example. I should be interested to hear the views of others on the matter.

When it comes to russian ballerinas Natalia Osipova, Ulyana Lopatkina, Ekaterina Maximova, and Maya Plisetskaya I think are the top notable dancers who mix technique and artistry. the only ones I can actually stand to watch atp. They’ve cleared the board. I actually shed tears watching Osipova Giselle and when she did the Dying Swan. (i know maximova and plisetskaya are from generations before but i’d still rather watch them than 99% of dancers now) And for Balanchine I think the generation of Ashley Bouder is untouchable and it’s going downhill. Bouder, Mearns, and Fairchild I think are the epitome of true balanchine (or at least as close as you can get, since it’s evolved quite a bit) with modern standards, Tiler Peck is good too but though her interpretations have variety WITHIN them, the roles all look very similar, and her musicality is fantastic but like, that’s balanchine so she’s not really doing anything above and beyond. As for the rest of the european companies (since their styles blend generally well) Marianela is of course perfect but too perfect sometimes? occasionally, i wish she’d succumb to the role more but she’s a fantastic artist nonetheless. Sarah Lamb is also very gifted with her body and uses it very effectively but i also beg of her for a deeper interpretation, she feels surface level. And from what I’ve seen of Morera she seems to have great artistry and technique which of course for me is much more valuable than Zakharova type legs. But yeah this is just ME PERSONALLY :b

You two obviously know ballet, but what impresses me most about your videos is your ability to communicate in an engaging, effective way to a broad range of audiences

I'm a little sad you didn't cover Nina Kaptsova 😅😅😅

Marienela Nunez! Haven't seen a ballerina so exquisite since Gelsey Kirkland.

What a great expertise 👍👍. Usually I am sceptical to watch this kind of top 3 or 5 thing but you just nailed it . Especially with first 3 ballerinas I cannot agree more. You described them perfectly. Wish you many new subscribers and many more such a successful episodes!

Thanks for the Spanish subtitles

Polina Semionova

you two are excellent articulators, really enjoy listening to your insights and also just seeing two buddies connect. 😁 also agree with you, fumi is my bucket list performer, too!

Exhilarating, engaging, just plain fun. Ballet Reigns. Merci!