Svetlana Zakharova and Andre Merkuriev of the Mariinsky performing the pas de deux from In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated. Choreographed by Forsythe. I wrote about this in one of my college application essays. 'Tis my favorite.
Thanks for the video - it's an education on individual styles (and tastes). Technically Zhakarova is flawless but I still I prefer Guillem's performance (there's a fire in Sylvie's performance that nobody has approached in any other videos I've watched).
Agreed. This piece is incredibly difficult, especially in musicaility and the dynamics between partners. Guillem and Hilaire truly bring out this piece spectacularly.
Otherworldly, I visit this page to watch every once in a while this most stunning version of all times and am so grateful to find it again, left speechless, deeply moved by the absolute beauty of those moves and their perfect execution.
Although she is very flexible, she doesn't have the control and sharpness that sylvie brings to this piece. You can also tell by how high her shoulders are that she doesn't have full control through her body. In my opinion it looks to "loose" Sylvie Guillem was outstanding in this piece. From her balance and control to her sharpness and strong expression, she is the best.
I saw Sylvie do this role in the 80's and I still lose my breathe thinking about it. I've wanted video of this ballet for years and it just occured to me to look here. None of these videos show her entrance like an explosive arrow from stage left. I've never seen anybody do ballet like that before or since. I know of no ballet performances that equal it and none of these You-tube postings begin to do it justice. I'm glad they're here to stoke the memory but you had to be there.
Sylvie is worthy of the title prima ballerina assoluta supreme!!! But Svet, is picking up where Sylvie left off. Sylvie's was easier, most of the extensions she did were in attitude. Zakharova and every other ballerina since Guillem does it with a straight leg making it more difficult. Zakharova has amazing musicality she stretches every nuance of music. She is not icy she is a DIVA and she knows it. Guillem was called icy too. Bravo for both, In the middle is the 20th century's swan lake!
Very nice, especially for those who prefer gymnastic "dancing". At any rate, Zakharova has demonstrated in recent years that she can handle almost anything, and very well.
Have to agree with those who think Sylvie is better. After all, the role was created for her. Svetlana is really brilliant technically but doesn't seem to have that control Sylvie has.
Where...bizzaro world???? Her physicality is certainly incredible. But the actual artistic performance of the piece... it in no way comes close to Guillem! Extension and flexibility are one thing. How well the artist uses them to convey the artistic vision of the choreography is something altogether different.
I just wanted to make a small correction to your comment, about Ann Catalina Roman, I've danced with her at the Frankfurt Ballet, and to the best of my knowledge, she has never danced the Sylvie role in In The Middle. She's not that strong on point, though she is a very wonderful dancer in what she does! I could even go as far as to say that I doubt that she's ever done Middle at all.
nononononononooooononononononononononononononono. im sorry svetlana but the original ms. guillem will always be your superior until the end of time. no one does this duet better than sylvie nobody
You imply that she was trained in gymnastics in general. IMO, it's important to distinguish that she had "rhythmic gymnastics" training as opposed to just gymnastics training. The two couldn't be further apart.
after seeing silvie is impossible to prefer this version, svetlana is very beautiful for many ballets, but in my opinion this one its not for her. the character is not something you can camouflage with brutality, the difference between the two of them are emotions
+lula ingaramo No it's not impossible... Trust me. I only knew this production with Sylvie in the leading role and it was one of my fav contemporary ballet choreos, but after i found out Zakharova's performance... Just WOW. I love her as a classical dancer but in contemporary productions she just seems to set her inner being free, way more feelings, way more energy than the usual/classical Svetlana, in addition to all the other things she has (extensions, legs, neck, arms, hands, feet, technic)... Although Sylvie is still amazing as well, i completely prefer Zakharova
@@alecsia96 indeed. Svetlana is not only an excellent classical ballet dancer but she also excells in contemporary dance as well.. shes the greatest. Sylvie is also good but Svetlana will always prevail.
I like Zakharova and she is really the last diva (after Sylvie's retirement!). But how pretentious is to dance this after Sylvie. A grand diva should never use one of the "crowd pleasers" of another grand diva.
I'm sure there isn't one "right" way of dancing this, but I'm sure the best frame of reference stylistically would be Sylvie Guillem's interpretation, since the choreographer, William Forsythe, created the piece on her.
seriously, they are almost perfect, but Sylvie Guillem and Laurent Hilaire are better for me, a question of interpretation, both are technically flawless.
there is a double pirouette in attitude that's is one of the hardest moves in ths pas ,Sylive nails it because of her cool , calm approach . there's more to this ballet then whipping extensions .Svetlana is so tense in the neck , she looks angry and harsh I feel like I have whiplash in the neck when I watch her Look for the Guillem / Hillare piece , there you will see the that the choreography is not about devouring the male . But to each their own .
@aprilthrusday i am biased just not towards her. i like certain roles on her but this one no one can do it better than sylvie im sorry but im sticking to my opinion
There's no disputing Svetlana's talent, ability, or technique but her performance lacks everything that this role is about. Her interpretation is WAY off!
also, when you see the video silvie, you can see in each of her movements contemporary technique, exquisite, abdominal contraction, torsion, etc.. svetlana is only shooting her legs in the air
riconosciamo il talento senza la necessità di paragonarla a silvie, son due corpi diversi e due anime diverse, la svetlana in ogni caso è magnifica, tecnicamente e nel perfezionamento di ogni movimento, gli errori ci sono, ma è nomale che sia così.
I LOVE THIS CHOREOGRAPHY *all of it* Yep both sylvie and svet are amazing at this but i think i prefer sylvie's bitchiness in this one-I get the feeling like the girl is meant to be some supernatural (haha that sounds corny) 'thing' that's just all over the place and the guy is just there kindof trying to hang on! NEways yeah svet is crazy flexible-great performance
Svetlana 's approach reminds me of a praying mantis about to devour the man ....I prefer Sylives interpretation ,she sensual and cool . everyone else dances this pas so angry and hot .
No, I don't think you're imagining it. She really seemed to enjoy it; you could tell from the little smirks she gave time to time. Amazing performance - her body moved with the music perfectly.
She is beyond amazing and way better than sylvie guiellm....people dont understand us natural flexible people and how hard it is to control our legs !!! she is so in control of her body its crazy !!! yet she keeps the loose and sharp style of the piece ! PERFECT !
Sorry, I didn't mean to mark that comment as spam. The reply buttons and spam are too close together and one can't go back and change it. :( Anyway, one can convert this file with a website called keepvid. Just copy the url and select youtube video and it will convert it into mp4or flv for you. All you do it right click and save.
Prosuttos let me disagree with you!!! I've just seen Sylvie dancing this ballet and I can definitely say that she SUCKS!!! Her worst drawback is that her leg movements don't coincide with music accents and sometimes she lacks speed and stretvhing in her legs...And Sveta Zakharova has all of these to be PERFECT for "In the middle somewhat elevated"! She is the PRIMA!!!!!! =)
Ballet is always about technique, lightness, speed, accuracy and a great deal of hard work and practice at the same time-and you will find NO prima ballerina both in Mariinskyi Theatre in St. Pete or in Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow that has no these qualities! Russian Primas are the best inthe World and there's no need to prove that fact! =)
j'adore cette musique moi aussi !! et la chorégraphie est trop class!! donc pour votre plaisir voici le titre de cette musique, c' est: In the middle somewhat elevated , tiré du CD: The loss of small detail de Thom Willems . j'ai mis des années à trouver ce CD.....et j'ai réussit, je l'ai vite acheté....très cher , mais bon, c'est un double et quand on aime, on ne compte pas !!!!!!
The music is by Thom Willems if anyone knows the title please let me know! I would like to use this for my own choreography. The music reminds me of some parts of Bruce's Swansong.
Great, great, great, everything, even the fact they can now dance our ballets, communication is the best thing of all. I grew up during the cold war, it was TOO TERRIBLE !
I have to say this is a really good dance video - lots of different cameras showing the piece from lots of different angles. A nice change from the usual stuff!
I LOVE this. Zakharova is wonderful. She reminds me not only of some of the great ballerinas of the past (Makarova for some reason..) but also some of my favourite gymnasts, artistic contortionists and fusion-bellydancers. Her flexibility, control and athleticism is inspirational. Her movements are not lacking in personality either! Wonderful dancer. She makes me want to try harder. :)
You forgot to mention her musicality (which I think is her most amazing feature). It seems like her body is moved by the energy of the music. There are not many dancers so absolutely in tune with the rhythm and character of the music.
I saw in the middle somewhere elevated live and it was just amazing. The music, the coreography.. they're really powerful. I'm usually not a contemporary dance lover but this was something special. Bravo! by the way, does anyone know where can I find the mp3 file of this ballet? Thanks a lot ;)