Everyone's saying this wasn't a good choice for her (although she did an amazing job) but ballerinas can't only perform the parts they want. I think Melanie did a great job and showed her abilities well.
She is a much better dancer than this routine indicates. It was a poor choice to show off her capabilities, especially her turning, at which she excels. Pas de Classique would have been a better choice.
I love Melanie, she’s the only ballerina that I know of that can do 22. Pirouettes on point without stopping …but in this particular solo, I would love to have seen more attack and much more Hungarian gypsy flavor in her movement, much stronger, much more “frappe “in her movement. And her costume, I think could’ve been a fiery, red and orange, with a sprinkling of black.🥰 …but I totally love her dancing.
Let me preface this by saying Melanie is my favourite dancer. I adore her. She's absolutely wonderful. However, I don't think this variation and Melanie went well together. Melanie is graceful, angelic, soft, weightless. Esmeralda is gypsy, bold, sharp, sassy, darker. Esmeralda is a lady who can wear red. Not every lady can pull off red. Technically she's good. I just don't think she plays the part well, and I hate that I feel that way, but this performance just doesn't stun me the way literally everything else this girl does. She's almost always amazing.
Congrats Melanie, you worked so hard. I will say, I've been following Melanie on social media for a while, and this just wasn't her variation. She absolutely deserved to get in the final selection. I just can see what happened, the variation, costume, nerves maybe. I look forward to seeing her as a principal in a famous ballet company some day soon!
I know I'm going to be crucified for this, but the more I watch dancers from Mater's Ballet Academy, the more I'm struck that many of the students there are technically outstanding, but don't convey the emotion an artistry I would like to see from them. It's fun to watch them do "tricks" (lots of pirouettes, fouettes, jumps for the boys, etc) but I don't love just watching them dance, and their artistry doesn't take my breath away.
There's a video of Melanie doing Esmeralda in her home studio, which is just mesmerising. This is a watered down version of that. I wonder if she was made to change? I believe she most certainly would have placed with the version she practiced back home. The adaptations made it her own and really highlighted her strengths while maintaining the integrity of the piece.
As suspected, I came from Eva Nys channel, and oh my lord. Melanie's stage presence is almost as insanely mesmerizing as her turns. She owned this routine, and I'm so inspired by her. Much love from the US
She did very well (apart from a few very slight moments wenn she was not completely in sync with the music). However, the part is supposed to be a gipsy girl, and she did not represent that rather fierce and sassy character very well. Way too soft and nice. Virtuous technique though.
If you watch top ballerinas perform the same piece, you'll notice she's a mid-ranger. Not to say expressiveness, only technically, she's not on point all the time. I like her too, but maybe she can do better on this.
A technically difficult piece for a competition because a lot can go wrong. A true pleasure to see a dancer take this on in such a competitive environment. Well done!!!
I LOVE and aboslutely ADORE MELANIE! I could watch her for hours she is such an icon! She should be so proud of herself becuase she is so amazing to watch when she dances!
This dancer is special!!! I loved this and cannot understand some of the comments below saying it was a poor choice for her. If she has other variations better than this one, I sure would like to see them.
Absolutely magical 🤩 Melanie has such grace and poise and her Twirly Twirly's are amazing, thank you for a beautiful performance and making it available for anyone and everyone to see. ❣️
Beautiful! Melanie has such vitality and command of technical qualities, musicality, and creative vivacity! I look forward to watching her performances and what opportunities arise as she moves through her dance career.
One of the things I like about this ballerina is that she avoids gimmicks to prove how technically prepared she is (and she is, of course). She avoids boasting her skills to offer a clean, crisp performance and I like this so much more.
As a nonballet dancer but an Indian classical dancer, Melanie has truly entranced me with all her performances. Effortless yet precise, graceful yet sharp, feels fluid yet hits every beat. My knowledge of ballet might be little but her ways transcend any technical knowledge needed!
I think part of the reason she didn't advance to finals is that there were a little too much "trickery" or "show" in the variation... lots of choreography changes etc. It always seems like the Prix judges value pure classical dance, musicality, grace etc. over being able to do six pirouettes or a very deep penche etc.
Lacking zip and attack here - nothing wrong with the original choreography and changing it just to get in more tricks than artistry does her no favours, unfortunately.
THis piece wasn't the best to showcase Melanie's talents, and I felt like she could have felt more comfortable in a role that better suits her etherial, light dancing style. But I have never seen anyone do this piece and tap the tambourine up so high, that was amazing.
Bailas muy hermoso Melanie, veo los videos de su escuela de ballet, son muy disciplinados y excelentes bailarines. ¡Felicidades campeona! Saludos cordiales.
Such a stunning performer, I feel this doesn’t showcase her full potential though. I haven definitely sat spellbound by clips of her in studio that far outshines this
Outstanding job Melanie! You owned that stage and your pirouettes were magnificent. I hope you heard that the commentators described your performance as virtuosic!
As a lifter there were moments in the routine where I noticed the muscularity of your glutes and thighs, which were impressive. Wouldn't know what to say about the dancing beyond it being graceful and that you clearly exercise a great deal of control over yourself.
Quelle assurance. Envoûtante Melanie McIntire ! Un tout grand bravo pour votre première place : )) Immense joie de savoir que vous avez remporté ce premier prix au concours exigeant des jeunes espoirs, en danse, à Lausanne : )) Bel exploit.
Melanie is an exceptionally fine dancer. Why this variation, though? It has been done and done and done and done ... I wish she had showcased something fresher, something more energetic, and something with a more vivacious character. She is certainly capable, but this performance with the overdone variation was a little uninteresting and didn't show off her great talent.
Melanie is an impeccably beautiful dancer. It is unbelievable that she did not progress to the finals. I would travel to see this young woman dance. Her precision, her stage presence, her technique coupled with her humility and sweet disposition has made me a fan. Keep going, Melanie. You are a star.
YAAASSS Melanie!!!! I’ve been watching you practice this variation via the shorts that Eva films. You are dazzling and easily one of my fave ballerinas ❤
