I met and briefly interviewed the phenomenal 24-year-old Bolshoi and ABT ballerina Natalia Osipova yesterday, in rehearsal for an upcoming performance in Orange County next January. She struck me as a magnificently moody Russian.
Read my L.A. Times article here.
This Russian television broadcast shows Osipova’s unearthly technique, particularly her jumps, and there is something so exquisite about her arms … young and energized, yet refined.
Osipova’s Albrecht, the South Dakota-born David Hallberg, performs port de bras while doing (foot) batterie at the beginning of this clip. I never saw that done before, and I love it.
Like this? Me too! Read more here:
- David Hallberg, King of the Dance
- Dear David Hallberg’s ankle: Get Well Soon.
eisenstadt,
gered mankowitz, photog, 1967
“the red danube” (1949)
Everything about her is unearthly. Entirely appropriate for Giselle, of course. She actually brought tears to my eyes. His grace is superlative, and I admit the port de bras is unique. Still, my heart belongs to Barishnikov in this role. He was my ‘first.’