Demi-pointe turns were performed in the original choreography. I suppose this was due to the pointe shoes not being as strong as they were today. Most of the dancers have settled into the practice and none of them looked awkward when I saw the production last year.

i agree 100%

@@kerrytakashi12 it has nothing to do with pointe shoes strength. Chaines en demi pointe was even done till the 60s. It's a style point.

@@mrlopez-pz7pu At the time the ballet was choreographed, the pointe shoes were held together with little more than glue and cotton. If they had access to the shoes that dancers have now, the choreography would be quite different. At that point in time, pointe work was more of a special effect to denote the supernatural. They didn't use it anymore than they needed. AFTER shoes became advanced THAN it became a style point.

Agreed.

the shoes were strong enough by then they just didn't do them en pointe. this variation requires a level of precision that misty couldn't give.

Yuch. Me no likey.

Legs at 45 degrees or 90 degrees is one thing - but the chenee turns on demi pointe look sloppy. If you want authentic to the original go all the way and have most of the ballet on half point and nobody over their shoe’s box or anything resembling the athleticism of today’s dancers.

@@l.alexandra5871 By the time Petipa choreographed Sleeping Beauty, "most of the choreography" _wasn't_ on demi-pointe. Sometimes chainés were done on demi and sometimes on full pointe, depending on the dancer's preference and even context/characterization (in the reconstruction Nikiya does chainés on demi-pointe as a human and on pointe as a Shade so as to emphasize, perhaps, her transformation into an otherwordly spirit, which I actually find very clever!) but most other steps, like pirouettes, fouettés and all sorts of hops, were done on pointe just as they are now. In fact, when ballerinas chose to dance mostly on demi-pointe, they were reproached by the critics.

Chloe Davis yes! So expressive. Just lovely.

Isabel Gelatti today the word “hate” is not understood. Do yourself a favor and maybe google it. I would recommend a dictionary made with paper though. Not one bit of “hate” in the comment. Not one. in ballet you have to bring it. Period. Or don’t you know anything about it?

@@kathymyers7279 No need to be rude and attack me. I simply used the word "hate" just because calling someone lazy, without actually knowing them personally and understanding their work ethic, is unfairly critical of her personality as a worker, rather than her dancing technique. Again, I believe anyone has the right to critique dancing styles if you disagree with them. I read a lot of dance review/criticism, and usually such articles focus on technique and style of movement, without making any broad claims about someone's character. I only bring this up because I believe having kinder discussions about dance will bring about greater advancements in the art form. But obviously, you don't have to agree with me, that's just my opinion!

@M B but in the original comment they were specifically talking about how it was weird to have a whole channel dedicated to misty Copeland. I think in that instance it is "hate" and not just criticism. Yes we should be allowed to judge dancers and critique them but having a whole damn channel is just excessive

@M B look I gotta be honest I don't like her dancing that much and I don't think she should be a principle but Jesus a whole channel dedicated to expressing that opinion?! It's slightly ridiculous

@M B you do make some points but I see in this debate we won't agree on everything. I guess agree to disagree haha. I'm glad I could hear your opinion though.

after poor cassie t. slid on the floor right in the beginning, too.

You're not wrong.

Unfortunately, this is the thinking of mostly Russian trained dancers who are really racist. Ask Precious Adams how she was treated by the Russians at Vaganova! They wouldn't even give her a role to dance! Ballet is loosing its main audience of the White middle and upper class. Do you see Musk or Trump supporting the arts? NO! Therefore, the people available and wanting to pay for tickets in the US are the new rich who happen to be the Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfreys and Meghan Markles of the world. Get used to it just like people got used to seeing Black gymnasts who have brought home the majority of medals over the last three Olympic cycles for the US! Truth hurts! Either keep ballet white and find your White rich philanthropist or accept the audiences have changed over the past four decades. It's survival of the fittest! Ballet can't afford to be choosey and discriminatory!

jenylogan1 maybe she’s been injured and doesn’t want to let anyone know. She works very hard getting special coaching . She had a lot of gaps in her training and it’s held her back. I always thought it was the medias pc culture that pressured her into this forefront position and it only hurt her.

I've had similar thoughts. She's just not that great in classical pieces. I don't know if it's body structure or there's just a bit of a heaviness to it all. But I've seen her in modern pieces and ones that are very fast and very athletic she's excellent in.

@@latsnojokelee6434 She's not a classical ballet dancer, she has never had the technique for the big ballerina roles. She's a diversity hire, the soft bigotry of low expectation made flesh. She even has problems with a minute long classical variation.

This is ratmansky production, its petipa's original choregrpaphy based on sergeyev notation.

Agreed. I just saw one of those girls' feet, and I thought "School Performance". I am not being rude, the subject was comparing Misty's legs and feet to these others.

It's Ratmanksy's setting of the original choreography, which requires all the more nuance and artistry. In my opinion, not ABT's strong suit and certainly not Misty's. I would love to see this version of the ballet performed by the English National Ballet or Dutch National Ballet.

No, it is the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. It's a small city performing arts center. Misty was invited there to appear in their gala opening!

I agree with the costume being awful. I thought I was the only one...

Just in the US? Poor Agrippina would be rolling in her grave in she knew what is being taught in her name in St. Petersburg now.

"Lazy" is a really bad choice of words, or course, she is not lazy. At the same time, a principal dancer should be able to do the choreography, and Misty often has classical ballet choreography simplified for her. She is a principal dancer, so the role being difficult should not be an excuse. There are roles in which she excels, she should say no to roles where she cannot do the steps. Dislike is because there are better dancers at ABT who don't get same opportunities and better soloists who don't get promoted.

dana crigler yes it is very hard indeed

I agree the costumes are ridiculous.

She slips on the hops en pointe but the rest is quite good.

wasn’t this during her tibia fracture or just after?

It's quite lovely as performed by some of the other dancers in the video! But very difficult to execute it with delicacy and precision. Misty doesn't even appear to try.

She's not supposed to be a bird, he is. Florine is a princess trapped in a tower that's being taught how to fly by the Bluebird so she can escape.

LOL. i think it moves so pretty though!

The original blue bird costumes were made from natural fiber, silk, velvet. Those reflect light differently when compared to cheap polyester fabrics.

😂😂

The Russians slow down Tchaikovsky too much. They are just as unwatchable. When I pay for ballet I expect the music to be respected not slowed down to a point where it isn't music anymore. THAT is why I avoid most Russian performances now. The Bolshoi 2017 performance I found on KZfaq was horrific.

My favorite is Yuhui Choe’s. It’s neither too fast nor too slow, just a happy medium. And she’s one of the most adorable bluebirds, too.

this is the original and classical choregraphy michel budot. the russian one is modern ballet.

Agreed. Don't love Russian technique, but school performance, for sure.

no ❤ bolshoi does blackface 🤠🤦🏽‍♀️👑🤫🧚‍♀️💞

Lazy is for misty copemand dancing, not for the choregraphy

@ItzNot Anna i was just explaining the title of the video. personnaly, i don't think misty is lazy, but she's clearly not as good as other ballerinas from ABT. i don't agree with so called ballet expert on youtube who are always criticizing.

@ItzNot Anna unfortunately, misty herself harassed bolshoi academy students on instagram

If she did so means that she is an idiot that can't tell the difference between race ridiculing and just the thespian tradition.Would she also protest three-century long tradition of "blackface" make up for white actors in Othello role? It's ridiculous that ballerina,who is supposed to be more o less educated person doesn't know anything about Russian ballet tradition.It's impossible in Russia to cast african race dancer for the "black" role,because they don't live there!

@Anna Pak No. She really isn't. She's a good contemporary dancer and an awful classical ballet dancer. She is NOT a ballerina, her promotion is a triumph for identity politics and the soft bigotry of low expectation.

Her dancing is depressing.

Looks better than plenty of the others, stop it

@@korykent5645 No it doesn't. Just because she's black doesn't mean she's immune from criticism. There are far far better black ballerinas than her, and it's a shame they aren't as lauded as her.

@@rdred8693 it is a shame but Misty doesn't have to be broken down to bring them up

@@korykent5645 Not trying to break her down at all. One reason I think she was promoted was because she is light skinned. www.michaeladeprince.com/about-1 Michaela DePrince is a much finer dancer, but also darker. And her story is very inspiring. I adore her, wish she was in the States. It really stinks all around.

Almost fell down too.

Time stamp?

What is this one of the white ballerinas? Does she has a name or is just a batle between black and white?

The white chick isn't a principle dancer🙄

She isn't the principle dancer tho. If she screws up it's more understandable. Others deserve to be principle, not this chick that, with the best intentions, doesn't have the level or technique, neither the feeling.

She's a terrible dancer, is that saying it better?

@@alicemartin3819 Try again.

She is lazy. FULL STOP. She was carried along by TWO ABT Board Members who pushed her over other dancers (including black dancers) in the company. She says outright she didn't attend company class when she joined the company in HER OWN BOOK! In recent stories before the shut downs, she STILL did not attend company class. That is lazy.

@@kerrytakashi12 Thank you for your view on the matter, I especially appreciated that you used facts in your argument. In my opinion, even if she did receive special treatment and skipped class I don’t think that means she is outright lazy. Yes, perhaps she is not as dedicated as others may be, but you still have to have a high level of dedication and commitment to perform the variations she has.

@@kerrytakashi12 Very harsh! Here's another fact for you! Gelsey Kirkland ADMITTED in her two books that she slept with several principal dances, directors and choreographers. Yet, you're not questioning Kirkland's talent nor her poor morals and ethics along with her drug addiction? Likewise, if you've paid attention to what's happening at the Bolshoi, Moscow and Marinsky theaters, then you know that everyone of those theaters are plagued with scandals from sexual harassment (that's putting it nicely) to bribery. Yet NONE of these dancers and artist are called "lazy"! Indeed this video is one of the FEW to ever call a dancer lazy in such a public condemnation of Misty's talent! You're a horrible person and need to come off your high horse! You're not the keeper of the ivory tower of ballet nor can you controll who is hired by a company and how they dance!

What upsets me is that Misty is working day in and day out on her technique with Ballet Conrad. Guess what? She's still criticized! She's never been lazy! However, people are never going to allow her to live the rod in her leg down nor her poor training as a child and teen.

@Laura Streeter Laura, I am going to straight out say this to you: you're part of the problem! There is not a video about Misty on KZfaq where, you haven't made a long post about how terrible Misty is. You literally drill this lecture on every video that Misty has, THEN are upset that most of the videos are taken down of Misty. Now, she's been working with Ballet Conrad and you still have something snarky to say! People on KZfaq get that you along with others don't like Misty's technique, don't like the fact she was promoted over "more capable dancers," don't think she should have started point after year and most importantly don't think she will ever improve because you can't teach an "old ballerina new tricks." you're not being racist, just stating the obvious, so the WORLD will know that Misty is a dud of a dancer, according to you and others and that there are other "especially younger" ballerinas who are better trained than Misty! Never mind that Misty, as a senior ballerina has little competition of people of color her age! We get it and we hear you because you won't stop your yapping Indeed, I spend just as much time defending Misty as you and others spend tearing her down. As a person of color, I can attest that I was treated like Misty's was because my white teachers never thought I was worth investing in as well. My foster parents took me out of ballet because they just couldn't see paying all that money for crap teaching. This also happened in gymnasts because "black bodies are NOT suited for gymnasts and because black girls will only get fat and have babies when they turn 16!" These are some of the more tame comments of ingrained racism across the world. The rest, you can't say in polite company! Meanwhile, ballet companies refuse to integrate based on standards set up in the Soviet Union, where talent was drilled into the dancers and thousands of dancers left the program with life long injuries with little compensation. Yes, you have a point which you made. Unfortunately, you going about saying how terrible Misty is has literally turned into a hate campaign fuelled by a lot of racist remarks. Your original intent has backfired, making you look like a hate, snide, jealous person, which I am sure you're not as you say you're "entitled to your opinion!" Where you have gone wrong is forgetting to say there are a LOT of Mistys on KZfaq, who have poor technique including Russians! While you're criticizing Misty for starting point after one year, there are dozen of children and teens ages 6-13 on KZfaq who are seriously ruining their health because they are in point shoes TOO SOON doing 32 fortes, which the public literally demand of dancers! However, truth be told these 32 fortes were NEVER in the original choreography rather were added decades later as a hat trick! Now, Misty is out on a back injury, which you say she got from poor technique; however, Misty never had a press release or discussed her issues nor did Conrad! In fact, Conrad has been nothing but a gentleman throughout his professional relationship with Misty and truth be told so has Misty because unlike you she's kept her mouth shut and not belittled Conrad or her past teachers! Conrad even talked about retaining a level of professionalism in ballet so the important work that needs to be done gets done! If you have watched any of the MANY videos Conrad has made about technique, he doesn't fault Misty or any of the other dancers, but the poor training and education of ballet teachers in the US, but also in the world have received! In short Misty is a part of a failed system of dance! So this is the part where you learn to stand down because Misty is at least trying! I don't see you in any of Misty's videos congratulating her for recognizing her deficiencies and getting help for it nor are you giving her credit for helping to ensure her company's financial future by selling tickets! If Misty can be mature enough and seek help, then you need to be mature enough and back off your campaign of criticism! Your behavior is immature and truth be told plain hateful! It's time to stop and recognize you're doing Misty a disservice. Anyone who criticizes a dancer for being poorly trained, then has something snarky to say when the dancer gets help is no longer being fair nor open minded! Therefore, Laura you need to ask yourself what all this criticism of Misty has gotten you! This in light of the fact that Misty has been gracipus enough to show her training and not charge a dime for it! From my personal perspective, you along with others haven't made friends nor improved the situation for Misty's training. Your venomous comments have just been used as part of a hate campaign that hasn't united the ballet community for good rather divided ballet lovers and kept people at each others throats. So I am calling your bluff! You need to answer my last question because the public needs to understand your motive is other than tearing down a dancer. In short, you need to be responsible for the "informative" campaign that you've kept up to hurt Misty's career, which I must say has been put on hold because of Corona! I'm all ears and want to understand the point you've fought hard to inform the public of.

@Laura Streeter This isn't about blocking you because I dislike your comments. It's about your stalking behavior that has gotten out of control! Do you realize you've said nothing new about Misty in your reply to me? That you just repeat the same old reasons for why you dislike the dancer. YOU need to ask yourself why it is important for you to go on MANY of Misty's videos to post reasons why she is unfit for the position she has and why YOU need to shout that to the world! In other words, you are the problem and not Misty. I told you once, Misty's promotion is a done deal. By stalking her on KZfaq, you're not going to undo that promotion. Instead you make yourself look mean, racist (regardless if you are or not), spiteful and hateful. You've turned into a bully and I am sure that is not the image you want to project since you have reminded posters of your expertise as a ballet dancer/teacher/educator. So in closing, you be you boo, but remember there are going to people like me who put you into your place by saying what you're doing is simply wrong. Had you picked out another dancer to troll, I'd get it, but you haven't. So let this post be a reminder to you that there are people who don't accept your gruff, trolling and hate because we see your posts not as criticism, but as a smear campaign based on personal motives. Many ballerinas have gotten things "handed to them" while others slept their way to the top! I don't see you criticizing these known cases which are a too numerous to detail on this page.

@@fredrika27 You should publish that novel.

@@christar9527 I already did!🤣🤣

Considering you are Trenery. Do you constantly stumble on those hops in the Bluebird variation? Honestly, do you think you would be cast in that part if you could not dance it? If you can't dance it, do you think you should still be cast? Hard work is on your own time. That is just a given. No one gets an award for being a try hard. When an audience pays to see extremely good talent in an art form, they expect to receive it. That is, or should be, included with the price of the ticket. Instead, with the example here, ABT is expecting us to accept poor dancing for the sake of social engineering. That is wrong.

Honestly, I'm not a ballet dancer (but I wish I stuck with it growing up) and I can see the blood, sweat and tears put into it. You guys literally form your lives around what is both your work and hobby, and to see the way that people treat Misty Copeland breaks my heart and disgusts me. I smell jealousy and racism here. It's disgusting.

@@kerrytakashi12 Exactly Kerry. I’m appalled at the level of dancing I see with Misty.

@@theminisimmer You obviously haven’t studied ballet. Misty just isn’t that good. It has absolutely nothing to do with her skin color. Nothing.

or it could be her incredibly high arches. it's way harder to do hops on pointe with high arches because they have to sustain such a harder position with those arches.

Oh please. Adults have differences in opinions. This is not kindergarten.

Yep...but she's still a way better dancer than I'll ever be 😂

Natalia Makarova started ballet at age 13. She never had any problems

This is the intended choreography as it's the original by Petipa. What is not part of the choreography is falling off pointe during the hops.

Agreed. They all look bad doing it.

Watch one of Misty's videos on KZfaq of a very modern piece very athletic and very fast. There's one where she's performing with two male dancers. It's very very good. And then come back and watch her do a classical piece that's much slower and you'll see a huge difference in what people are referencing .

Evgenia Obraztsova is of her weight and body size. The difference between them is simply, huge.

Kory you are blindly fangirling Misty in almost every video of her I watched! 🤦🏻‍♀️

She clearly bounces too much and I saw her ankle actually buckle. Shocking!!

@@geraldinemaria4067 She’s black.

​@Laura Streeter I think the jerkiness in her upper body is due to her hyper-extension. The legs are giving her problems and I have no doubt she is in pain most times. The tension has to come out of the body somehow and it mainly comes out in her shoulders, neck, and jaw. The reason for this delay in movement (especially the head) is because she is nervous about her positioning, when she gets through it, she relaxes and then releases the tension being held throughout her upper body.

Kerry Takashi Misty dances better than you, though!

@@anonymousgirl799 How ridiculous is your statement? Of course I go to watch dance events, singing events, sports events BECAUSE these people can do what I don't. And when I pay a lot of money to see these events I expect more than the clod called Copeland can do. Audience members pay for the EXCEPTIONAL NOT SOB STORIES.

Anonymous Girl That is a stupid and typical remark. This artist has talent, but not in this repertoire. ABT do themselves no favours presenting her in these roles.

@@anonymousgirl799 It is irrelevant, why should the public be expected to do what a prima is supposed to do. Copeland stains the prima title with her performances. A prima is expected to be able to hop on her toes, a prima is expected to create art.

she worked hard to get the technique level that she is currently at and I think she danced beautifully

@Laura Streeter I agree, she could fit in at trockadero. Ive seen male dancers more graceful than her

Maybe it just looks like "bouncing" because she doesn't weigh 60 lbs soaking wet

@Laura Streeter AHT aht I'm not talking to you this is between me and a 3 year old comment, BYYYEEEE

It’s appalling to watch. I don’t think she’s capable of not bouncing and it’s too late to improve her technique at this point isn’t it?

Politics and marketing. Politically correct America's desire to correct lack of representation to any end. We should have waited for, or encouraged, the right black ballerina.

She has the most exquisite legs and feet of any other member of the company? Maybe that's it.

@@jerrydouglas4583 she has man-calves and huge feet. She is a beautiful person, but not a prima.

@Laura Streeter I want to see all black ballerinas make it but that's no reason to bring Misty down

@@jerrydouglas4583 sometimes I think that's a strong reason people hate her so much. Misty has hella beautiful curved feet for someone that started training so late

I'm pretty sure all the other ballerinas did the chenees on Demi pointe, I think its more of a choreography thing as Ratmansky was trying to keep it to the original choreography from the late 1800s, though I do agree it is ugly. I prefer the chaines en pointe.

@Laura Streeter yeah I'm not a fan of his choreography style in general either

@@lillian9445 I too prefer chaînés en pointe, they look much more elegant. However, Copeland screws up even chaînés on demi-pointe. Simply abhorrent.

why bring race into it? the audience doesn’t care about a person’s race, so why should it matter?

That's kind of racist of you to think African Americans need special treatment and can't handle valid criticism when it comes to something completely unrelated to their race

@@heyryanisonx3141Caucasoids get special treatment all the time under white supremacy.

Thank you.

@@jerrydouglas4583 Anytime

She has a huge backside too. It’s horrible to view.

Funny. People are free to view and comment anywhere they want on YT.