Evolution of Sugarplum over the Years (Mariinsky)

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[DanceLineBallet]

Hello Danceliners! Here's the Evolution of Sugarplum fairy (Mariinsky version). Since there are many others that are very interesting to watch we're gonna publish separate videos for them 🩰 Merry Christmas 🎄⛄

[Claraimal]

With the first dancer everything makes absolute sense. I always thought this dance was messy; everytime I watched it, it felt like it was off beat. But not with that first ballerina. It just made sense.

[sherrybirchall]

The first dancer is able to be so expressive with the aid of the slower tempo. I can't imagine why it's been speeded up over the years, to the obvious detriment of what the dancer can do within that tempo constraint.

[socloseher]

One thing about the sugar plum fairy that has always befuddled me was musicality. There are so many fun moments in the music and I couldn’t always clearly understand the connection between the choreo and it — until now. Efremova danced it the way I’ve always wanted to see it and really married the choreo and the music. And her bourrées… I just LOVE how she used them actually move across the stage and take up space!!!

[lilly_]

As a dancer I really hate how ballet and other styles of dance have become an extension/trick show. The first dance radiates with technique, grace and story telling techniques. Today, if you can’t do 10 perfect pirouettes and lift your leg past your head you simply aren’t good enough. Ballet is more than an acrobatic experience

[blktauna]

Efremova really gave the impression of lightness and fairlyland. Wonderful.

[jaymoever]

Not a ballet dancer here but a physiotherapist. Efremova had more muscle mass in her lower extremities which allowed both the fluid movements & the power to “hold” her joints in various positions for longer lengths of time without tiring which enabled her to match the music better. The evolution is of the preferred, slimmer body “type” over one with more weight due to muscle mass.

[Lyandra]

I’m not a dancer, but I love seeing The Nutcracker every Christmas. It wasn’t until watching this video of the first dancer that I remembered that the Sugar Plum Fairy was supposed to be a toy. It was a much more interesting and magical performance from the first dancer with her precise, stiff, movements than the last one who was too smooth.

[michellaneous]

googled the first ballerina to find more performances from her, but i also found out she recently passed in 2020...it appears she was also highly respected by many

[frumpusnumpus]

First dancer's movements were so very controlled, and precise and it seems she could hold poses longer because she wasn't frail thin.

[rlatimer]

Interestingly Efremova, the first dancer had the best technique, more controlled, more graceful and more in time with the music. This is not an evolution but rather a comparison of different dancers.

[lupHitsugaya]

Not a dancer and didn't know much about ballet at all, but the first one, Efremova, left the biggest impression for me. I reallly love how she's really in tune with the music, and I dunno whether this was intentional or in choreo or not, but holy, in some parts, even her tutu fluttered in sync with the music, it's sooo pleasing 💕💕

[buckets]

All three dancers performed beautifully but the first dance by Efremova was absolutely magical. Her fluid movements beautifully matched the music and it felt vibrant even on black and white film. I don't want to put down the following two dancers because they obviously worked hard and danced better than I ever could even in my wildest dreams. However, as time goes on they seemed progressively more mechanical and too perfect in their movements. It was like watching marionette puppets perform rather than a living doll like the sugar plum fairy is supposed to be. Both were undoubtedly well done on a technical aspect but they felt empty...

[andreanne]

I know nothing about ballet. But to me, the first performance was breathtaking. Slow pace, not rushed like the others. You can feel the emotion and passion she puts into her performance. Her pace is also more in tune with the music.

[fatine]

The first dancer’s video reminds me of stop motion animation and truly feels like you’re watching a toy dancing across the stage. What impressive muscle control she had to express that!

[justlola]

All three dances are beautiful, but the bounce that the first one's skirt has really adds to the choreography imo, it's more delicate and flower like

Not a dancer but musician, is incredible how the first dancer was following the music, her feet moves and body follows the music compass, her body express the music language, delicate notes delicate steps, strong notes more pirouettes and jumps. The first one is much better.

[oreganomama]

The first dancer maintained a straight line with her spine and only moved her head and arms…perfection!! Definitely think character and interpretation was lacking in the others!

[theempress]

Efremova is not dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy. She looked like she IS the Sugar Plum Fairy ❤️. She seems utterly consumed in her art...not playing a part but she has internalized it so well and has such amazing technique to express this artistry. The way she played the Sugar Plum Fairy is more ethereal and magical because she doesn't look like shes trying to please people or perform. She looks like she just IS inherently magical and letting us see the magic and being herself. The other two looked like performers who were too conscious.

[eola]

Efremova, the first one, is pure perfection. As in other comments, Sugarplum musicality is dificult and with many dancers it does not make sense and the whole thing ends up feeling akward to watch, kind of clumsy. Efremova perfect technique and musicality makes it a delight, if you don´t know ballet, itwill seem as if she is not doing much, but if you know ballet you know what she is doing is absolutely astonishing. In both cases you will feel mesmerised by this "little" dance.