The Evolution of Odile Over the Years (Swan Lake)

Hi Danceliners, in this new format we will show you the Evolution of the Variations over the years. In this video, Odile Variation from Swan Lake over time (from 1967 to 2005). The beautiful performers are:

1 - Alicia Alonso (1967)
2 - Gillian Murphy (2005)

Do you like this new format? Let us know in the comment section below.
Enjoy!
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[markbeck]

It is interesting how Odile sort of went from cold perfection to a more seductive, evil look. I guess it is dancers responding to what the audience is looking for. This character certainly gets a ton of mileage out of not really all that much time on stage

[EvilSnips]

The orchestra is so different in the older versions I have to wonder what it was originally intended to sound like by Tchaikovsky and if we've come closer now or only drifted further away from his original vision. I would give so much to see what the original Swan Lake looked and sounded like!

[claireschweizer]

Evteyeva looks the most "princessy" to me out of all of them. 😍🥰 She just looks like she's having a lot of fun!

[Adrienne_]

I absolutely loved the way Gillian Murphy (2005) embodied Odile. Every move she made and her gaze, she made it all seem completely effortless. Such elegance, she moved with such grace, she wasn't stiff once, pretty much every move of hers was circular and flowy, so fluid, they remind me of the way birds move

[ariannepine]

I am stunned by Osipova's athleticism and command of this highly technical variation, but Murphy really embodies the dark temptress for me. She's like black silk - soft and seductive and yet evil and cruel. I adore her renverses here, her dropped back head (so difficult!!) and beckoning gaze are alluring and chilling at the same time.

[siregne]

why is no one saying anything about Evteyeva, she literally moves like a bird... so graceful, refined and free

[latsnojokelee]

Its amazing to watch the difference in the body types of dancers back in the 50s and 60s. Before Balanchine, women could be athletic and still have enough weight on them to keep their curves — previous generations of dancers were able to keep their careers going all the way into their 40s. Now, because of hyper extension and malnutrition, dancers are already injured with back problems by their late 20s.

[danb]

I love Osipova’s rendition, and I adore her tutu (those shoulder straps make her arms look absolutely incredible) but Murphy just seems to float across the stage. She’s like oil on water, the technicality all the more impressive for how effortlessly fluid it looks.

[gmnclaycomb]

Osipova was technically superb but Murphy’s interpretation was absolutely gripping....she looked magical. It is difficult to compare ‘progression’ when the dancers are already diverse in their abilities. Certainly the earlier version footwork and balance looked less accurate

[LadyOcon]

I am so happy to see Alicia Alonso here!!! she was an outstanding dancer for her generation.

[maishi]

2005 was my favorite. Her movements were so delicate and joyfilled. She becomes the character.

[elizabethclaiborne]

I’m no dancer, but after forty years of training and competing in womens sport, I’m seeing shifts over time here that mirror development across the entire spectrum of womens sport - and ballerinas are pro athletes, they’ll tell you that. Better injury treatment, nutrition, addressing the demands that women starve themselves, and better sport science in general has gotten into ballet schools like it has everywhere else and given better transitions, better power, greater ability for directors to exploit. Dance does not exist in a silo, a good company will use better science to get better dancers.
As a fencer I saw the same things from 1977 to 2010, you can run tape from 1968 of any sport vs now and see this. You have better dance athletes giving better performances because they can.

[cynthiafletcher]

All of the dancers are to be admired for their dedication to ballet and their techniques. Thanks for the evolution. ❤❤❤

[stephaniecarrow]

I love the element in Alonso's version of going across the floor en pointe on one foot ~ I don't know what this step is called, but it was delightful and clearly required strength, technique and control while appearing light and airy. I'm sorry it was omitted from all the other versions. The progression over time seems to go from a certain delicacy to a more assertive athleticism. A reflection of changes in the broader culture.

[misspomerol]

I do have to say I’m still pretty impressed how Alonzo banged out the quads like it was nothing. I’m sure that’s why she was so famous back in the day. I can’t imagine that there were any other women that could do 3, 4 or five pirouettes on pointe consistently like her during the same time period. She was definitely ahead of her time.

[arualblues_zero]

Not necessarily a reflection of the dancers' skills, but the choreography over time seems to have shifted more and more from a delicate story-telling number to an athletic spinning contest (especially 2005). That said, the ballerinas do perform these flawlessly and with grace, embodying the character very well.

[ОльгаКовалик-эз]

Каждая балерина - мастер и хороша по-своему. Сравнивать сценическую и студийную запись не совсем корректно. Кроме того, они танцуют разные редакции этой вариации. С удовольствием посмотрела все четыре исполнения.

[KairiPluck]

The second is my favourite. She is perfectly coordinated with the music..

[cybergyaru]

Oh how I love Natalia Osipova! I saw her for the first time at their graduation concert. She is as amazing! So skilled and charismatic 😍

[melia]

In the first dance the choreography has pauses where I can see the shape of a bird in the pose. The modern choreography is constant spins and the arms are always acting as wings, so I can’t see the long neck poses.