The prime of a dancer 2/4 part 1 - Baryshnikov - Giselle Act 2 excerpts 1975-1986

As with the previous montage there is a rather large gap (9 years) at some point in the sequence.

1975 #1 Baryshnikov/Natalia Makarova    • Giselle 1975/1976 - Act 2 variations - Mak...  
1975 #2 Baryshnikov/Noella Pontois    • Видео  
1977 Baryshnikov/Natalia Makarova    • "Giselle" ABT 1977 Part 9 (Act II Grand Pa...  
1986 Baryshnikov/Alessandra Ferri (D 1987)

********************************************************

How do you define the ABSOLUTE prime of a CLASSICAL ballet dancer? I'm puzzled by statements like 'ballet dancer X [in his/her late 30s] enters now his/her absolute prime'. That's not to say I don't find some dancers in their late 30s riveting, but entering 'absolute prime' close to retirement...? For me the absolute prime is a time in the life of a dancer when the body is STILL very reliable, and the artistry is ALREADY remarkable. Most dancers enter this enviable period in their mid or late 20s (if they enter it at all, but this is beside the point). How long does it last? It depends, but it certainly doesn't last indefinitely and it doesn't get better with age and every new injury.

I find the topic very interesting particularly in the context of bravura variations. Less imaginative dancers usually try to amp up the difficulty level through a quatitative approach - more jumping, or forcing the extension, or fitting in extra revolution(s) in turns & pirouettes. Often (but not always) at the expense of musicality or linking steps. (How many dancers would polish their phrasing in their absolute prime? Or emphasize their port de bras or épaulement? Or do an entrechat-huit instead of a six?)

And so I hit upon the idea of making compilation(s) of the same variation, performed by the same dancer, throughout their performing lifetime, to see how their understanding developed. And to test my definition of 'absolute prime' ;)