Ballet first appeared in Italy during the Italian Renaissance, when art was flourishing.
After that it spread to Russia and France and remained extremely popular in Russia. Did you know that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” is the most famous ballet dance? And most recognizable, for sure.
We bring you a part of that performance by Nina Kaptsova.
You’ve probably seen the piece in some form during your life, due to its immense popularity.
“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is a dance for a ballerina.
It is the third movement in the “Nutcracker” and is always danced by the principal female dancer. The story behind the dance is quite an exceptional example of the way music was made in the past. Choreographer Marius Petipa wanted the music to sound like “drops of water shooting from a fountain.” Tchaikovsky fund an ideal instrument for that—celesta.
It looks like a piano, sounds like bells, and it’s what you’re hearing all along.
The whole video is an amazing portrayal of the beauty of traditional classical ballet. Everything is there: the scenery, beautiful costumes, talented principal dancer. The stage is well-lit, interesting, and full of details.
On the other hand, everything is reduced to its minimal form, so that it doesn’t take away from the most important part: the dance.
It was filmed in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia in 2010.
Nina Kaptsova is a Russian prima ballerina, and she has dozens of roles under her belt.
The talented ballerina was trained at the Moscow Choreographic Academy (today the Academy), and later became a member of the Bolshoi Ballet.
Her first appearance was in the role of cupid in “Don Quixote” in 1997. After that performance, the roles kept piling on, and Kaptsova has appeared in more than 40 shows. She received several international awards and is An Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
For many years, Nina was a regular guest artist with the Tatar Opera and Ballet Theatre performing within the framework of the Nureyev Ballet Festival in Kazan.
When looking closer at this particular performance, you have to admit that Nina didn’t dance the Sugar Plum Fairy—she became the Sugar Plum Fairy.
She was all about graceful movements and perfect timing.
The musical background is full of high notes.
The music hits and you can hear those sounds similar to water dropping. It’s hard to perform a routine that can follow those sounds perfectly with impeccable timing, but Nina did it. Her leg and hand movements are perfectly synced with music, and she does it all with a smile on her face. We wonder how much practicing does it take to become as good as Nina. She has a lifelong romance with ballet!
The white, shiny costume and winter scenery make her look like a true fairy floating in the air.
You know you’re a professional when what you do looks super easy to others, but it’s not at all. That’s the perfect description of Nina’s ballet dance. It seems effortless when she does it, it would be nearly impossible when someone out of practice tried to repeat those moves.
When you see a ballet dancer doing multiple triple pirouettes like it’s no big deal, you know you’re watching an immensely talented individual who’s become one with her profession.
If you like her as Sugar Plum Fairy, you should see her in the role of Esmeralda—it’s probably one of her most breathtaking performances.
As far as ballet goes, we love to see art uniting people. The love for dance is unending!
Check out the full performance in the link below:
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