If you’ve never seen a Russian ballet performance before, prepare yourself for a treat.
While ballet didn’t actually originate in Russia, the country helped to take this form of dance to places it had never been before.
Ballet in Russia is so popular that some of the routines invented in the country are well-known globally.
Consider “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky – both infamous ballet performances that you probably didn’t know were Russian!
Vera Shpakovskaya is one of the youngest and most celebrated Russian ballet dancers of all time.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVBAc8ArYp/
She’s so talented at what she does that she doesn’t have to share a stage with others. Oh, no – she has an entire stage to herself when she performs.
She has impressed audiences all over the world with her elegant moves, but one of her most-watched dances is her “Dance of the Little Swans” performance in 2017.
Despite only being 8 years old at the time, Vera proved to everyone that she’s got the makeup of a professional.
This is a performance that you won’t have seen anywhere else. Vera is dressed in a striking red outfit ballet dress that puffs out around her hips.
She’s accessorized with a tambourine, which she uses to hit certain parts of her body in time with the music.
But enough outfit talk – it’s Vera’s dancing skills that are worth raving about.
It’s hard to remember that she’s just eight when you watch her perform. With graceful-yet-powerful moves, she owns the stage like someone with at least a decade of experience behind them.
Everything she does is mesmerizing, from the way she twirls and hops along to the melody of the music, to the way she stretches her arms and legs as she moves.
We’d imagine that Vera did Russia’s nearly 300-year ballet heritage proud.
It’s estimated that the country’s first ballet school opened in 1738 in St. Petersburg, and even the aristocrats wanted a slice of the pie, learning the dance form themselves.
She’s certainly impressed fellow Russians, too, not to mention the rest of the world.
Vera’s performance has a staggering 4 million views on YouTube to this day, with 30,000 likes and nearly 2,000 comments.
Amongst her Russian admirers, there are a few complimentary remarks in English:
“Her glorious expression of dance reflects the pure beauty & grace of a butterfly in flight. It’s incredible she’s only 8 years old, already advanced to pointe & able to manage a full performance of this demanding choreography. I’m wishing her abundant Blessings of love!”
Several well-meaning commenters questioned whether Vera should start dancing on pointe so early, while her muscles are still developing.
Most ballet teachers have their students start on pointe at 9 or 10 years old, but it’s more than likely that Vera worked with a professional who believed that she was ready aged 8 based on ability.
Vera’s incredible dance moves are beautiful to watch, but it’s her smile that lights up the stage.
She’s clearly loving every moment of being in the spotlight, despite some moves that look pretty painful to us!
Three years on from this performance and Vera is still dancing, which is likely great news for all her online fans.
You can keep up with her on Instagram, where she shares her dancing passion with her 6,000 followers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0TXjVbg5eI/
If you haven’t watched Vera’s ‘Dance of the Little Swans’, click “play” in the video below and prepare to be blown away!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
