Question by FreSsoOn: Teaching method used at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy?
I used to think that The Vaganova method was used there, but then I read that they have their own method called the Bolshoi, I’m confused
Answers and Views:
Answer by mintchips49
They are not Vagonava. They are much more “flashy” and athletic. Sort of like they way NYCB is to ABT, the Bolshoi is to the Mariinsky (Kirov) ballet.
Answer by Zhops
The Bolshoi school uses what is usually called “Bolshoi (or Moscow) Syllabus”. It was devised by Asaf Messerer, and there is a book written by him detailing some of his advanced lessons. I can’t give you the exact title (sorry, I am out of the country at the moment and can’t check my bookcases) but you can find it at Amazon (or perhaps your library) by searching for the author. BTW, Messerer was the uncle and teacher of Maya Plisetskaya. Mintchip is correct in that the Bolshoi has always been known for a flashier and more “circus-like” style which has divided balletomanes into two camps, one preferring the purity of the Kirov/Mariyinski and one liking the razzle-dazzle of the Bolshoi. I don’t know how true it is, but I have heard in recent years that the Bolshoi is adopting more of Vaganova’s teachings. I wish I knew, but I don’t have the connections at the Bolshoi that I do at the Vaganova school. Maybe someone else here knows?
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