Is the Cuban method of ballet better than the Vaganova method?
They really are very similar. No one method is really better than another. It is more a question of how you want to train. As Cuban is basically derived directly from Vaganova, out of all the methods of ballet training, these two are the closest to each other.
In America, what would distinguish the Russian method of ballet instruction from other popular methods, and what are those?
As a viewer I’m not qualified to talk about instruction. I can just tell what the result of this instruction looks like to me. I’m a HUGE fan of traditional Mariinsky technique (think Lopatkina, Vishneva). So in addition to impeccable technique here are some things I notice:“epaulement” in Russian method, it is not just technique or mechanical, it has do be coupled with the character with micromovements, eyes, arms“port de bras”, using of the wrists as means of expressing the character. I can tell Mariinsky trained arms from a dozen dancers performing together. Again, it is not just about the technique.overall character development to suit a particular dancer. The coaches spend a lot of time not just on the technique, but seeing how micromovements, pauses, nuances, transitions contribute to the development of the character, while taking into account distinctive traits of a particular dancer, to make a part unique and suited the dancer. (As a balletoman I’ve seen numerous videos in Russian how they worked, or used to work on that in Mariinsky)Russian ballet theaters with a permanent stage have a great advantage over their American counterparts, they can really take time, and work on nuances on the real stage, they can work on the “flow” of the part, and make it fit a particular dancers. To me these little nuances distinguish the Russian school from American. American school emphasises technique and physicality often somewhat at the expense of finer nuanced things like flow, feeling, musicality, etc. So much so, that people do not notice those things at all during training, they talk more about extensions, turnouts, arabesques, etc… It is not just about great technique, it is what is built on top of that technique to make a little kid or someone who has never seen a ballet before sit through the entire production holding their breath (as it happened to me, when I was very little). Now I can try to analyze “why”… but then it was all about all those little things and more connecting into magic on stage.I’m worried that Russian ballet training may be losing it now, but it is a topic for a different discussion.
Vaganova Method Ballet Training?
There are very few places that have REAL Vaganova training. as you need to be certified in Saint Petersburg prior to sometime in the 1990s in order to teach it. The Kirov in D.C. is one of those places. Outside of there, you may find an individual teacher here and there. Perhaps get in touch with the Kirov in D.C. and ask if they know anyone who teaches in your area. I think the Ellison Ballet school in NYC is also Vaganova now too. I will say there are very few ballet companies that even dance that method of ballet outside of the eastern Europe. Even the Marrinsky in Saint Petersburg has changed to a mixed style that is not strictly Vaganova any more but more what they call the Moscow syllabus.. This has been since sometime in the 1990s...so teachers now certified to teach Vaganova may not really be qualified as certification methods have changed. It seems to be a dying method of ballet training and I think perhaps you need to rethink this. Cuban is very close to Vaganova, but strict Vaganovans don't think so. I wish I could be ore helpful but I think you are looking for something that is existing less and less in the ballet world. Good luck. * There are a good many teachers out there that claim they teach Russian Vaganova but if they are not certified prior to the 1990s in Russia, they really don't. Some just read the books and try to teach like that. Be sure about who is training you and that they really know what they are talking about.
How do top notch ballet schools (i.e. Vaganova) choose their students?
For older children who have already had dance training, the applicant sends in a CV and DVD of themselves for primary selection before being accepted to audition. Sometimes winners of ballet competitions for young dancers are allowed to study at a selection of prestigious ballet schools as their prizes. For the very young children, an audition is held, and the children are usually examined by a panel of professional ballet teachers and directors, (and probably a physiotherapist or orthoped) to determine the child's physical and mental potential, and aptitude for dance.One looks for physical attributes that are esthetically pleasing according to the norms of classical ballet. In today's standards, this means often a hyper mobile physique (compared to most "normal" people), especially in the feet and ankles, as well as the back, plus external rotation in the hip for turn out. Professional dancers have generally long limbs and slender builds, but also eventually need to be able to develop a strong physique to manage the career. The jurors would look for a child who responds to music, finds joy in moving in space, and shows a mental capacity to be creative, and yet be able to follow instruction. But there are many dancers who fall short of the "ideal" criterior for becoming a professional dancer, who have made successful careers despite this, and if a child is determined to dance, then by all means, it should be encouraged.
Is RAD or Russian vaganova better?
All things being equal Vaganova would be a better choice. (if it is real Vaganova.) In general it creates stronger dancers with cleaner lines. Unlike RAD, Vaganova is not graded ballet. RAD is recreational training with minimum standards for teachers to be able to be certified to teach who haven't danced professionally. It does depend a lot on the teachers too. In Vaganova, if your teacher was trained in Russia, then you would be getting the real deal. If your teacher was a professional dancer that is retired to teaching then that would be better too. Can't help you with RAD training in regards to what grade you go en pointe. I really don't know all that much about recreational ballet training.
Mintchips49, is the Balanchine method of ballet distinct from Vaganova? Is the Balanchine method classical ballet?
No. Balanchine is called the father of Neoclassical ballet and it is basically "American" ballet invented by him. It is very far from Vaganova and not considered "Classical" but Neoclassical Ballet. CPYB full time is essentially Balanchine but not the SI program which is a mix. The only thing that makes a dance "lyrical" is that it uses the lyrics of a song for the impetus for it's choreography over using the music. That being said at times it can be somewhat similar to concert contemporary dance in terms of the movements as it relies on similar dance techniques, but just not relying on the lyrics of the song for how it is choreographed. Neither my daughter nor I have ever taken lyrical classes as that isn't a professional dance genre and not taught in professional training/schools. Regarding your other question...BDC is going to be a a higher standard of training due to more professional teachers and commercial dancers teaching the classes. Without strong ballet, you may be lost there as I believe you have a year or under in ballet. Ninth Street Dance is purely a recreational dance school and the level of training will not be as good but you could probably take lyrical there much sooner because of that. * Advanced beginner Lyrical at BDC would be for dancers with at least 5-8 years of prior ballet training. Intermediate for 8-10 years. They are not meant to be taken alone but as an adjunct to ballet training as it will just be lyrical choreography essentially for dancers with strong dance technique and not really technique training.
What is the difference between Vaganova, Cecchetti, Balanchine and RAD Ballet?
Each technique has its own naming system for what direction to face, arm positions, arabesques, and some of the dance steps. For example, the arm position known as "fifth en bas" in Cecchetti is known as "preparatory" in Vaganova. However, the five basic positions of the feet are the same throughout Vaganova emphasizes dancing with the entire body, promoting harmonious movement among arms, legs, and torso.The torso is the foundation of all movements, so the dancer's torso had to be strengthened. It is very clean and precise but not stiff. It was a combining of the Italian Cecchetti and the French method of dance. The Cecchetti technique has been developed from the teachings of the great ballet master Enrico Cecchetti by the Cecchetti Society. One notable emphasis in the Cecchetti syllabus is that the arms flow and blend from position to position more than any other technique. . Balanchine would be Neoclassical ballet. Generally Ballancine pieces are short and very fast often without a story line like Serenade. The dancers use their arms quite differently and pirouettes are landed in 4th not 5th position with crossed arms. Some may describe the dancing as more "sassy" and flirtatious. In Vaganova & Balanchine methods, the exercises for each level are not set like they are for the RAD or Cecchetti systems. Each teacher choreographs his or her own class according to guidelines given to them and the students dance that class in their examinations RAD is bassed on the English Royal Ballet. At the Royal there are no set levels but in RAD there is. The Cecchetti taught in Italy and in top ballet academies also differs from the Cecchetti systems in not having set levels as well. Anna Pavlova studied Cecchetti. Vaganova graduated from the Russian Imperial Ballet school in 1897 and Pavolva in 1899. There wasn't a "Vaganova" method then. There is no better. They are different. Most professional dancers are versed in all methods. There is not body type for one or another, although Balanchine dancers are usually the thinnest in terms of NYCB and other companies who do a lot of Balanchine
Vaganova auditions?
It has to do with unhampered checking and measurement of the the body to see if potential students have both the body and facility for a ballet career. I agree it is a bit creepy as a leotard would also suffice but many don't have proper ballet attire and why make an investment in dance clothing if this isn't going to happen for them. They have done it that way in Russia for years and years and it is the norm there.