Male Dancers of Quality

[Mel Johnson]

Without synthetically limiting choices with a poll, whom do you identify as the leading male dancers of the current day, from any company? Choose as many or as few as you like (indeed, "as few" can be NONE! if you don't think anybody is doing the job). Be prepared to support your opinions.

[Momof3darlings]

Well, I was okay until you asked me to be prepared to support my opinions. I just know who I know and like who I like.

[Mel Johnson]

Oh, go ahead and post your opinion! Just BE PREPARED to support your choices. I'm trying to reinvigorate the idea that this is a DISCUSSION board, and besides, when you are expressing your own taste, de gustibus disputandum est. You're always right if you tell what you think! At least that you think that.

[Clara 76]

For me, the men of ABT (now including Daniil!!) for their virtuousity, strength, & line. On top of that they are all excellent partners, which is not often said about virtuouso dancers!

 

From Boston Ballet- Joseph Gatti! He is wonderful to watch on stage with an infectious smile! He clearly loves dance and it loves him back!!!!!

 

From Pennsylvania Ballet (by the way, NYCB had better watch this company)- Zachary Hench for his presence on stage, and I have heard some interesting things about a boy in the corps, Tyler Savoie.

 

From BalletMet Columbus- Jimmy Orrante for his acting skills on stage. David Nixon set his 'Dracula' on Jimmy, and I've never seen any human being come so close to actually transforming his body into both bat and human without special effects. Chilling, transfixing, memorable. David Tlaiye for his growth into leading man material; David Ward for his beautiful technique; Jackson Sarver for his strength, partnering, and presence.

 

From Milwaukee Ballet- Ryan Martin and Patrick Howell, both for their sex appeal and their technical abilities.

 

From Joffrey- Fabrice Calmels. Oh my goodness! Gorgeous ballet body, gorgeous technique. POB trained. Need I say more?

 

From Tulsa Ballet- Ma Cong!!!!!!!!! Brilliant mind, fluidity of movement.

 

From Houston Ballet- Connor Walsh & Simon Ball. Both men are superb partners and versatile dancers.

 

From San Francisco Ballet- 2 words, Joan Boada.

 

From NBoC- Guillaume Coté- Those feet! That body! He is the definition of Prince.

 

That's my list for North America. I will post more later!

[Claude_Catastrophique]

I have never been in the USA to watch ballet so I can only speak for Europe.

 

Roberto Bolle: He is technically amazing, everthing looks so natural he does but sometimes he is a bit boring, kind of too perfect and it is visible when he does not like a ballet or a partner (at least I think so...).

 

Denis Matvienko: I just saw him once but I was amazed by his passion, power and viruosity. I was just blown away. He did DQ and I have never seen so much Spanish fire (although he is far away from being Spanish or looking Spanish hehe). It is so much fun to watch him because he HAS fun dancing. Lots of!

 

Arman Grigoryan: He is a young dancer from the Oper in Zurich. I am always amazed how he easily switches from classical, to neoclassical, from modern to hip hop and he ALWAYS looks good. He is just suitable for everything. He has got a perfect body (although being a little bit short for the tipical prince) and makes everthing look efortless and light.

 

From the dancers that Clara has mentioned I only know Guillaume Coté. I have just seen him once and I did not like him too much. Maybe because he was not dancing the prince? It is really funny but when I watched that (neoclasscial/modern choreographed by himself) I was thinking the whole time that the classical prince would suit him better.

 

Oh well, I guess there are many others but it is late here, too late for me to think clearly....

 

Edit: I know Daniil Simkin from many videos and he looks like fun and worth to watch in a theatre. I hope I will have the chance one day. He is so young and fresh and this makes it a true joy to watch him.

[ami1436]

Okay, I'll bite... I'll probably have more to add later. I'll self-restrict to those whom I've seen live.

 

ABT - David Hallberg. That line. Those feet. The nobility. And so versatile. (Clara, I have yet to see Daniil live!)

 

NYCB - Daniel Ulbrecht. Tarantella. 'nuff said. Okay, so he may not be the most versatile dancer, but the way he danced Tarantella with joy -- THAT'S what it's about.

 

Royal Ballet - Hmm. Some favorites have left/retired. Jonathan Cope (I know, I'm a fan girl, but I"m the first to admit it) had a perfect arabesque but really was an amazing partner. I was sad about Ivan Putrov's departure, as he had lovely ballon/feet/batterie, and was really growing. I haven't seen too much of him since moving back to the U.S., but Sergei Polunin is definitely one to watch -- again, the line, the ballon... wow. And of course Steven McRae - I'd watch him for the virtuouso. I think Ed Watson is a wonderful actor, and oh-so-intense. Johann Kobborg - yes, you can rave about his technique... and the acting... but I really love the moments when he makes you notice the little things, whether in technique, or in the action, or in his own emotions. I've always been a Bennett Gartside fan - he's a wonderful partner, and Gary Avis is a Principal Character Artist, but had danced the leading roles, and has fantastic gravitas.

 

Stuttgart - Friedrich (sp) Vogel. Maybe I have a thing for tall guys with great lines. Um.... guilty as charged. Man, his pirouettes that end up and then even higher up? To. Die. For.

 

I need to think more about the other N. American and European companies I've seen. So more later. But for now, I will say that Eugene Barnes at Carolina Ballet did an amazing Phlegmatic from the 4Ts. I was entranced.

 

edited to add: I saw Alex Wong with ABT II. Loved him -- shortest guy on stage (I'm short), and he OWNED it. Plus those leaps. I think I'll always have a soft spot for him.

[gimpydancer]

...From BalletMet Columbus-...Jackson Sarver for his strength, partnering, and presence...

 

That's my list for North America. I will post more later!

 

And he's a super nice person and great teacher too!

[ToThePointe]

Hands down for me is Daniil Simkin. Beyond his incredible technique (although I wish he didn't wind up so much for his pirouettes) his artistry floors me. I would love to see him perform "Vestris."

 

Another male that left me speachless was Chi Cao in Mao's last dancer. I was in tears watching him dance. The lines he created seemed to go on forever.

 

Unfortunately with the economy the way it's been for the past few years, I have not been able to go to any live performances so I am not familiar with many of the current male dancers.

[Hans]

Andrian Fadeyev, Federico Bonelli, David Hallberg, all for their impeccable classicism, and Marcelo Gomes for his ability to do just about anything, and do it beautifully. When the RDB visited, I saw Ulrik Birkkjaer twice and was impressed, as well as Thomas Lund and Johan Kobborg.

[Mel Johnson]

I can certainly join in the praise for Daniil Simkin. He's becoming a very important young star, going from strength to strength, and using his considerable abilities intelligently. He's also as pleasant a young man as his stage personality evidences.

[Doubleturn]

I'd second everything ami1436 said about RBS dancers and would like to add one - Wayne Sleep. He was a product of the RBS and an amazing dancer with RB for many years. Unfortunately his lack of height ruled out "Prince" roles. He then diversified into acting and "West End" theatre work - equivalent of Broadway. However he is still dancing, appearing as an Ugly Sister in Ashton's Cinderella at Covent Garden and The Child Catcher in "Chitty Bang Bang on tour" amongst others in recent years. As well as performing he also teaches at many courses and has given a great deal to the ballet world. In material terms he also established his own Foundation to help fund talented students who need scholarships.

[Mel Johnson]

Perhaps its own topic: Nureyev still occupies a place in the ballet world which has been matched over the years by only a few. Baryshnikov held it for awhile, but he diversified and spread his superstardom thinner. Dancers since the '50s still show what they could do in ways that earlier people could not, simply because of the availability of media to preserve their performances.

[puppytreats]

Roberto Bolle: He is technically amazing, everthing looks so natural he does but sometimes he is a bit boring, kind of too perfect and it is visible when he does not like a ballet or a partner (at least I think so...).

 

Arman Grigoryan: He is a young dancer from the Oper in Zurich. I am always amazed how he easily switches from classical, to neoclassical, from modern to hip hop and he ALWAYS looks good. He is just suitable for everything. He has got a perfect body (although being a little bit short for the tipical prince) and makes everthing look efortless and light.

 

Edit: I know Daniil Simkin from many videos and he looks like fun and worth to watch in a theatre. I hope I will have the chance one day. He is so young and fresh and this makes it a true joy to watch him.

 

 

Regarding Bolle --- Whom do you think he does not like and why? Please give examples.

 

Regarding Grigoryan -- A little bit short? He is very strong, but very short, and therefore, not perfect. I think his strength is what makes him look effortless.

 

Regarding Simkin -- Very fun to watch.

[Hans]

Re: height--"short" is not necessarily a flaw. Who ever heard of a tall demi-charactère, after all?

[stinger784]

Funny how I didn't make the list yet...