The Biggest differences between RBS and Vaganova - My Experience first hand!

Ballet With Isabella · 4m · transcribed 14d ago

Section Insights

# 0:00

Introduction to Ballet Training Differences

What are the biggest differences between training at the Royal Ballet School and Vaganova?

The speaker highlights the significant differences in training styles, emphasizing the attention to detail at Vaganova compared to their experience at the Royal Ballet School.

The speaker found the training at Vaganova to be more intense and detail-oriented.
They experienced a shift in expectations regarding physical strength and technique.
Initial feelings of being held back turned into gratitude for the rigorous training.

# 0:59

Physical Demands and Expectations

How did the physical demands differ between the two ballet schools?

At Vaganova, the speaker was required to hold their legs higher and turn out more, contrasting with the Royal Ballet School's more reserved approach.

Vaganova's training pushed for higher legs and more pronounced turnout.
The intensity of training included repetitive drills to perfect techniques.
The speaker initially found the demands overwhelming but recognized their importance.

# 1:59

Artistic Development and Expression

How did Vaganova contribute to the speaker's artistic development?

The training at Vaganova emphasized the importance of using the upper body and expressing oneself, which helped the speaker evolve as an artist.

Vaganova focused on teaching dancers to express emotions through movement.
The speaker learned to use their arms and upper body more effectively.
Artistic expression is seen as a key differentiator among dancers.

# 2:59

Understanding the Vaganova System

What makes the Vaganova training system special?

The speaker appreciates the pride Vaganova takes in its training system, which builds from slow, detailed work to complex performances.

Vaganova's training is characterized by a gradual build-up to advanced techniques.
The system produces highly skilled dancers capable of stardom.
Despite initial fears, the speaker found the experience transformative.

Transcript

0:00 it was just so exciting i mean mad sometimes i thought sometimes it was mad and i was just like what is wrong with you today hi everyone welcome back to my channel today i'm going to be talking about the biggest differences i noticed between my time at the royal ballet school and viganova in terms of the training i'll keep this one relatively short this

0:31 video so i was at white lodge for three years and it had been a difficult three years in many ways save that for another video and i'd always loved russian ballet completely so when i went to viganova you know i had already visited there a few times and obviously watched a lot of videos and it wasn't until my experience there that i really

1:03 understood what the greatest differences are what makes them so great and sum up in one sentence i would say it's their attention to detail everything is more so obviously you know i went from high bicycle to the carnival and the first thing they said to me was your muscles are too soft you're weak you won't be able to handle the

1:36 work in grade seven so we're going to hold you back a year and you're going to do grade six which the is the equivalent of doing year 11 again because i'd done year 11 at the royal ballet school so i was like oh okay initially i was a bit perplexed and thought oh no i'm being held back oh no i'm being slowed down but in hindsight i'm very grateful for them doing that they made me incredibly strong

2:00 everything was more like i say so we were holding our legs more our legs needed to be higher whereas in the royal ballet school i was often told to put my legs down i was told to turn out more so that was a shock to the system i had to really find my turnout muscles quickly everything was less you know reserved let's say less safe so i felt i found that the

2:32 royal bank school was it felt a little safe like you know whereas i went there and it was just so exciting it was you gotta turn out more bigger backpacks higher legs higher jump faster turns and their attention to detail i don't think i'd ever gone in done a class where you know we had to do sometimes one step for like half an hour because it wasn't right or the teacher would scream and we'd do like

2:58 an exercise over and over and over again and it was just so exciting i mean mad sometimes i thought sometimes it was mad i was just like what is wrong with you today they made us into fabulous artists they taught me how to use my arms properly my character teacher criticized me of being stiff and you know it wasn't until i worked with her one-on-one for this role i was doing in the nutcracker i was doing the arabian we

3:27 had to do so much kind of yeah you know using the upper back and the shoulders and things and it was just i really learned how to be soft and express they teach you how to express obviously what then makes you stand out as an artist is how you take that and how you exp how you sort of you know express yourself because there's a difference you know you can be taught something but then you have to

3:54 feel it and so you know that's what makes someone a good dancer to them you know a star and when i started to really understand you know the work and how to use my arms correctly that was when i yeah really thought wow this is really special you know verganova you know is very proud of their system and why change it you know from the very first class they're all you know

4:25 perfect they do slow slow work and then it just builds and builds and builds to these amazing dances where nearly every single one of them could be a star and you know there's a reason for that their training is refined detailed and fantastic so going there was obviously terrifying but it was the best thing i've ever done

4:57 you

Summary

The speaker shares their experiences transitioning from the Royal Ballet School to Vaganova, highlighting significant differences in training styles. They emphasize the rigorous attention to detail and the intensity of the Vaganova method, which ultimately contributed to their growth as a dancer.

- The Royal Ballet School felt safer and less intense compared to Vaganova.
- Vaganova's training focuses heavily on detail, with exercises repeated until perfected.
- The speaker initially felt perplexed about being held back a year but later appreciated the strength gained from it.
- Training at Vaganova emphasized higher legs, more turnout, and faster movements.
- The character teacher at Vaganova helped the speaker learn to express themselves more fluidly.
- The Vaganova system builds from slow, careful work to complex performances, producing highly skilled dancers.
- The experience was both terrifying and transformative, leading to significant personal and artistic growth.