I’m so glad you confirmed that Balanchine’s version is actually shorter! I watched the full thing online for the first time last night and I thought I was going crazy since I could’ve SWORN that dance is usually way longer
My grandma and I used to go annually to the PNB's Nutcracker--Sendak and Stowell--before they returned to the Balanchine version. In that production, Arabian was a solo done as a Peacock, and was one of the most unique performances that I remember--definitely one of my favorites.
@Bridger_loves_ballet PNB has an Arabian dancer like this who dresses in blue garb, but she no longer has the feathered tail that she shakes as part of her dance, she has the finger symbols like in the video (unless the changed it this year, which is the first year we had to call it off). I think she still represents a peacock, but you can Google the Sendak's version to see the original and the notable differences in costume and dance. Both are great, but some definite differences ❤️
As a student of middle eastern dance for many many years, this is a little awkward to me. But Kathryn totally nailed it with the push & pull and holding some tension. Also finding that sensuality without being obscene.
I think Arabian needs reworking in pretty much all versions. It's as offensive as Chinese, perpetuating the overly sexual stereotype assigned to women of non-white races. I appreciate that PNB changed it to a peacock... even if the costume is actually a male peacock haha.
i was gonna comment about this too! its so disappointing that this dance is still in the nutcracker and the fact that your comment is one of the only ones kathryn didn't like says a lot
@@augustine354 I'm also a bit confused. I replied to this comment saying that this dance needed to be updated too and that I appreciated PNB making it into a peacock. That comment is mysteriously gone...
@@augustine354 Like she (and a lot of other people) made a HUGE fuss over Tea (and rightfully so), but NOT Coffee says a lot about people too. I find it hypocritical.
I think the new version by the joffrey ballet in chicago has changed coffee. I loved what they did with tea but I can't remember what they did with coffee.
I saw this version once years ago and loved it, now I now it's Balanchine. It's also some of my favorite music from the ballet, it always sounded haunting to me.
One thing I struggle with as a dancer is how my moves translate from stage to audience. Some of my movements come off as robotic when I'm slow, or they're sloppy when I am fast. One thing that I took from this video is that the dancer's movements are always intentional. That's something I need to work on. Thanks for the awesome deconstruction! It made me feel like I'm back in class again.
Arabian is another favorite dream role after Spanish. I love the costume for Arabian . I want to mention that the bells on her ankles are called Ghungroos which Kathak Indian dancers wear because to make percussive music with their feet . I would see belly dancers wear too.
Oh goody, Arabian! My favourite piece of music in Nutcracker and l love the meditative, sensuous ballet of this piece. This wonderful deconstruction opens my eyes further the beauty of it. Thank you, and Happy Christmas from Dublin Katie! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I slept through the Arabian Coffee playlist and wake up to a new video yay 😁 so much push pull and face/back initiating the movements. Thank you so much Kathyrn! This deconstruction series made me really want to learn nutcracker:)
Hi, Katie! The little finger cymbals are called zills or saggats. I actually hate Balanchine's version of Arabian, personally. It's too chaotic for the slow, sensual music, and just looks... Weird to me. 🤷🏻♀️ Give me a slow gooey, and sensuous pas de deux. 🩰 Pittsburgh's Arabian has always been my fave ☺️
Maya Plisetskaya once made a pretty scathing remark about a dancer, "The music exists on its own, and she exists on her own - unbothered by the music." With all due respect, I feel Balanchine was unbothered by the music when he was choreographing this piece. It would look stunning set to a different, more appropriate score.
Katie, her lines are gorgeous, and I never really noticed the use of the dancer’s face and eyes until you pointed it out. Her expressions and head movements really add sensuality to Arabian! Thanks for another great deconstruction! 🩰
Last night I watched the 1958 Playhouse 90 broadcast of Balanchine's Nutcracker, in which Arthur Mitchell performed the Arabian Coffee Dance - the original version. It is so different, but I really loved it. I wish they would bring it back somehow!
I remember being a kid a watching The Nutcracker on TV. This was my favorite music but the dance was very different. The dancer portrayed an exotic bird. It wasn't until I was an adult that I learned this was called Arabian and the version I saw as a kid ws not the common one. To this day that version is still my favorite. I often wonder why there was a change.
Thank u so much for saying this. Tbh I feel like it’s something that’s still not talked about much (from what I’ve seen). The Western canon of ballet has a very uncomfortable relationship with race not just in The Nutcracker but across other ballets too, and it’s not enough for ppl to say it’s reflective of the times if they do no work at all to undo some of the harmful and stereotypical depictions of people who are not white, thus further perpetuating it whether it’s consciously or not. That’s not even going into the many structural issues that ballet still has, in regards to how inaccessible it is to dance and to see, how overwhelmingly white it is, and its relationship with the political elite/the state in terms of benefactors, gov funding etc. The fact that they changed it for the overtly caricature-ish Chinese section and didn’t really address or critically engage with the other variations is symptomatic of a complete misalignment with the growing sentiment of intersectional race, gender and class (amongst other things) analysis that’s become more widespread especially in the last decade. Another reason (out of many lol) why I feel uncomfortable as a big big ballet fan :( it’s really disheartening and alienating. Sorry for random ramble-y rant lol bc I love the video and the video series, just thought I’d share my frustrations in a more general sense.
I always loved this. I used to watch Gloria Govrin coach this at Pennsylvania Ballet. An absolute master class in movement quality, using the push pull that you mentioned. It also makes act 2 more diverse and interesting
At 53, I don’t think ever going on pointe is in the cards for me so this, coupled with my yoga background, seems the most accessible dance in The Nutcracker for me … if I ever had the opportunity to learn it (watered down of course to my level, of course).
alternatively, there is also this video which is quite unique, it might be a bit more accessible since it is like an exercise, I cannot lift my legs nearly as high as her but it's always a good workout nonetheless ua-cam.com/video/LjaK9zHUe_A/v-deo.html
When I was younger, the music for Arabian was my least favorite music from the Nutcracker, but then watching it on stage where there are visuals brings the music to life more, especially in the Balanchine version. This music definitely works a lot better with the visuals and seeing dancers on stage MUCH better than hearing it on the radio unaccompanied by the visuals. The first version of the Nutcracker I ever saw was a video of a production by Mikhail Baryshnikov with Gelsey Kirkland as Clara, which has a long history of being my favorite version. I have a lot of happy memories of that version. The Arabian dance is omitted from that version, which could have contributed to me finding the Arabian dance music more boring because of it possibly being the only music that I don't have those happy memories attached to or maybe lack of memories of any interesting visuals that bring it to life. I definitely think that the visuals and dance in the Balanchine does play a huge role in improving my relationship with the Arabian dance, or really any stage or video version, but especially the Balanchine version. The dim light and noticeable difference in lighting also makes it really work in the Balanchine version. I am now starting to question whether or not the music would seem less boring to me if the Balanchine version had been the first version I ever saw. There is some nuances in the music and subtle touches such as the jingling/tambourine sound that have helped me appreciate the music more as I got older that I might not have noticed before. Maybe the first recording I ever heard was a bad recording. Even now, if you are the DJ in charge of what Christmas music gets played over a loud speaker at the local mall, I might not recommend choosing the Arabian music.
Lately UA-cam is translating video titles to my mother language and seems to think it's a very intelligent thing to do (facepalm)... You have no idea how weird it gets with these ballet videos 🤣😂 Thanks for all these explanations. I saw the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker in cinema yesterday. It was more than magical 😍🤩💖
hello. in 1954 Coffee was a male variation with Ric Moncion& 4 Bluebirds, Move in 64 to the state& mr B changed to a woman, GLORIS GOVRIN was the first, Karinska did a new costume for her, its the longest variation
I feel Balanchines choreography for this to me is kinda stereotypical in my view. If could change it i would make it more grounded add some shimmys and more hip movements to give it more belly dance vibes
just want to say i really been enjoying the series so far i learn a lot of the ballet moves terms and has inspired me to watch other online ballets just got through with(2019 russian Don quixote) and all i say is wow been watching for (picture moments the female and the male principals do and the demis in act 2 seem strange to me not sure what the dancers are suppose to be but it they are very good as well are you planning to destruct any more after the nutcracker??
Love the music but I don’t like the Balanchine interpretation of it. A female soloist is nice but the movement is too hectic for me for the music. Teresa Reichlen is BEAUTIFUL but the choreography…no..
This dance is definitely beautiful but it unfortunately plays up to the exatic seductress stereo type of the women of the middle east and asia. I love the movement and the dancer is amazing but the dance needs to be updated.
Precisely, still feel like this isn’t talked about very much at all despite the (deserved) controversy around the Chinese variation. Also for a powerful cultural institution like NYCB that make a huge portion of their earnings through this ballet, to be depicting “Arabians” (lol) like this while Arabs particularly babies and children are being slaughtered in a genocide, and not critically engaging with what this variation represents at all, is quite upsetting to see. That may sound dramatic to some but it’s really hard when you have to witness exoticism (which is harmful on many levels) like this on one side, and the same government who helps fund this organisation also manufactures the arms that wipe out entire Arab populations, from the War on Terror to Palestine.
This coreo is a big no from me. It’s always just felt really out of place with the rest of the show and feels awkward to me, where in other versions is much more flowing. She’s a beautiful dancer dancing something that just feels out of place to me
It is peculiar because one thing I like about Balanchine’s choreography is the musicality. I don’t like some of his “modern” (now quaint) movements but these are always with the music. This has some lovely passages and I love the solo dancer but she needs slower movements. However…. I really really hate the Russian ballet version with basically a gymnastic routine….dance, people, don’t show me how double jointed you are!!!
How is this not offensive? Exoticism and specialization of middle eastern women and culture... Performed it myself for three years it now we rightly see these things for what they are. Needs updating just like Chinese.
Dear Katie, can you please please please deactivate auto-synchronization?? Otherwise your foreign viewers can only watch your videos with a creepy AI voice and a horrible translation (into German, in my case). This is a new YT thing, it’s so stupid!! It’s unbearable to watch, but I love your videos, and I want to keep watching them!
This series is the best 12 days of christmas ever
Thank you! ❤️
I’m so glad you confirmed that Balanchine’s version is actually shorter! I watched the full thing online for the first time last night and I thought I was going crazy since I could’ve SWORN that dance is usually way longer
My grandma and I used to go annually to the PNB's Nutcracker--Sendak and Stowell--before they returned to the Balanchine version. In that production, Arabian was a solo done as a Peacock, and was one of the most unique performances that I remember--definitely one of my favorites.
Love the Peacock!
O gosh no more peacock? That version was so special!
@@kathymyers7279they still have a peacock! It’s just balanchines choreography now so basically it’s balanchines Arabian dance as a peacock
@Bridger_loves_ballet PNB has an Arabian dancer like this who dresses in blue garb, but she no longer has the feathered tail that she shakes as part of her dance, she has the finger symbols like in the video (unless the changed it this year, which is the first year we had to call it off). I think she still represents a peacock, but you can Google the Sendak's version to see the original and the notable differences in costume and dance. Both are great, but some definite differences ❤️
As a student of middle eastern dance for many many years, this is a little awkward to me. But Kathryn totally nailed it with the push & pull and holding some tension. Also finding that sensuality without being obscene.
I think Arabian needs reworking in pretty much all versions. It's as offensive as Chinese, perpetuating the overly sexual stereotype assigned to women of non-white races. I appreciate that PNB changed it to a peacock... even if the costume is actually a male peacock haha.
i was gonna comment about this too! its so disappointing that this dance is still in the nutcracker and the fact that your comment is one of the only ones kathryn didn't like says a lot
@@augustine354 I'm also a bit confused. I replied to this comment saying that this dance needed to be updated too and that I appreciated PNB making it into a peacock. That comment is mysteriously gone...
@@augustine354 Like she (and a lot of other people) made a HUGE fuss over Tea (and rightfully so), but NOT Coffee says a lot about people too. I find it hypocritical.
I think the new version by the joffrey ballet in chicago has changed coffee. I loved what they did with tea but I can't remember what they did with coffee.
Yay! Thank you! I got to see Wendy W dance this live when I was a teen, and it was subliiiiime. I'm loving this series!
“And her pointe shoes are flesh….toned” gave me such a giggle.
As a dance photographer, I can confirm that great dance pictures are ALL about the energy! Love that you pointed out the photo moments.
I saw this version once years ago and loved it, now I now it's Balanchine. It's also some of my favorite music from the ballet, it always sounded haunting to me.
I am loving this series! This so fun! Loving all the behind the scenes!
One thing I struggle with as a dancer is how my moves translate from stage to audience. Some of my movements come off as robotic when I'm slow, or they're sloppy when I am fast. One thing that I took from this video is that the dancer's movements are always intentional. That's something I need to work on.
Thanks for the awesome deconstruction! It made me feel like I'm back in class again.
My pleasure! And thank you!
my family went every year when i was a kid and this was always my absolute favorite part!!!!
Arabian is another favorite dream role after Spanish. I love the costume for Arabian . I want to mention that the bells on her ankles are called Ghungroos which Kathak Indian dancers wear because to make percussive music with their feet . I would see belly dancers wear too.
THANK YOU for pointing this out! I kept saying to my computer "those are zills and ghungroos!!!"
These videos have been my ride or die through dreary winter sick days ❤
This series has been the best Vlogmas ever 🎄🩰
I believe a male dancer did this originally for Balanchine’s Nutcracker. Arthur Mitchel was one of them.
Oh that would be interesting to watch!!!
Yes, and this version (the female variation) was later choreographed on Gloria Govrin.
Oh goody, Arabian! My favourite piece of music in Nutcracker and l love the meditative, sensuous ballet of this piece. This wonderful deconstruction opens my eyes further the beauty of it. Thank you, and Happy Christmas from Dublin Katie! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you! And Merry Christmas!
I slept through the Arabian Coffee playlist and wake up to a new video yay 😁 so much push pull and face/back initiating the movements. Thank you so much Kathyrn! This deconstruction series made me really want to learn nutcracker:)
Awww thank you!
Texture and cadance is palpable. The tilt of her head is so flirty. Thanks, Kathy!
Been waiting for this one!! Love the emphasis on the committment!!
Hi, Katie! The little finger cymbals are called zills or saggats. I actually hate Balanchine's version of Arabian, personally. It's too chaotic for the slow, sensual music, and just looks... Weird to me. 🤷🏻♀️ Give me a slow gooey, and sensuous pas de deux. 🩰 Pittsburgh's Arabian has always been my fave ☺️
I have to agree with you- this isn’t my favorite version of Arabian either! ❤️
Maya Plisetskaya once made a pretty scathing remark about a dancer, "The music exists on its own, and she exists on her own - unbothered by the music." With all due respect, I feel Balanchine was unbothered by the music when he was choreographing this piece. It would look stunning set to a different, more appropriate score.
I remember how Balanchine referred to Arabian as something for the dads in the audience and I can never watch the same way
That explains why I get slave girl vibes from this version.
That sounds creepy
This was told to me by my ballet mistress while I was in high school doing this part… def a problem still to this day
The Arthur Mitchell version is for the mothers!
@philzmusic8098 wheres the link?
Katie, her lines are gorgeous, and I never really noticed the use of the dancer’s face and eyes until you pointed it out. Her expressions and head movements really add sensuality to Arabian! Thanks for another great deconstruction! 🩰
Yes! And thank you!
This is SO COOL! Thank you, Kathy! ..and I wish you and fam a very happy new year!🥰
Last night I watched the 1958 Playhouse 90 broadcast of Balanchine's Nutcracker, in which Arthur Mitchell performed the Arabian Coffee Dance - the original version. It is so different, but I really loved it. I wish they would bring it back somehow!
Wow! I would love to see that!
@kathryn_morgan it is here on youtube! Playhouse 90 Nutcracker 1958!
I remember being a kid a watching The Nutcracker on TV. This was my favorite music but the dance was very different. The dancer portrayed an exotic bird. It wasn't until I was an adult that I learned this was called Arabian and the version I saw as a kid ws not the common one. To this day that version is still my favorite. I often wonder why there was a change.
you know you does this role beautifully? The fish in fantasia (1940) haha
I love that too that fish was pretty
The mushrooms do Tea amazing too!
Sexy goldfish
Ive always found it weird that they didn't change arabian at all when they changed chinese. The choreography and costume is equally stereotypical imo.
Thank u so much for saying this. Tbh I feel like it’s something that’s still not talked about much (from what I’ve seen). The Western canon of ballet has a very uncomfortable relationship with race not just in The Nutcracker but across other ballets too, and it’s not enough for ppl to say it’s reflective of the times if they do no work at all to undo some of the harmful and stereotypical depictions of people who are not white, thus further perpetuating it whether it’s consciously or not. That’s not even going into the many structural issues that ballet still has, in regards to how inaccessible it is to dance and to see, how overwhelmingly white it is, and its relationship with the political elite/the state in terms of benefactors, gov funding etc. The fact that they changed it for the overtly caricature-ish Chinese section and didn’t really address or critically engage with the other variations is symptomatic of a complete misalignment with the growing sentiment of intersectional race, gender and class (amongst other things) analysis that’s become more widespread especially in the last decade. Another reason (out of many lol) why I feel uncomfortable as a big big ballet fan :( it’s really disheartening and alienating.
Sorry for random ramble-y rant lol bc I love the video and the video series, just thought I’d share my frustrations in a more general sense.
I agree
Agreed in that both should have been kept. There isn't anything wrong with either of them.
@@user-np6wq1tx9c so you don’t agree with anything that has been stated in this comment thread
@@user-np6wq1tx9c I'm not sure what you mean by anything wrong, can you explain? are you an Arab or Chinese?
Love these so much! Thank you ❤
I always loved this. I used to watch Gloria Govrin coach this at Pennsylvania Ballet. An absolute master class in movement quality, using the push pull that you mentioned. It also makes act 2 more diverse and interesting
Oooh love that.
@@kathryn_morgan great lesson for all dancers tlearn….hank youths decostutio
At 53, I don’t think ever going on pointe is in the cards for me so this, coupled with my yoga background, seems the most accessible dance in The Nutcracker for me … if I ever had the opportunity to learn it (watered down of course to my level, of course).
alternatively, there is also this video which is quite unique, it might be a bit more accessible since it is like an exercise, I cannot lift my legs nearly as high as her but it's always a good workout nonetheless ua-cam.com/video/LjaK9zHUe_A/v-deo.html
@ Not looking for a “workout.” I’m looking to up my ballet. 🙂
This version is beautiful! It kind of reminds me of Kay Nielson's elongated figures
I love his illustrations! Agreed❤
At no moment in this performance did gravity ever affect her movements, she was controlled throughout every moment.
When I was younger, the music for Arabian was my least favorite music from the Nutcracker, but then watching it on stage where there are visuals brings the music to life more, especially in the Balanchine version. This music definitely works a lot better with the visuals and seeing dancers on stage MUCH better than hearing it on the radio unaccompanied by the visuals.
The first version of the Nutcracker I ever saw was a video of a production by Mikhail Baryshnikov with Gelsey Kirkland as Clara, which has a long history of being my favorite version. I have a lot of happy memories of that version. The Arabian dance is omitted from that version, which could have contributed to me finding the Arabian dance music more boring because of it possibly being the only music that I don't have those happy memories attached to or maybe lack of memories of any interesting visuals that bring it to life. I definitely think that the visuals and dance in the Balanchine does play a huge role in improving my relationship with the Arabian dance, or really any stage or video version, but especially the Balanchine version. The dim light and noticeable difference in lighting also makes it really work in the Balanchine version. I am now starting to question whether or not the music would seem less boring to me if the Balanchine version had been the first version I ever saw. There is some nuances in the music and subtle touches such as the jingling/tambourine sound that have helped me appreciate the music more as I got older that I might not have noticed before. Maybe the first recording I ever heard was a bad recording. Even now, if you are the DJ in charge of what Christmas music gets played over a loud speaker at the local mall, I might not recommend choosing the Arabian music.
I was at Tess' final swan lake show. She was a phenomenal performer with the best legs/extension! Her Slaughter... OMG.
She’s stunning!!!
Loving these videos!!!
Both Tess and Wendy nail this role
This is my favorite series!
Loved your Arabian I think you did when you were a baby ballerina at 14.
wow so amazing love to listen to these ive learned so much thanks
Incredible. Fabulous analysis.
Thank you!
Lately UA-cam is translating video titles to my mother language and seems to think it's a very intelligent thing to do (facepalm)... You have no idea how weird it gets with these ballet videos 🤣😂
Thanks for all these explanations. I saw the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker in cinema yesterday. It was more than magical 😍🤩💖
This one of my favorite parts in the th nutcraker👍;)
just so beautiful wow love to watch her and when you explain makes it so special
hello. in 1954 Coffee was a male variation with Ric Moncion& 4 Bluebirds, Move in 64 to the state& mr B changed to a woman, GLORIS GOVRIN was the first, Karinska did a new costume for her, its the longest variation
When you said “not just a wack” I immediately thought about dance partner Sean 😂
I feel Balanchines choreography for this to me is kinda stereotypical in my view. If could change it i would make it more grounded add some shimmys and more hip movements to give it more belly dance vibes
Beautiful to watch.
just want to say i really been enjoying the series so far i learn a lot of the ballet moves terms
and has inspired me to watch other online ballets just got through with(2019 russian Don quixote) and all i say is wow been watching for (picture moments the female and the male principals do and the demis
in act 2 seem strange to me not sure what the dancers are suppose to be but it they are very good as well
are you planning to destruct any more after the nutcracker??
Amazing! Thank you so much! I will probably do a different production next year!
Love the music but I don’t like the Balanchine interpretation of it. A female soloist is nice but the movement is too hectic for me for the music. Teresa Reichlen is BEAUTIFUL but the choreography…no..
I can appreciate that- it’s not my favorite version either! But yes- Tess is gorgeous!
This dance is definitely beautiful but it unfortunately plays up to the exatic seductress stereo type of the women of the middle east and asia. I love the movement and the dancer is amazing but the dance needs to be updated.
Precisely, still feel like this isn’t talked about very much at all despite the (deserved) controversy around the Chinese variation.
Also for a powerful cultural institution like NYCB that make a huge portion of their earnings through this ballet, to be depicting “Arabians” (lol) like this while Arabs particularly babies and children are being slaughtered in a genocide, and not critically engaging with what this variation represents at all, is quite upsetting to see.
That may sound dramatic to some but it’s really hard when you have to witness exoticism (which is harmful on many levels) like this on one side, and the same government who helps fund this organisation also manufactures the arms that wipe out entire Arab populations, from the War on Terror to Palestine.
I agree.M
Yes, coach.
Just saw this in NYC. She is a great dancer but I wanted more of a pas
Zills ….. they are a musical instrument…….
Katie ❤❤❤❤❤❤ 😊
This coreo is a big no from me. It’s always just felt really out of place with the rest of the show and feels awkward to me, where in other versions is much more flowing. She’s a beautiful dancer dancing something that just feels out of place to me
I can totally appreciate that. To be honest- it’s not my favorite version of Arabian!
It is peculiar because one thing I like about Balanchine’s choreography is the musicality. I don’t like some of his “modern” (now quaint) movements but these are always with the music. This has some lovely passages and I love the solo dancer but she needs slower movements. However…. I really really hate the Russian ballet version with basically a gymnastic routine….dance, people, don’t show me how double jointed you are!!!
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! I think today, Alexa Maxwell is a short Coffee. But Tess is gorgeous in this role. So sexy.
How is this not offensive? Exoticism and specialization of middle eastern women and culture... Performed it myself for three years it now we rightly see these things for what they are. Needs updating just like Chinese.
When wearing a costume like Arabian, does the dancer wear body makeup?
Dear Katie, can you please please please deactivate auto-synchronization?? Otherwise your foreign viewers can only watch your videos with a creepy AI voice and a horrible translation (into German, in my case). This is a new YT thing, it’s so stupid!!
It’s unbearable to watch, but I love your videos, and I want to keep watching them!
I just switched it off!
Thank you for pointing that out!
Thank you so so so much!!! 😘😘😘
Your hair is driving me crazy - very distracting as I see you flick your hair while describing. Sorry-my opinion.