A Force of Nature: Natalia

An Outstanding portrait of Natalia Osipova

Get a close insight into Natalia’s career as one of the greatest prima ballerinas. Learn more about her work as a principal dancer of the Royal Ballet and her contemporary dance projects with some of the world’s greatest choreographers. Watch the rehearsal process of new ballet Mother by Arthur Pita, a new commission with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and the Royal Ballet’s legendary production of La Bayadere directed by Natalia Makarova.

It’s amazing how hard Natalia works on all choreographies she dances – both on a technical and emotional level. Even the superstars of the ballet world have to rehearse and re-rehearse every ballet, even the ones they have already performed, getting corrections from their ballet masters as they aim for perfection.

Natalia loves to express different roles, telling different stories on stage and interpretation different characters in her own way. As she is now in her prime as a classical ballerina, she is looking for new ways to dance in a way she’s never done before – to go beyond herself.

The DVD gives us a glimpse in the rehearsal process of her contemporary creations such as FLUTTER by Iván Pérez, THE MOTHER and FACADA by Arthur Pita, I’M FINE by her partner Jason Kittelberger and MEDUSA by Sidi Larbi Charkaoui.

I loved watching her prepare for the theater production THE MOTHER with choreographer Arthur Pita – a tale by Hans Christian Andersen, accentuating Natalia’s dark side – bloody and dirty. Watching the rehearsals, I was complete immersed in the intensity of her dance – the expressions evoke the feelings of a desperate grieving mother who is going through a nightmare.

Thanks to Naxos Music UK Ltd for giving me a copy of this DVD for viewing.