What Ballet Is the Gamzatti Variation From?

Ballet

The Gamzatti Variation is a classical ballet variation for female dancers. It is derived from the second act of the ballet La Bayadère, which was first performed in Moscow in 1877. The variation is performed by the character Gamzatti, the daughter of an Indian Rajah who is betrothed to Solor, one of her father’s warriors.

The variation begins with a series of grand allegro jumps with multiple turns and leaps. This is followed by a series of fouettés en tournant (turning whipping turns). The variation culminates with a spectacular 32 fouettés en tournant, after which Gamzatti performs a coda consisting of four piqué arabesques and two pirouettes.

The Gamzatti Variation has become a staple for female dancers around the world since its premiere over 140 years ago. It has been performed by some of the world’s greatest ballerinas, including Anna Pavlova, Margot Fonteyn and Alicia Alonso. It has also been featured in numerous film adaptations of La Bayadère, such as Rudolf Nureyev’s version in 1983 and Natalia Makarova’s version in 1984.

The Gamzatti Variation is an iconic piece of classical ballet repertoire that requires tremendous skill and artistry to perform well. Its combination of technical difficulty and emotional expression makes it a popular choice for female dancers looking to showcase their talent on stage.

Conclusion:

The Gamzatti Variation is a classical ballet variation for female dancers from the second act of the ballet La Bayadère, first performed in Moscow in 1877. It has become an iconic piece of repertoire for ballerinas around the world due to its combination of technical difficulty and emotional expression.