The La Esmeralda Variation is a beautiful ballet variation for a solo female dancer. It is taken from the 1844 ballet, La Esmeralda, which was choreographed by Jules Perrot and was based on Victor Hugo’s novel Notre Dame de Paris.
The ballet tells the story of a gypsy girl who falls in love with a soldier, only to be pursued by an evil archdeacon who wants her dead. The variation is performed as Esmeralda’s prayer to the Virgin Mary for protection.
The La Esmeralda Variation is known for its technical difficulty, requiring great strength and agility from the dancer. It consists of multiple fouettés (turns on one foot), grand jetés (large leaps), and entrechats (jumps in which the feet cross).
These movements are set to music by Cesare Pugni and are accompanied by the sound of bells and cymbals. The variation ends with a series of high-flying jumps that culminate in an impressive pirouette.
The La Esmeralda Variation has been performed by some of the world’s greatest ballerinas, including Anna Pavlova, Margot Fonteyn, Alicia Alonso, and Natalia Makarova. It has also been featured in many films and television shows, including Center Stage and Black Swan.
The beauty of this variation lies not only in its technical difficulty but also in its expression of emotion – as it conveys both joy and sorrow – making it one of the most beloved ballets in classical dance.
Conclusion:
The La Esmeralda Variation is a solo female ballet variation taken from Jules Perrot’s 1844 ballet La Esmeralda. Known for its technical difficulty as well as its expression of emotion, it has been performed by some of the world’s greatest ballerinas and featured in many films and television shows over the years.