Ballerina Cucina!!

Ballerina Body by  Misty Copeland

 

Literary treasures relating to ballet...defined by the the cuisine and lifestyle that fuels the most powerful grace in the universe; that of a ballerina.  We already knew that Misty Copleland is magnificent on stage, but when she trades her tutu for an apron the results are simply divine.  A self proclaimed "foodie" and wine connoisseur, Ms. Copeland authored a brilliant and beautiful road map of fitness. meditation, inspiration and the very best food and recipes.  The book was written in 2017 and it took me a while to find this gem.  It was well worth the wait.   

What sheer pleasure to linger over the pages of exquisitely photographed movements and stretches; inspired by ballet.  The approach is practical and real; suitable for a multitude of levels and ages.

Organized shopping lists filled with an abundance of healthy and delicious suggestions that will stock a pantry fit for a prima ballerina.  Her citrus salmon is AMAZING!!

This extraordinary book is as authentic and inspirational as the author.  

Bravo Misty.  Bravo.

                                                                                          

 

 

Treasures  from Ukraine

Max and Irina

Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko are not only beautiful people and supremely talented dancers; they also have a great sense of humor.  Even their cat is gorgeous and yes, she has her own Instagram account.  One only needs to follow their social media posts to see the happily married couple living life to the fullest.  They define "authentic" whether preparing cutlets or banana pancakes in their kitchen or posing in couture at public events.  Even through Covid, the former principal dancers and stars of American Ballet Theater were busy online, cheerfully and enthusiastically teaching ballet.  Irina is also an accomplished actress, both on screen and on Broadway.  The glamorous Prima Ballerina has graced the pages of numerous fashion magazines throughout the years.  Step aside celebrities and supermodels, this blue eyed ballerina beauty is nothing shy of exquisite; she is the ultimate ballerina muse.  These days, Max and Irina have understandably heavy hearts for their beloved homeland.  They are indeed treasures from Ukraine who are inspirations both personally and professionally; well beyond the boundaries of ballet.

Ballet by the fire with a glass of champagne and a Russian Dream.

The simple yet tireless luxury of relaxing by a cozy fire on a cold winter evening. Only the sound of crackling embers permeate the solitude as you become immersed in an extraordinary book.  

Russian Dream by Olga Kotlovaya is a masterpiece. She is a brilliant architect, a gifted visionary, and the loveliest person imaginable.

 Sophisticated staging, the most elegant photos...and oh those beautiful ballerinas!!  Savor exquisite details about the Mariinsky and indulge in an intimate peek at noteworthy locations in the historical theater; a jewel in glorious St. Petersburg.

 

Kotlovaya successfully captures the essence of The Russian Ballet. 

@olga.kotlovaya

Principal photography by Alexander Lavrentyev

Russian Beach Ballet in St. Petersburg

It was a magical Russian scene (February 2021) in a spectacular theater provided by mother nature. Snowy sauters, powdery plies.  A brilliant ballerina spinning on sparkling white crystal to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake; a surreal homage to the actual swans who inhabit the area on the Gulf of Finland.

The remarkable performance by Ilmira Bagautdinova of the renowned Mariinsky Theater was in solidarity with thousands who were against plans to construct a port terminal for grain shipments on Batareinaya Bay.

“A unique natural and historical place where swans nest in spring, families with children rest in summer and hundreds of fishermen go out on the ice in winter ... Nature in harmony with people. All of this is under threat of destruction,” Bagautdinova wrote.

While the outcome is unclear, this brave ballerina and real life swan deserves a standing ovation for her breathtakingly exquisite performance.

Ballet Bistro

Backstage Restaurant

18/10 Teatralnaya Ploshchad

St Petersburg, Russia

Once upon a time...this restaurant, literally a few steps from the Mariinsky Opera House, entirely recreates the atmosphere of the theatre in all its details.

The restaurant is so thoroughly steeped in the spirit of the theatre that you feel you are part of a ritual. The old piano in the corner conjures up images of Tatyana Larina from Eugene Onegin and Liza from The Queen of Spades. The Egyptian statues that gaze down impassively down on the proceedings probably remember hundreds of staging of Aida. There are shields, swords, and candelabra — and a fully operational ballet “bar.” All these theatrical props blend perfectly with the exquisite table settings and the modern cuisine.

There is a popular belief that objects retain part of the souls of people that have touched them. It is impossible not to feel a thrill when treading boards where Kshesinskaya and Pavlova performed their leaps or looking at yourself in old mirrors that might still preserve traces of the reflections of Sobinov and Shaliapin. One of the great tenors of modern times, Placido Domingo, has also graced this place with his presence, leaving his autograph in one of the windows. It is said that he was also impressed by the local cuisine.

The menu fuses French and Russian influences. Venison Carpaccio and créme lobster soup with cognac make good overtures for beluga fillet baked with mushrooms and béchamel sauce or grilled salmon with caviar sauce. All in all, this is a great choice for a post-theatre dinner. Average bill is $100, credit cards are accepted. Reservations are essential.  While Backstage is no more it is worthy of being remembered as a very special dining establishment that once was.

Tea and Tutu's

A perfect excuse for tea with friends... 

With lovely linens and your favorite china...

A magnificent dessert named for a most magnificent Russian ballerina.  As light and elegant as her perfect pirouette...this dessert is believed to have been created for the prima ballerina on her tour to New Zealand or Australia.  While there has been endless discussion about which country deserves credit, there is no argument about this extraordinary desert: it will wow your guests!  

Berries Pavlova

4 egg whites

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 pint heavy cream

strawberries, raspberries, blueberries

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw a 9-inch circle on the parchment paper.

2.     In a large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gradually add in the sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat until thick and glossy. Gently fold in vanilla extract, lemon juice, and cornstarch.

3.     Spoon mixture inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper. Working from the center, spread mixture toward the outside edge, building edge slightly. This should leave a slight depression in the center.

4.     Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack.

5.     In a small bowl, beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form; set aside. Remove the parchment paper from meringue. 

6.     Wash/rinse fruit and slice strawberries (approximately one cup). Sprinkle berries with two tablespoons of powdered sugar and gently mix. Fill the center of the meringue with whipped cream, and top with berries. 

Enjoy!

PROMENADE DES BÉBÉS

Throwback file to a rare peek at ballerina street style circa 2014.  Looking as fabulous off the stage as they do on the stage, who would know this stunning trio of very happy mothers are all highly accomplished ballerinas. 

Irina Perren, Viktoria Tereshkina and Anastasia Matvienko with their beautiful daughters during the St.Petersburg-Savonlinna Ballet Days organized by DANCE OPEN. Photo: Stas Levshin 

www.danceopen.com

VINTAGE DIOR BLACK SWAN DRESS

House of Dior

 "Cygne Noir"

Fall Winter Collection 1949-1950

...from the stage in St. Petersburg to the runway in Paris:

красивая!

The Museum at FIT: Dance and Fashion

Dance & Fashion

Special Exhibitions Gallery

September 13, 2014 – January 3, 2015

MFIT's upcoming exhibition Dance & Fashion is a stunning exploration of the relationship between these two embodied art forms. Organized by the museum’s director, Dr. Valerie Steele, and set in a dramatic mise-en-scène created by architect Kim Ackert, Dance & Fashion features nearly 100 dance costumes and dance-inspired fashions, ranging from the 19th century to the present, many of which have never been exhibited.

The Museum at FIT

7th Ave, New York, NY 10001
(212) 217-4300

Diana Vishneva: Beauty and the Bun

Prima Ballerina Diana Vishneva on making a perfect chignon...

Brush the hair to make it smooth. Gather the hair into a ponytail, making sure that no stray hairs are left out. The position of the ponytail determines where you will have your bun. Secure the ponytail with an elastic band. Twist the ponytail tightly into a rope, this part is crucial, and wrap it around the base, then fix with hair spray or bobby pins. A hairnet may be also used to cover the bun to make it firmer. Finish with hairspray.

Fashion Minister spreads the word | Russia Beyond The Headlines

Alexandre Vassiliev is an artist, author, set and costume designer, television personality and curator of largest private couture collection in the world.  He also happens to own it.  Foremost, he is a fashion historian with an unparalleled wealth of experience.  As a teenager, Mr. Vassiliev worked for various costume departments in Russian theater companies where his passion for the historical perspective of fashion emerged.  His world class exhibitions have appeared in numerous cities including Moscow, Paris and Venice.  Perhaps this legendary collection is destined to arrive in the United States...

Fashion Minister spreads the word | Russia Beyond The Headlines

Ballet Twirls Birthday Girls!

Maria Alexandrova    July 20

Anastasia Kolegova  February 9

Elena Kotsubira    July 4

Svetalana Lunkina    July 29

Yulia Makhalina    June 23

Anastasia Matvienko  Septemer 2

Yevgenia Obraztsova    January 18

Natalia Osipova    May 18

Daria Pavlenko    November 19

Irina Perren  February 23

Alina Somova    October 22

Diana Vishneva    July 13

Anastasia Volochkova    January 20

Svetlana Zakharova    June 10

A champagne toast to the leading ladies of The Russian Ballet!

To happiness!  
За счастье  
          (za schast’-ye)       

ART OF THE BRUSH

Ballet blast from the past.

Creating a collection of cosmetic brushes celebrating the legendary style of The Russian Ballet required meticulous attention to each and every detail.  The Russian Ballet defines sophisitication and culture.  Refinement, elegance and a classic approach to beauty are as timeless as the ballet itself.  Russian women  walk gracefully on icy sidewalks in four inch heels.  They invest wisely in beauty products and favor luxury to trends.

 

The largest brush in the collection, la poudre, is a generous powder brush hand assembled with luxurious cashmere fibers.  The sable blush brush, designed to gently caress the finely chiselled cheeks of an ethereal ballerina. The delicate squirrel eye brushes apply drama for center stage or provocotive, smoky eyes  for an intimate glass of champagne after the performance.  A tiny brush of boar to detail the eyebrows will smooth or add color.

Collection de Ballet is worthy of Pavlova's vanity; placed in a chic black clutch Anna Karenina might have carried on the train ride from St. Petersburg to Moscow.  It was Tolstoy who wrote that "true life is lived when tiny changes occur"; and with the final sweep of a brush a work of art is complete.

http://www.russianballettheater.com/

available at:

Russian Pointe Dance Boutique

333 North Michigan Ave. #222

Chicago, IL 60601

312-332-7200

http://www.russianpointe.com/

"I don't eat ice cream now."

Anastasia Volochkova

Prima Ballerina

Bolshoi Ballet 1998-2005

BALLERINA BLINI

In 1966 Tanaquil Le Clercq simultaneously published a book and shattered a myth.  The Ballet Cook Book is an exquisite collection of favorite recipes of some of the most celebrated ballerinas in history.  From Russian Style Cutlets to Champagne Sherbet this superb book also shares an intimate peek into the fascinating personal lives of the ballet superstars who enthusiastically shared their treasured recipes along with more than 250 photos.  This out of print book is a rare gem, a brilliant read, and proof that ballerinas love to eat. 

The Hermitage Ballet

There is a profound beauty that is unique to The Russian Ballet. Startlingly rich in culture and history, this extraordinary elegance inspired a ten piece collection of makeup brushes; Collection de Ballet. The limited edition collection was presented to the soloists of The Hermitage Ballet (St. Petersburg, Russia) in 2008 when they toured the southern United States. After a gala performance in Savannah during which "The Dying Swan" brought the entire audience to a standing ovation, the ballerinas attended a private cocktail reception. Soloists were each presented with Collection de Ballet. The ten brushes were carefully arranged in a chic black pouch tied together with French gross grain ribbon.  The couture style clutch was designed exclusively for the special edition set. The brushes are hand assembled in France with Kolinsky sable, squirrel and cashmere. They are refined, elegant and of the highest standard; just as The Russian Ballet.  Appropos given the historical connection of Russians to Paris. 

The legendary style of The Russian Ballet continues to influence literature, art and fashion.

балет

"Everyone is beautiful at the ballet...."   

a chorus line