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We often wonder who the best sportsmen of all time are, or the best footballers, but has anyone given a second thought to the extremely inspirational dancers? Have a look at these fantastic dancers and decide for yourself who is the best.
Josephine Baker
The old fashioned Beyonce – Josephone Baker was known as the ‘Black pearl’ of her dance style. She first became a dancer at the age of 19 by launching a carrer in dance in Paris. She was known for her flirtacious, fun and sexy performances which shocked many audiences, as she also appeared on stage almost naked! Her most famous number was in Danse Sauvage where she caused quite a stir shimmiy-ing in only a skirt of bananas! Very risqué!
“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Michael Clark
Michael Clark’s career has been documented ever since he was discovered! He is known for his punk styled choreography as well as for his drug addiction which he managed to surpass and build his career again. His best performances include those with the Ballet Rambert, which he joined when he was just 17! Many have said that his interpretation of Alston’s spare, Soda Lake was one of the best of his career with many marking it as the best performance of the 20th century within British contemporary dance.
Nadezhda Pavlova
Pavlova – who was discovered after she entered the International Moscow Ballet Competition aged just 16 years old! She fought against very strong professional competitors, in front of a very picky panel of judges. She performed a series of routines from The Nutcracker for which she was awarded a Grand Prix. However this was all too good to be true as the extraordinary Pavlova was then recruited to the Bolshoi where her spirit just declined.
Fred Astaire
Possibly one of the best dancers of all time? Fred Astaire’s dance routines were perfectly immaculate. His dancing was so effortless and elegant it is hard to believe that Tap is an extremely difficult dance to learn as he made it look so easy. However aside from this, Fred Astaire was more than a dancer, he was the embodiment of a black and white era, and will never be forgotten.
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul”
― Martha Graham
Altynai Asylmuratova
Altynai was born in Kazakhstan and joined the Kirov Ballet when she was just 17 and from this she became a walking example of the company’s soft-backed style. As she performed as Odette in Swn Lake, she expressed sheer radiance and elegance. Her trademark as it were was her arms which she used to a mesemerising effect, encapsulating you into her story. After her career in dancing came to an end, she was appointed director of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, where she had actually trained herself.
Gelsey Kirkland
Kirkland is probably one of the most notable ballerinas, purely from the demons that she faced throughout her career. After being part of the New York City Ballet for 6 years – after joining aged 15, she then joined the American Ballet Theatre. This is one of the decisions that led to her downfall, as she became the offstage and on, partner of superstar Mikhail Baryshnikov, which in turn broke down 12 years later causing Kirkland to turn to drugs and accumulate and eating disorder. Despite this she has shown some absolutely stunning performances, like her interpretation of Juliet, at Covent Garden.
Louisa lives in South London with her 5 year old daughter Samantha, who attends regular ballet classes as she wants to be a ballerina just like her mum!
