printscess' thread on favorite variations made me want to solicit similar thoughts on pas de deux. Do you have a favorite or favorites, and why do you like them? Do you have a Most Heartily Disliked Pas de Deux (and perhaps we can have a special subcategory for Most Superfluous Pas de Deux)? Opinions, please.....

Oooo, this should be fun , but honestly, dirac, you should have started us off

Well, my Pdd favorites depend on the couple dancing. A Gillian Murphy/David Hallberg Manon isn't going to pack the same punch that a Ferri/Bocca or Vishneva/Malakhov one will

Well, there's one: Manon Bedroom Pas. So...sweeping, yet so intimate.

Giselle pdd, espec. when done with TASTEFUL dancers. Even though the subject at hand is quite sad, it's so...peaceful, and for that brief moment in time, we feel calm when watching the ballet, though the rest of it is frentic Act II "Save me from death!".

Bayadere Act III. Same as Giselle, just a moment of calm after the craziness of Act II.

Black Swan: Naturally! Where else does the girl put her foot down and dictate the show??

Don Q Act I. This one is ignored in favor of Act III (which is just as fine!), but I love the one-upmanship and flamboyance displaced here, that is somehow missing in Act III. Act III is focused more on the two in love and being a little more restrained, but Act I is "Go flirt with them all you want, it doesn't bother me!" *stunning jump of frustration* and all that flirting and banter

I am sure I will log in on this question a number of times because I cannot remember all of them in one sitting.
The first that comes to mind is the pas between Jock Soto and Wendy Whelan in Chris Wheeldon's "After the Rain". It moves me to tears.

Christopher Stowell (AD of Oregon Ballet Theatre) choreographed a wonderful Midsummer Night's Dream this past fall season. The pas was beautiful and intimate. I felt as though I was seeing a private moment (but in a nice way) between 2 lovers. Did anyone else see his Midsummer?

Some of my favourites are:

The Grand Pas from Sleeping Beauty
Oberon and Titania's duet from The Dream
Butterfly and Pinkerton from David Nixon's Madame Butterfly
Cinderella and Prince (I'm an ordinary man) from Christopher Gable's Cinderella

All the above are, to me, so beautiful that they bring tears to my eyes

And finally the greatest and happiest tear-jerker of them all - the final duet from Two Pigeons (especially as danced by Nao Sakuma and Robert Parker on a sunny afternoon in Birmingham a couple of years ago and in the same weekend to similar effect by Ambra Vallo and Chi Cao)

Does this cover just the pdd itself or particular performances that have elevated the dance to the status of unforgettable. In this case I would also add two perfornances of the final duet in Manon - one danced on a Bank Holiday afternoon by Alina Cojacaru and Johan Kobborg and the other on a cold February evening by Caroline Cavallo and Andrew Bowman.

I've got to go with Giselle Act II. I don't remember if I heard it or read it, but somebody, somewhere, sometime said that when Albrecht lifts Giselle, it shouldn't look as if he's lifting her, but as if he's holding her down, keeping her from floating away from him. If the performance has that quality, that's it for me: get out the Kleenex!

And I'd have to add the Les Sylphides pdd. Haven't seen that in years (come to think of it, does anybody even still perform the ballet anymore?).

Edited to add: At SFB I'm seeing the pdd from After the Rain this weekend, although not with Soto/Whelan, of course. I loved the Summer pdd from Wheeldon's Quaternary (although I think the extraordinary Muriel Maffre had a lot to do that) so I'll be curious to see how After the Rain measures up.

Favorites:

Diamonds
Emeralds
Tchaikovsky PDD
Spartacus Act I
White/Black Swan PDD
Robbins: Afternoon of a Faun
Robbins: Other Dances
Plisetskaya in Shuraleh

Dislikes

Grand Pas Classique: lots of razzle dazzle but emotionally dead.

Wendy Whelan is not one of my favorite ballerinas. I find her cold. When she is dancing in story ballets, I find them hard to watch. However, in "After the Rain", she nails it. Of course Jock makes everyone look wonderful.

Ok, I'll play too:

Sugar Plum Fairy (Balanchine)
Theme and Variations PDD
Tchaikovsky PDD (Balanchine)
Giselle Act 2
R&J Balcony Scene (Macmillan)
Sleeping Beauty Act 3 (the western version, with the fishdives)


There are more, but these are the first few of the top of my head.

I'm sorry, I was a bit pressed for time yesterday and I wanted to get the topic started before I forgot about it -

My two favorites off the top of my head are Giselle Act II and the “Diamonds” pdd, which is like a story in itself and so gorgeous, especially in the Farrell-Martins video (although I liked Julie Diana in it when she was with San Francisco Ballet and Uliana Lopatkina, too, when she was here on a visit).

My favorite bonbon pas de deux is “Le Corsaire” in the filmed version with Fonteyn and Nureyev. The two of them are such a classic contrast in style, and nobody can perform the ending with the boffo flourish that Nureyev gives it; he makes his ballerina a goddess, and no other dancer looks so at home in harem pants.



Interesting point, ngitanjali. How do others feel? Are there pdd you think are dependent on who's dancing them, or are some dancer-proof?

Thanks, everyone. Keep talking!

I have to go with dirac --the pinnacle for me are ...

-- Giselle Act II (which fuses the story element so beatifully and subtly) and
-- Diamonds (which exists in a lofty realm in which stories seem irrelevant). My most recent Diamonds, with Catoya and Sarabia, is still running visually in my head.

Some pdds stand out for one or two reasons, if not for the entire package. If we're allowed to included pdds that don't fit the classic format, I'd go with Balanchine's
-- Agon (for the inventiveness and brilliancy of movement),
-- Firebird (for the music),
-- Sonnambula (for eeriness),
-- the "Who Cares?" pdd from Who Cares? (for attitude),
-- the second pdd in Stravinsky Violin Concerto (see Agon above),
-- the second pdd from Baiser de la Fee (for unpredictability) ....

it's hard to stop.

For the inexpressible joy of excess: Spartacus and Phrygia from Spartacus. I love the video which cross cuts the original cast (Vasiliev and Maximova, 1968) with Makhamedov and Semenyaka from 1989. It's included in thhis clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDILxsmZ5Uk

No worries dirac I was just teasing!

someone asked earlier whether any are dancerproof. I don't think they are--my enjoyment is always dependent on who dances.

So...a few from me:
Balcony pdd from Macmillan's R&J--especially with ferri and bocca
white swan pdd when danced by Part and Gomes--I like this one normally, but I've never been brought to tears except by them
Corsaire--it is trite perhaps, but it really is a fabulous one--any bravura dancers will do. I don't have specific dancers for this one.
black swan pdd--because how can I not include it. It is a show stopper and rightly so.

No one has mentioned what I've always thought one of Balanchine's most sublime duets - from the Act 2 divertisement in Midsummer Night's Dream. The epitome of perfectly balanced, perfectly shared love and deeply felt passion, it presents the ideal of love to set against all the hopelessly imperfect loves of the other characters. He sets the primal, selfish world of the forest against the achievement of a civilized ideal, and (when well danced, which it isn't always!) one of the most powerful and moving moments in ballet.

Several members cited it on a similar thread, pop. It's one of mine, and maybe I'm underestimating it, but I wonder if it would affect us as much without context of the full ballet as, for example the Don Q does.

I think it would be a gorgeous pas de deux anywhere, but you're right - it is intensified greatly by the context. Unlike Don Q or similar great duets, it's not a display piece in spite of the divertissement label; it's a carefully placed piece of drama, the climax of this portrait of the aspects of love, and I think its moving splendor of male-female union would be lessened without not only all that's gone before, but the quiet irony of the ballet's anticlimactic return to the primal woods and its male-female elements dispersing into separation.

I'm still thinking about this.......this is a fun thread.

Several have mentioned the pdd from Diamonds. Along the same line I would add the pdd from Rubies.

The "Rubies" pdd is truly unique. And there's the "walking pas de deux" in "Emeralds," which has an otherworldly quality unlike any other I can think of offhand.

What a fun thread! I'll play, too.

White Swan PDD
Emeralds "walking" PDD
Rubies PDD
Giselle Act II PDD
Cinderella Act III PDD -- Possokhov (The most moving reunion of Cinderella and the Prince I'd ever seen, very tender while also a bit sexy. Zakharova and Filin were beautiful.)
Theme and Variations PDD -- with Kirkland and Baryshnikov
Tchaikovsky PDD
Nutcracker Grand PDD -- Nureyev
Sleeping Beauty Grand PDD
Paquita PDD

My favorites:

Tchaikovsky pdd
Bayadere "Shades" pas de deux
Giselle Act 2 pdd
White Swan adagio
Symphony in C second movement pdd (does this count?)
Grand pas classique
Manon 'swamp' pdd

I absolutely love Gamzatti and Solor in Bayadere as well as Nikiya/Solor in Shades. (I'm a big Bayadere fan-sorry!!) I also love the Balcony Scene pas from MacMillian.
My llllleeeeeeaaaaasssttttt favorite pas is Spectre de la Rose. I just can't stand the premise, the music, the costumes, the choreography. My vote for "most unnecessary pas" is Peasant Pas in Giselle.

When Peasant Pas is part of the entertainment for the hunting party's visit (surprisingly it isn't always ), it makes just as much sense, IMO, as the national dances in Act III Swan Lake. And if you get a wonderful pair of dancers, ... I've seen a few Giselles where the PPdD was the high point of the night, and while that does not sound like a good thing, in some instances it was.

I thought I could live without Spectre, too, until I saw Herman Cornejo dance it. Now I can't wait to see him do it again. And again. And again!

But when I think of the topic of this thread, I do not think of particular dancers in the roles, or else I would be tempted to list some very bad ballet as danced by rather extraordinary individuals. Kind of an "I never thought I'd ever enjoy that, but wow!" Nah, that's giving the choreography credit for something the dancer did.

This is a fun thread!

My favourite pas de deux are:

Diana and Aceteon
Black swan
Alaskan Rag from Elite Syncopations
Muñecos
Don Quioxte act 3 pdd
The leaves are fading
Prokofiev PDD

Charming Lise, we're in the same boat...
Out of your seven choices, i'll take D&A, BS, M and DQ. To the list i'll add Tchaikowsky PDD and Flames of Paris PDD
(BTW, did you ever get to see Munecos with Cary and Fernandito ( RIP) ?

I actually like Peasant Pas but if it isn't in correct context (like the hunting party, etc.) it's like a random piece inserted. I think it would be a wonderful concert piece and it's a shame it's not used in that sense more often.

I've thought of a few more!

Sleeping Beauty Act II Vision Pas
Apollo
Agon pas de deux
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated-think Sylvie
Satanella-for cuteness.
Les Sylphides was mentioned and I completely agree!

This is such an interesting topic and I'm sure all of us could keep going for months as we recall various pas

Thanks to those who mentioned Balanchine's Tchaikovsky pdd. That's a marvelous one, too.

I did think of the Agon pdd, but I'm not sure if I don't admire it more than I really love it.



I think you're right.



That's a fun one, too.

No I haven't seen Muñecos live unfortuantly. I have seen it on You tube with two dancers from English National ballet
Venus Villa and Yat-Seng Chang in rehearsal and a performance video with Xiomara Reyes and Yat.
Do you know who composed the music for it? It's beautiful.

I agree with so many of the previously mentioned favorites but I am surprised no one has mentioned either the dream or letter pas de deux from Cranko's Onegin. I particularly love the letter pas de deux. Of course the cast is crucial as well. I have seen them live many times but there are some great ones to be viewed on UTube.

It is indeed beautiful. It's by cuban musician/composer Rembert Egues and coreography by Alberto Alonso. Caridad Martinez, (whom i have mentioned before as an example regarding black dancers getting their way to the top) originated the role of the doll, and Fernandito (Jhones, RIP) that of the soldier...I got to see them when i was a kid, and they were adorable.

After seeing yesterday's performance of the pdd from After the Rain at SFB, I'm going to add this to my list of favorites. I suspect every viewing and every cast would reveal something different. Can't wait to see it again.

Peggy

Peggy,
So glad you enjoyed After the Rain. I don't know which chokes me up more, the music or the dancing. Nonetheless, both together are breathtakingly beautiful.

I can't choose one specific, but a few ones that allways makes me go..... are the pas de deuxs in John Neumeiers Lady of Camellias, and the ones in Cranko's Onegin. I think both these choreographers have done a lot of beautiful pas de deuxs....., but if have have to pick I would say Kameliendame and Onegin.

I give you some of my favourites,with their own category(like the Oscars or Awards)and with the best couple.

The most moving: White Swan pdd(Irina Koleshnikova or Lucia Lacarra with any partner),Romeo and Juliet(Alessandra ferri-Julio Bocca or alina Cojocaru-Roberto Bolle) and also Giselle(Ferri-Murru or Carla fracci with anyone else).

the best,aesthetically talking: Sleeping Beauty(Alina Cojocaru)and Apollon(Bolle-Romagna).

the most energetic: Donqui(Baryshnikov-Harvey or Corella-Herrera),Diana and Acteon(Matvienko brother and sister)and Le Corsaire(Zakharova-Zelensky).

the most tender: Romeo and Juliet(as before)and Manon(Semionova-Zelensky,Cojocaru-Zelensky,Guillem-Zelensky),bedroom pdd.

the best to dance: Black Swan(Gregory-Bujones,Agnes Letestu with anyone else) and Nutcracker(Nadia Saidakova,Malakhov).

Some I don't like: Flower festival,Fille mal gardée,Sylphide,Raymonda,Paquita,Coppelia,Fille du Pharaon.....

My absolute favorite is the one from Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which Titania dances with Nick while he is under Puck's charm to look like an ass.

I love every moment of it... from the moment when Titania wakes from the shell and all through her dance with him. It's incredibly tender and sweet.


A more classical one, is the Black Swan when danced by Gillian Murphy and Angel Corella. I love those two!!! Furthermore, I feel Angel Corella is the only dancer I can forgive for falling for Odile!

On a more contemporary note, I really love Cruel World. Choreographed by James Kudelka and danced by Julie Kent and Robert Hill.
It is so very beautiful, passionate and intense! I love it!

Diana & Acteon pdd <3
- Faroukh Ruzimatov and Larissa Lezhnina
- Ekaterina Osmilkina and Mikhail Lobukhin

divert pas from balanchine's midsummer
walpurgisnacht ballet
second movement symphony in c

those are my three favorites as of now... really anything balanchine though...

the middle section of symphony in c is my favorite, with all the falls that come up into a penchee, which lead into the penchee promenades... so beautiful! especially on the video of allegra kent performing it!

Thais with Sibley and Dowell. The mirror pas de deux from Onegin with the incomparable Haydee and Klaus. I have always enjoyed watching the pas de deux in Scotch Symphony. My least favorite is from the last act of Coppelia. Did too many performances of it.

I guess I will participate, but I haven't seen a lot of the ones mentioned.

Gotta start with Giselle - the main reason I now have 7 versions on dvd

Also
Black Swan
Rubies

I guess I am alone on these
Mayerling (I wish they would put Kobborg/Cojocaru on dvd)
La Fille Mal Gardee

The Grand Pas from David Bintley's 2009 revision of Sylvia is absolutely sublime.

I also love the Mirror pdd from Onegin.

I've seen Diana and Acteon pdd a couple of times but the performance that stands out for me is Nao Sakuma and Chi Cao in BRB Sinfonia's Evening of Music and Dance at Birmingham Symphony Hall in 2007. As they only had a pocket handkerchief to perform on in front of the orchestra, the control they had to display to not end up in the audience was amazing but they still danced flat out and it was just jaw-droppingly awesome.

Off topic, but next year's evening of music and dance has been announced for 20th February 2010. These evenings are always worth attending.

Not in any particular order:

David Blair's White Swan PDD ....new production has lost some of its luster in comparison.

Black Swan PDD

Corsaire PDD....as a diversement.

Cranko's Eugene Onegin, the very last PDD. Devastatingly emotional ending.

Bayadere Shade Scene PDDs: The first PDD as the dream couple. Supreme academic classical dancing
The second is the scarf PDD........classical and romantic at the same time! When done right.....a unique PDD even for Petipa!

Blue Bird PDD.....stylish and devilish. Very few dancers get it right.

Giselle.....the first two times he tries to partner her, Albrecht seemingly misses or goes thru Giselle. Very subtle move, but when it is done right, it really sets the table for the rest of the act, in terms of the supernatural atmosphere.

Diana and Acteon PDD.... With Nureyev, Jose Manuel Carreno and Carlos Acosta.

Napoli....last act festivities and dancing galore!!!!

I have too many PDD favorites to name, but one that is often overlooked is the first PDD in Manon. The second PDD is wonderful, but there's something unforgettably special about watching Des Grieux and Manon fall in love to that exquisitely poignant music of Massenet. MacMillan impassioned and acrobatic choreography in this piece I never tire of watching.

Other favorites include Balanchine's Tchaikovsky PDD, Robbins's In The Night and Nureyev's Vision PDD from Raymonda. Watch Dupont/Bart dance the Raymonda on youtube and see what I mean.

Conventional/Romantic: Ashton's Marguerite & Armand and Cinderella

Unconventional/Romantic: Petit's Clavigo 'kiss' pas de deux, the one where they fall to the floor, roll over and regain their feet with their lips locked together.

Fireworks: Flames of Paris, but only if Osipova is dancing it.

Blue Bird pas de deux
Tchai Pas De Deux
Black Swan Pas de Deux
Diamonds

Balanchine's Tarantella.

Also, the betrothal pdd from Bayadere, especially Gamzatti's variation.

Greatly stretching, and technically breaking, the definition of a pas de deux, I love "The Unanswered Question" section of Balanchine's "Ivesiana."

Oh, yes ! How could I have forgotten something so unforgettable?

In the world of Romeo and Juliet and Siegfried and Odette, is it really a pas de deux when the man cannot make contact with the woman; the woman appears to be unaware of his existence; and four expressionless men in black manipulate her and keep her from touching the ground? Why not? Or, if not a pas de deux, how about "anti-pas de deux" (like anti-matter)?

Thanks, kfw, you bring back images of Allegra Kent epecially, but also Margaret Tracey later on.