Pas de Deux, Pas de Seul et Un Quart

[nancylebov]

Unfortunately, I can't embed this version of Afternoon of a Faun, danced by Jacques d'Amboise and Tanaquil LeClercq, but it's wonderful. He's got the big name, but she's got an absolute physical assurance I don't think I've ever seen before. He dances it as though he's awed by her, and he's absolutely right. There's a bit about two thirds of the way through where it seems as though the assurance rubs off on him, but it doesn't last.

I got the link and a little review from livinglaurel.

The funny thing is, that after seeing the Numa Numa en Pointe ballerina (Ursula Martinez) dance some Nutcracker, I've been wanting to see some more equal pas de deux, but I forgot to research it. The inefficient research method of just reading my friends list paid off, though.

Martinez is really good-- her Numa Numa is absolute physical comedic genius, and her Nutcracker is a mind running a body with phenomenal verve and precision, but the pas de deux is set up to show her off. The man is dressed like the ballet version of a ninja, and he isn't lit unless it's an unavoidable result of them being next to each other.

So, here's Jacques d'Amboise and Melissa Hayden doing a genuine pas de deux from the Nutcracker. They look so happy to be with each other.

Comments

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

I couldn't access the review from this computer, but Leclerq was older than Jacques D'Amboise by a few years, and was one of Balanchine's muses and his last wife. That might explain why he seemed awed--she may have been more famous at the point; she certainly had a high spot in the NYCB pecking order.
She'd be more famous, but she was crippled by polio when she was about 27.

I never really *got* ballet before but...

[sterlingspider.livejournal.com]

They move like squid through water!

How lovely!