NUTCRACKER PAS DE DEUX (Balanchine)

[@cashelnd]

The sheer drama of Merrill Ashley's attack is thrilling, so much more so than most of the other filmed performances of this moment on KZbin. Truly memorable. I wish I had seen her (both dancers, actually) in live performance.

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

I had never seen M Ashley dancing like this. She looks so beautiful and just knows so well the Balanchine style that the choreography really emerges with this dancer. They both make a great couple.

[@dvabrannon]

Two sweet, gentle souls in life, but spitfire on the stage!

[@karllieck9064]

Fantastic. It was always the music first with Balanchine. He let the music dictate what his vision of movement would become through his choreography; the way it should be. The results speak for themselves. The music in the Nutcracker is nothing short of miraculous. Bravo, Tchaikovsky.

[@Anna-rt3id]

This was beautiful, so much grace and fire, too. I have not seen these two dance before and their pairing was memorable. She is lovely, such grace, those lines, technique, everything. Love Balanchine and this dance. Thank you for posting.

[@louiselins]

Getting crazy here with everything Merrill! For me one of the most remarkable ones in this style. Much more representative than others.

[@stephenhosmer9444]

Merrill is one of the memorable Balanchine dancers of note; what a lovely creature!

[@ddchil41]

Always have loved Merrill and Sean...And she was great to work with as well....at NYCB!

[@uptownsunni3560]

Thank you for posting this! Merrill Ashley was one of my first ballet idols. I saw her dance Balanchine's Square Dance in 1979, the first time I saw NYCB in New York.

[@rosgembrun]

Thank you. Anything Balanchine is always delicious.

[@simaraft7373]

I love Merrill too, and Sean. They remind me of my youth! So lovely to see this.

[@pediatrapaola]

+Sima Raft and me too l saw sean dancing in 79 balanchine NYCB long season in london ,l was 25 .

[@catherinecarterart]

This is the most feminine and vulnerable performance I've ever seen by Merrill.

[@sydneydudikoff1631]

Breathless at the beauty and elegance.

[@holdensupreme9436]

IMMENSE APPLAUSE FOR TWO GREATS.

[@thomastofel2]

The brilliant Sean Lavery!!

[@Laurelberninteriors]

Love this so much John. Gave me chills! Merrill has to be one of the cleanest most technically pure ballerinas to ever grace a stage. But also, deliciously lyrical. A rare and exquisite dancer's dancer. Is there such a thing as making a living from watching ballet videos on youtube?

[@jcliff26]

Laurel Bern Interiors Yes. But also check the one I posted of Darci Kistler and Damian Woetzel.

[@52worship]

@@jcliff26 Where? Where?

[@annefitz7346]

Yes please sign me up for that job !!!

[@feedthebirdstuppenceabag]

😂 I'd be a billionaire by now. And I totally agree with everything in your comment! She is sublime. I just watched her Ballo della Regina and was breathless.

[@jsky21]

What a treat to see these two principal dancers dance Nutcracker Pas De Deux. Also, to read that you danced under Balanchine's direction makes this extra special.

[@russianballetloverkatia1158]

Thank you so much, Mr. Clifford, for this video of two greats during what I believe were some of the golden years of NYCB. I always loved Merrill Ashley's dancing and saw her many times. I admired her beautiful Balanchine technique and pure-hearted devotion to this great art form. Regrettably, I did not see you dance because I only began seeing NYCB in 1980, at Saratoga Performing Arts Center - I have seen that great company there every year since. Looking forward with eager anticipation to NYCB's 50th at SPAC this summer!

[@tarantellalarouge7632]

this music is so moving and the choreography of Balanchine is the most refined to me ... very beautiful, I love the version with Gelsey Kirkland, Violette Verdy is very well known here in France !

[@patriciathomas6489]

Wonderful, beautiful, magnificent just love this pair

[@bobcohen4008]

I love this of Merrill Ashley and Sean Lavery. And it pains me that Sean's career - and life - were all too short. John, I appreciate you posting these clips and I'll look for the one with Darci Kistler and Damien Woetzel.

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Ottima la sequenza ravvicinata dei passi sulle punte e la mensurata enfatizzazione che accompagna l'esecutivita' delle positure del balletto.Ottima la conduzione indotta dal partner. BRAVISSIMI AMBEDUE. BIGHIN GIULIO RENZO.

[@laviniafaulkner3202]

Great dancers and great choreography the best ever seen

[@faun070]

Gorgeous, thank you for sharing!

[@tinamccann8968]

It was lovely to see, thank you!

[@2snowgirl520]

Her arms! ♥️

[@numberonefilmfan]

Thank you John, this is lovely!

[@seaofglass77]

So beautiful, thank you.

[@ewtam24]

Thank you for sharing

[@pediatrapaola]

l saw sean lavery dancing in london the same year l saw you dancing in london gala

[@jcliff26]

Allegra's AGON is there on my KZbin.

[@LeCanalBarbaraAnne]

What was Gelsey like to dance with? This was the last pax de deux Peter and Suzanne danced together.

[@sargentpunkin]

BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ballet2103]

Love it! Was always a big fan of Merrill. Do you happen to have a video of her and Kevin McKenzie dancing Tchaikovsky PDD? I saw it once on FB 4-5 years ago and would love to revisit. She was amazing and Kevin was very good too.

[@kendanziger8072]

Thanks so much.

[@2snowgirl520]

Thanks for posting!

[@jackiedaniel2502]

Magnificent!

[@deborahshelby5177]

Her arms are amazing! Still like Rudolph and Merle tho. Thank you for this beauty!

[@dmitrid1]

Agree with below. Surprised to see such flowery use of the hands which is more Russian. I have to add Merill is so light and has such beautiful lines.

[@AlejandroGarcia-ek3uy]

Thank you very much for sharing this video and your comment :)

[@elizabethmiorin5343]

Absolute perfection

[@AudreeAdam]

Merrill Ashley is amazing, really. And I am crazy about the Balanchine style. Her hands and arms are light and flowing and when she pirouettes, her crossed arms are such a beautiful added gesture. Everything is perfect, except for Sean Lavery in this performance. She totally outshines him, he's not up to it. His toes are not correctly pointed, his glissade avant (at some point, I don't remember when...) is too soft, doesn't hold itself, it almost seems like a beginner's first grand jeté. Anyway, these are only my own thoughts.

[@havenization]

wish I could have seen her solo

[@rayfreeman7878]

Very, very nice!

[@hilarybasing8753]

anyone know what year this performance was from?

[@sgc208]

Who the hell would give this a thumbs down?!?

[@jcliff26]

Agreed. Some people only like Soviet Vaganova style. Mannered and stiff.

[@diggermd1]

Sean Lavery 😢

[@MP-uc7pj]

Woah what year,?,

[@TheKFFowler]

Nearly seamless - perfect - until 5:30 when the arm muscles begin to tremble. I wanted this to finish as well as it promises, but this is the beauty of unedited performance.

[@nataliedelagrandiere4022]

Yes she started shaking her arm. Too bad.

[@52worship]

Oh, that is frickin hard - let's see you do it! Ha Ha!

[@robrivax]

TREMBLE is not the right way to describe that. Tremble implies weakness and both Merrill and Sean are at their height of strength and technical prowess. A small tug of war with the balance perhaps, but watching it twice and knowing what it takes to execute that partnering step, they did a fine job really and the finish of the pas by Merrill and Sean is the exclamation point of a superb job by both.

[@robstockton911]

Indeed, I am not as infatuated with their partnering in this performance as the other commenters. There are a few places where they’re out of position and hence, tussling for arm positions.

[@robstockton911]

@@52worship That is the dumbest reply to a perfectly appropriate comment.

[@hudsony777]

What year?

[@jcliff26]

I think around 1986.

[@hudsony777]

@@jcliff26 Then this would be right before he had to stop dancing.

[@pedinurse1]

Now that is a PPD!!!!!!

[@andrewgaxiola7214]

What year is this?

[@jcliff26]

Andrew Gaxiola I would say mid ‘80’s

[@bassavino]

Which theater is this?

[@jcliff26]

Radio City Music Hall

[@unsatura]

sean lavery is so handsome...

[@lincoln9345]

Ivete Sangalo. The Great !

[@ivonesantiago5488]

6:14 It’s prerfect

[@lacouerfairy]

Truthfully, I've seen better. The 1993 film of Darci Kistler and Damian Woetzel was truly flawless. Lavery's feet hung there like dead fish. Merrill looked like she was way off balance at 2:18 and didn't hold her arabesque balance long enough at 5:37 because she got off the music. But overall a pleasing performance. I miss that sliding arabesque in the pas de deux!

[@jcliff26]

maseratic boychik Let's not argue. It's a lovely "live" performance under any circumstances.

[@jcliff26]

Yes Darci's and Damian's was exceptional..but it was NOT live! They had several takes to get it. This was a LIVE performance.

[@jamesthosbaker]

I far prefer the Petipa choreography to Mr B's.

[@jcliff26]

Too bad...your opinion, and I respect that.

[@Qacc6]

James The thing is, we no longer have an unaltered version of Petipa’s choreography. Based on what we have now, I think Balanchine’s version is more dynamic and as usual without the formal posing of the “traitional” version.

[@yuna-ik6iv]

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[@mikedumais]

Perfect demonstration? Sorry, but I don't agree. Sean Lavery ought to have pointed his toes when he was turning a la second. Not so perfect, and a demonstration of how untalented men can dance with such talented women and get away with it. Ashley was WAY more talented than he was.

[@AudreeAdam]

I so agree! She was incredible, but Sean Lavery wasn't up to it.

[@felixdevilliers1]

A foot not pointed t here or there? Who cares Sean Lavery danced beautifully drawing expressive lines with his legs arms body. He obviously has a supporting role and is not given the choreography enjoyed by the woman. I watched three times and would be happy if I could dance like him.

[@jcliff26]

My point was what a gallant partner he was. I leave "tricks" as a separate conversation.

[@robstockton911]

It’s a thing here on Mr. Clifford’s channel. He posts the video, and regardless of its merits, everyone gushes uncritically.

[@joshcrittendon9416]

Beautiful costumes, and dancers. Unfortunate choreography... 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@jcliff26]

WELL! That's only your opinion. I, and many others, believe Balanchine's choreography is far superior to any others, including the original.

[@joshcrittendon9416]

John Clifford I guess it’s all a matter of personal preference. I’ve always preferred classical ballet, Balanchine was never very attention grabbing for me, seemed a bit boring. Although, I do like his version of the Marzipan dance.

[@jcliff26]

Josh Crittendon Yes. All Art is subjective. To me this as classical as can be. Plus the musicality of the choreography is sublime. Just my taste.

[@joshcrittendon9416]

John Clifford I guess we should just agree to disagree 😂 I’m more of a Petipa type of person

[@jcliff26]

Josh Crittendon So was Balanchine. He really was the heir to Petipa. Have you seen his Raymonda Variations? Pure classical choreography. I’ve posted it.

[@artwatch-y9j]

Excellent choreography, she is too tall for him, compromising the overall esthetics

[@jcliff26]

Really? Maybe it’s the camera angles because Sean was much taller than Merrill.

[@artwatch-y9j]

When she is on her toes, she is taller than him, ethically not nice. Her shoulder too wide, head too square, make her look masculine.

[@jcliff26]

Anna Bouquet Many ballerinas are slightly taller than their partners on pointe. It’s the lines and esthetics which are important. Sorry you cannot appreciate this but it’s your opinion. This doesn’t bother me at all.

[@robrivax]

I had the opposite impression, how perfectly proportioned they were for each other.

[@BalletBabyBoy]

Glad I posted this. I had to take down all my Balanchine videos. Too many problems. Now I can't find the Berlin Agon anywhere which Allegra is coming to see today.

[@jcliff26]

Are you on Facebook? Add me as a friend to see more videos.

[@jcliff26]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnrXhX6ffNGrf6c

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

Do you have any clips from you? I remember your name but didn't see you dance. It would be wonderful to do.

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

Why did you have to take down all your Balanchine videos?