Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux extract (George Balanchine; Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Marcelino Sambé)

Anna Rose O'Sullivan and Marcelino Sambé perform George Balanchine’s effervescent Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux. You can watch the work in full as part of The Royal Ballet's mixed programme Balanchine and Robbins. Watch a livestream of the full performance from 11 June 2021: stream.roh.org....
The rich history of American ballet is celebrated in classic works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, two choreographic giants of the 20th century. Apollo brought Balanchine together for the first time with composer Igor Stravinsky. Their creation for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1928 remains a masterpiece of neoclassicism in its striking depiction of the young god of music and his three muses. Balanchine’s effervescent Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux breathes life into a long-lost movement from Tchaikovsky’s original score for Swan Lake. Created in 1960 for virtuoso New York City Ballet dancers Violette Verdy and Conrad Ludlow, its thrilling technical challenges are still relished by performers today.
Jerome Robbins, a contemporary of Balanchine, played a crucial role in the development of American ballet but was also as an influential figure on Broadway. His 1969 ballet Dances at a Gathering, to music by Chopin, is an ode to pure dance. As Robbins himself described it: ‘There are no stories to any of the dances in Dances at a Gathering. There are no plots and no roles. The dancers are themselves dancing with each other to that music in that place.’ While plotless, the ballet's intimacy creates a powerful sense of community, which promises to resonate with audiences and dancers again following its revival in 2020 just before lockdown.

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@DuchessRococoPuff]

I’m always blown away by the height on Sambe’s jumps! He soars! Beautiful pas de deux.

[@hrh4961]

Jump height? Have you noticed his legs? Zowie!

[@rowbom]

He is awesome.

[@sedekiman]

Came back for another look, after watching other performances. Darcy Bussell and Zoltan Solymosi were so beautiful together, exquisite precision. But this pair just project such joy, and joi de vivre! And of course fabulous dancing, quick, light and precise. Love it. Their exits too wonderful, his first turning back to see her, and her turns off stage-great!

[@a.phillips6892]

They are so exciting to watch💗 I’ve followed Marcelinos career from when he was very young, what an incredible dancer he has become!

[@serenashaw-q3y]

He is always cheerful; but works very hard with great determination. All credit to him.

[@sedekiman]

Beautiful from both!! A wonderful, growing partnership.

[@adrnnn_]

watching this i was literally like "how tf do they spend so much time off the floor????" gravity makes an exception on ballet dancers. change my mind.

[@lauranaspeer5008]

I have one friend who is incredible at dancing, and we joke that she has hidden wings on her. She just kind of pauses in the air, she's incredibly talented and such a sweetheart too.

[@dvabrannon]

When asked how he jumped so high, and could “hang in the air,” Nijinsky responded with the question, “can’t anyone do it?” Michael Jordan responded, “I just see myself there.” I had a similar jump(but less talent), and, after many years of(being asked) this question, I feel it is simply the child assuming that it is possible, then deciding you want to do it. This causes the body to make the effect happen. Training simply builds on this belief and, therefore, builds competence in its execution. Of course, inspired and competent training makes it even better! NOTE: my jump began to wane when I began questioning it. It must be a perfect balance between “abandon,” “belief,” and “technical training.” Dancers train for soooo many years - from the phase where we’ll believe ANYTHING, into adulthood, without interruption. That is likely a major factor, as well.

[@oiseau_libre]

Absolutly loved both of them!!😍😍😍

[@rosgembrun]

Balanchine is always so joyous.. The Shakespeare of dance.

[@heatherlouisesullivan8766]

They pair beautifully on stage.

[@xtavares258]

PERFECTION ✨✨✨✨

[@jillgooner]

they are so well matched and are a great new pairing which is very exciting, become very popular at the roh. Such incredible young talent which there is quite a bit of at the moment

[@alexandradaniele]

Magnificent performance by these two superb dancers!

[@lorikate5660]

Wonderful performance from both 💕

[@shaelmpbcptlp]

They are amazing 😀

[@mariadefatimacorreacoelhof3244]

Dois magníficos gaullus românticos e enamorados, em um flerte prolífico. Obrigada pelo vídeo.

[@suzannebarton777]

What a brilliant young partnership, they bring such life and joy to the piece! The next Vadim and Marianela perhaps???

[@barborasolanska3997]

If you want Vadim and Marianela, they’ll dance this in today’s livestream!

[@suzannebarton777]

@@barborasolanska3997 thanks, I didn't know it was them but I've seen the rehearsal of them doing it and they radiate the same joy.

[@barborasolanska3997]

@@suzannebarton777 I know right?!! They’re just incredible, I’m sad I can’t watch the whole rehearsal anymore. That’s why I’m so excited to watch it tonight!!! There will be Apollo and Dances at a Gathering as well (that’s a masterpiece, honestly, one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen).

[@anneharrison1849]

@@suzannebarton777 That rehearsal was amazing - it was astonishing to see them get so many corrections! There seemed to be having so much fun.

[@barborasolanska3997]

@@anneharrison1849 I love the rehearsals, I feel like I learn so much! And I get to know the dancers better

[@suzannederringer1607]

How delightful they are! And Marcelino does amazing high jumps.

[@sanrialvarez1904]

Tchaikovsky, I love you.

[@olivialee3974]

mesmerized by the grande jetes

[@radiantonion8615]

two of my faves!

[@annefitz7346]

Bravo 👏 👍Thx for sharing

[@christawietholter3247]

Wundervoll! Ein Genuss zum Ansehen!

[@marianeira9160]

Que belleza!!.....Gracias

[@mvlfoyedits.7379]

Absolutely Stunning!!

[@gonefishing167]

That was absolutely delightful, thank you. They make a lovely pairing on stage, very insync. Have they danced together much , does anyone know? Once again, thank you 🙏. You never fail to deliver 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@TheSorub]

The pair do dance a lot together

[@gonefishing167]

Dear a Mac, thank you for that . Some couples do ‘fit’. I always thought Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev made a wonderful pair on stage. And off stage for a while . Thank you 🙏🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@TheSorub]

@@gonefishing167 go on Marcelinos instagram he does a great behind the since at the roh

[@anastasiabananastasia]

stunning

[@jessaglenny]

It's lovely - and looks very English (especially Anna Rose). For comparison check out Tyler Peck. Interesting to see it done with a different accent.

[@gillianashley1820]

You make a good point, Jess, though I will just say that I think this was Anna Rose’s first performance of this. It will be interesting to see her when she has more performances under her belt. Tyler is brilliant, though.

[@anneharrison1849]

@@gillianashley1820 Tiler was lucky enough to get coached on it by Violette Verdy and there are some videos of this.

[@alexandradaniele]

I have seen Tiler do Tchai Pas many, many times and she is electrifying! But each dancer brings her own beauty to the role, as do different male dancers.

[@avesraggiana]

@@alexandradaniele As much as I like Tyler Peck in Tchaikovsky PDD, I prefer Ashley Bouder. I’ve never seen Megan Fairchild in Tchaikovsky PDD, but I imagine she would be wonderful in it too.

[@alexandradaniele]

@@avesraggiana Yes, Ashley is amazing in Tchai Pas! I have seen Megan Fairchild do it and she is wonderful in it!

[@khaled7aleh]

💕💕

[@helazemni1683]

🌸I N C R E D I B L E ! ! ! 🌸It couldn't be more beautiful ❣️

[@TomMcHugh-l4v]

But why doesn't Marcelino dance the original Balanchine choreography? See the Barishnikov/McBride video...still the ultimate performance of this work (IMHO, of course).

[@leoz6353]

Here's Lauren Cuthbertson doing this PDD: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnTZq4Wwd9yUq5o Here's Sarah Lamb: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJC9gnewjpqtbrs Both with Vadim.

[@avesraggiana]

After watching in resignation at countless Russian couples licentiously “russky-izing” Tchaikovsky PDD, and making a mess of it, the “Englishness” of their interpretation is refreshing. Virtuosic without being showy, graceful without being ponderous, and, typically Fonteyn-like, unerringly musical.

[@Natalia-kx5jt]

That man is flying

[@susannevollmer2347]

🤩💐💐💐

[@edithtan4795]

👏

[@anneharrison1849]

I love Anna Rose, but there is one problem that everyone has with this Pas de Deux - they aren't Tiler Peck!

[@cgibabyhand]

I wish Tiler would do the Patricia McBride style fouettés (the ones Anna Rose does in this video).

[@anneharrison1849]

@@cgibabyhand I do like that detail, I wonder why she doesn't do it, I'd be surprised if it was a technical limitation. With Tiler it's her extremely fast foot work in the jumps and releves shown in this section that her stand out.

[@deliobergamotto8876]

nooooo way this is sooo junior

[@zaidiamine7534]

Amazing 💕

[@kimhaas7586]

She’s so delicate. Very nicely done. Still not as reckless with the fish dives as Patricia McBride but let’s face it that was probably dangerous c

[@bobloblaw9679]

or suzanne. she ended up inches from the floor, almost entirely vertical.

[@anneharrison1849]

Got to be honest I'm not a fan of how the fish dives are done in this ballet, even the less reckless ones feel too reckless! I feel like I'm watching gymnastics rather than ballet!

[@elizzy8754]

The fishdives in the McBride/Baryshnikov version leave you gasping, but I am sure those two professionals knew exactly what they were doing! Sambé and O'Sullivan were a little tentative in the first dive, but the second one was great. Altogether a beautiful performance.

[@anneharrison1849]

@@elizzy8754 Oh, yes, I'm sure they know what they are doing, I just personally have a preference for a slightly different position rather than a daring throw.

[@avesraggiana]

The most electrifying, death-defying fish dives are forever on record in the movie, “The Turning Point.” Peter Martins catches Suzanne Farrell just a split second before she breaks her neck. It’s a lunging, headlong dive, with Suzanne’s head describing an almost pendulum-like arc as she falls to the floor. It’s arresting. It’s truly amazing. It’s pure Farrell genius.

[@bobloblaw9679]

whyyyy do people hear balanchine and think "WHACK! BOOM!" he appreciated delicacy and subtlety; not everything needs to be so jarring

[@горькаяодиллия]

Balanchine is appalled with this performance. He wants dancers to dance to death this isn't even close to being alive

[@joaobaptistapintonetto5715]

🏌️‍♀️👏

[@tm2339]

アンナさん、、ポーズも決まってないし安定感もないし、肩が上がりすぎ

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

She is way too reserved for my tastes. Unexciting. For me, she doesn't do justice to the great music and great choreography. She takes the life out of it. What is she holding back for? Not everyone should do Balanchine or can do it.

[@sedekiman]

Are you watching the same video? It is FULL of life! Beautifully danced by both.

[@grapeball20]

kinda agree especially compared to NYCB's which is full of energy with the right tempo

[@Mila_ballet]

Her upper body looks very strange and whole package is quite loose. Much prefer Nela. Not even close.

[@Mila_ballet]

@bondo guy her upper body esp around 30ish “ reminds me of Chinese Yangge dance. Or any casual dance from festival performance episodes. Then I realize it’s actually Tchaikovsky + ballet …..

[@Mila_ballet]

@bondo guy huh? But the news that she being promoted was out a while back already.