Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta in Manon, 2004 (The Royal Ballet)

Tamara Rojo as Manon and Carlos Acosta as Des Grieux in Act I of Kenneth MacMillan's ballet Manon.
Find out more at www.roh.org.uk/...
Kenneth MacMillan began work on Manon shortly after the birth of his only daughter. His source was the 18th-century French novel by Abbé Prévost, already adapted twice for opera by Massenet and Puccini. Renowned dance musician Leighton Lucas and his assistant Hilda Gaunt provided a score made from a patchwork of works by Massenet, including his famous yearning Elégie as the theme for the lovers. The premiere was given on 7 March 1974, the lead roles of Manon and Des Grieux danced by Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell. The ballet quickly became a staple of The Royal Ballet's repertory.
MacMillan found new sympathy with the capricious Manon, bringing his customary psychological insight and the memories of his own impoverished upbringing. He described his heroine as 'not so much afraid of being poor as ashamed of being poor'. Designs by MacMillan's friend Nicholas Georgiadis reflect this, depicting a world of lavish splendour polluted by miserable poverty. MacMillan's spectacular ensemble scenes for the whole Company create vivid, complex portraits of the distinct societies of Paris and New Orleans. But it is Manon and Des Grieux's impassioned pas de deux - recalling the intensity of MacMillan's earlier work, Romeo and Juliet - that drive this tragic story, and make Manon one of MacMillan's most heartbreaking dramas.
Find out more at www.roh.org.uk

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@itsalexharrell]

Ten years later and the two of them are still just as spectacular now as they were then.

[@gwendolinechione]

This is what heavenly dancing looks like. Utterly seamless and breathtaking. Absolutely extraordinary.

[@hirosmackarelbone]

I first saw them in romeo and juliet but this one just like really defined their chemistry--like, wow....

[@raeesahu1388]

Mesmerised by the music! It's hard to describe the feeling the music coupled with the exquisite dancing evokes...

[@etprincipalis]

Breathtaking, they are the best of the best.

[@marthajane6617]

Wow, they are absolutely flawless, well done, certainly one of the best pairs to dance this beautiful piece.

[@jengirl2]

Love, love, love this music! Such a gorgeous ballet and production with wonderful dancers!

[@MsVaughn75]

Glorious! Rojo is spectacular.

[@stpurser8990]

Tamara's amazing footwork.

[@diegomadeira35]

Sublime...

[@kendacity]

Wow - I LOVE Tamamarama. Hers is one of the definitive interpretations. Can't wait for Osipova on 7th October!

[@TruthSeekingElf]

STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL!! AMAZING!!

[@sandriinne]

my favorite pas de deux it's just so beautiful :)

[@jorgesantillan2032]

Me gusta como baila Carlos Acosta le da seguridad,fuerza y sobretodo fluidez a la escena.

[@icarrus4u]

Wow! I have this DVD!

[@m.b3284]

Tamara is my favorite in the world

[@williamkhider8524]

thanks you Tamara for giving so Michel pleasure tout thousand

[@IsraelAndalon]

I'm a huge fan of both Carlos Acosta and Tamara Rojo from The Royal #Ballet.

[@krazy77grl]

Some of the best chemistry in ballet.

[@anthonyhenrysmith]

perfection and strength

[@susannevollmer2347]

Acosta, never an empty move or step!

[@BrokenPointeShoes]

wow that was amazingly stunning.

[@kennyhenry4039]

Okay, so we need to talk about how amazing that was! I would have liked to see Carlos dance a bit more, though. That's the one thing I don't appreciate about classical Ballets - the males don't dance enough. But Tamara was amazing in this piece.

[@marianarocha7562]

It was a pdd. Men basically dont dance in the pas de deux, he helps the girls.

[@icarrus4u]

In this ballet there was a 2 minute Principal male solo before starting this pas de duex... And several solo male variations in Manon. You should get it and watch the entire ballet, it's a master piece,

[@girl4eversweet]

Cause it's a pas de deux. Classical ballets have plenty of male solos

[@CaveofMind]

That's why I love "Romeo and Juliet" and "Onegin". In those ballets, the male dancers really get to shine, not just in their dancing ability but in the dramatic depth and richness of the roles. Still, a wonderful Pas de Deux by Acosta and Tamara Rojo.( He makes it look effortless when what he's doing is incredibly difficult.) Just not the ballet I'd pick if I want to see more of the male ballet dancer.

[@JoseMunoz-kg6xj]

Merveilleux.

[@feldydancer]

beautiful

[@juanmarinesparcia734]

No encuentro la palabras adecuadas para expresar sentimientos de Manon.

[@earrapemicshitmeanpresentm6460]

nice

[@enriquenunez3002]

Siempre en Cuba los mejores bailarines del ballet clásico an sido mulatos o negro pero Alicia Alonso muy pocas veces lo vio al igual que las bailarinas lo mismos digo Siempre an sido multas an sido muy buenas bailarinas