The Art of the pas de deux (Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Nicol Edmonds - The Royal Ballet)

Pas de deux (dances for two) lie at the heart of many ballets. They can be great technical showpieces, but they can also be dramatically emotional - and, of course, are often both at the same time. First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell and Soloist Nicol Edmonds of The Royal Ballet discuss their experience of dancing together in The Nutcracker's Grand Pas de deux.
One of the most awaited moments (and there’s a lot of competition) in The Nutcracker is the Grand Pas de deux in Act II: visually stunning, musically gorgeous. It is part of the entertainments in the Kingdom of Sweets to reward Clara for her help in saving the life of the Nutcracker and defeating the Mouse King, and comes after a series of divertissements that includes the famous Arabian Dance, Chinese Dance, Dance of the Mirlitons (little flutes) and the Waltz of the Flowers.
A pas de deux is a centrepiece that allows two star dancers to shine with their technique, communication of emotion and especially their partnering - the sympathetic way they respond to each other. In classical ballets the pas de deux is usually for a male and female principal (and often between two lovers): here it is the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. There is a general pattern for a classical pas de deux. First the two soloists enter and dance a slow section together (the Adagio), then they each have a solo number (called a Variation) and finally they dance together in a spectacular and usually fast conclusion (the Coda). Essential elements of the whole form draw on contrasts between the different sections in the choreography, characterization and, of course, the music.
Find out more at www.roh.org.uk

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[@gifttohumanity6641]

Whenever I watch these videos I suddenly regret that I've never taken ballet classes

[@nebuluos2032]

This comment reminds me of a music video. All should check it out Quarry of Hymns by LOT. Pretty old video now i guess..but super relevant to this comment.

[@nebuluos2032]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boKbfIaAlN-ssM0

[@isabellaw.6330]

just start. it´s a really great hobby.

[@franciscaqueiros9259]

And I regret that I quited😪

[@bw3747]

Quit...no ed needed?

[@kbc3757]

I’ll be so happy the day Beatriz Stix-Brunell is promoted to Principal! She’s one of my favorite artists.

[@AnnaStoney]

I read this as "I'm so happy Beatriz got promoted to principal" and got so excited before I realised :(

[@kbc3757]

Anna I’m sure we’ll get that happy surprise soon. She’s wonderful!

[@avagreiwe]

Ugh this song gets me every time because after this song I know nutcracker is over😭😭♥️♥️♥️

[@bw3747]

Song? No,not a "song" as you so quaintly word it..

[@lavone5541]

@@bw3747 don't act so pretentious on KZbin lmao.

[@lavone5541]

In classical music, the songs are actually called pieces. Just a little tip :)

[@whatkindofnameisella682]

I love Beatriz so much 😭❤️❤️ she looks so elegant and beautiful in this video I'm so happyyyyyy

[@micheleoverman7745]

Great comment

[@rupertsfriend64]

whatkindofnameisella I follow Beatrix in Instagram.. she’s so funny and full of energy ... and then you see her dance ... she just amazes me ... takes my breath away ...

[@georgesringeisen5365]

Beatrix est partie, parce qu’elle a compris qu’elle n’avait aucune chance de devenir principal Bravo, les Anglais

[@RijackiTorment]

Stunning! I love the switches from practice to different examples on stage.

[@SundayMatinee]

Fantastic explanation with wonderful excerpts from some amazing performances! Thank you so much for posting this! 😊

[@autumnnite1803]

Love this type of video, educating and entertaining x

[@marilyn1843]

It's so amazing being able to see how they make the connection between two characters

[@marylickona6322]

Omigosh I loved this!! Thank you so much for uploading it!!

[@tamorathepurple]

Bea is such a beautiful dancer!

[@chipsanders0822]

Another beautiful post and glimpse into a beautiful world. I ❤️ ballet! Thank you!

[@pippinhart7340]

This video was such a delight! I loved hearing the dancers' commentary; it makes watching what they do even more joyful.

[@Prettycreolebarbie]

Beatriz is an amazing ballerina 💖👸🏽

[@eduardasartorio8932]

Beatriz turns ❤️❤️

[@TheDelfinlady]

They're so in sync at 4:28 it's amazing!

[@dancingdiva90950]

Watching these makes me miss those rehearsals and performances more and more.

[@bitchette]

We need more of Beatriz's art ❤

[@altheatalbothoward]

I love these two. They have fantastic chemistry.

[@Fhoebys16]

I live to watch this really. so beautiful....I LOVE BEATRIX she is so good. I really hope to see more videos like this, so fun

[@tristoffsquabit1862]

Daaaang those fouettés are so clean and beautiful! Wow!!

[@itsad8]

one day, in January 1985 I witnessed what in my mind was perfection in the Nutcracker grand pas de deux. Leslie Collier and Anthony Dowell achieved a performance that has yet to be equalled even to this day. It is my sincere wish their work be mandatory viewing for all future dancers interpreting the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier 💖💖

[@eugenedanker2377]

Whoever determined that male ballet dancers should wear tights was a genius.

[@soumliterallylikeyeah]

pure. magic.

[@barbaralemere1852]

So true. The music for the Grand Pas in Nutcracker is so grand and you really have to fill that music and finish each phrase and that dosen't work unless you really relate to each other on stage.

[@laurenricard7088]

Would LOVE to watch a ballet at the Royal Opera, all their productions look so beautiful... I should definitely plan a week-end to London when I can save some money ^^

[@veramentegina]

and whenever i watch these videos i suddenly regret that i haven't worked harder in my ballet classes.

[@jazmineiscoool]

I love this video! Thank you! RB has the best YT content.

[@samuelblanco6468]

the way you described the coda was PERFECT 😭😭 so fun and really pushes your body to the limit ❤️

[@kumbulanisakatira6607]

Absolute magic!

[@kwanzatrotman6337]

Thank you for this information. I've been interested in ballet on and off so I never did bother to check out the "pas de deux" as I always thought it was the main couple's grand finale only. I never realized that there was so much more to it including all the characters who would've danced as well. I don't recall the last time I watched an entire play so maybe that's part of the reason for me never noticing this. Congratulations to those who've done this in the past, and best wishes for those who are rehearsing for them now and will do them in the future.

[@catherinegaunt2659]

This is awesome 🌺♥️🤩✨✨✨

[@catherinegaunt2659]

This is a dream come true ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@olenkamilagros8480]

I loved the intro ❤ and the entire video

[@fernandacanale]

Que Belleza ❤🌻

[@pepper70788]

This was such a wonderful video, the editing was amazing!

[@user-mm1hh3mm8b]

You do it perfect !!! Goos job !

[@user-mm1hh3mm8b]

Good job I want to say 😳

[@SB-ll1tt]

Stunning

[@saeedawhitaker2460]

Ooh these teaching style vids are interesting!

[@phoebenightingale8428]

😍

[@michaelr9033]

The best siregar

[@carmeladioko6772]

this made me so happy :)) thank you guys so much:)

[@constanzabelen2511]

❤️❤️❤️

[@antoniaaraya100]

❤️❤️

[@fahriyedemir5495]

Nice informative video!

[@yanyuet]

lovvely

[@user-eq4hs4xp6p]

파드되 ♡♡

[@gregj831]

Although certain overentitled narcissistic minds would like to change it, there is still nothing more beautiful and natural looking as a handsome young cavalier and his beautiful ballerina dancing as one.

[@butterfly53]

I would love to do ballet but I can’t because I’m not good!

[@jonsiepollock2175]

So disappointed to see that Swan Lake has been removed.

[@fishtailwing]

바하 피아노 연습곡 긴 것들을 동작으로 풀어서 하면 된다.

[@alexibuilez9282]

Agh!!! She wears Gaynors!!!!

[@alexibuilez9282]

I mean the Sugarplum onstage.

[@georgesringeisen5365]

Elle est partie, parce qu’elle avait compris qu’elle n’avait aucune chance de devenir principal Bravo, les Anglais

[@INOBT100]

Darcey Bussel is still dancing?! Get out of here! :)

[@samantha7549]

she retired 10 years ago, that must be an old recording, but she seems to be still in awesome shape

[@INOBT100]

I know she retired, that's why I was surprised; I'm sorry, but with such good quality, to me it looked like bran-new

[@michelboudot2882]

A very nice soloist for me. Lack the ballerinna finish...Same for him. Adequate no more. Strong ...nothing special

[@siegfried923]

I hope the Royal will really encourage their young Dancers male and female Soloists etc and not give every special performance to Satisfy the Osipova Clique - Otherwise these promising dancers and soloists are going to end up like in the Nureyev Fonteyn era Where a lot of promising dancers were only given - Prime roles when Nureyev and Fonteyn were not available RB catering to the audience as it does now only with Osipova whether or not she is right for the role!!! just to put bums on seats. Several promising dancers of the Nureyev years either went abroad or took early retirement or joined the touring company . This must not happen again but afraid it is. Osipova is a great dancer in the classics though her Odile has a somewhat fixed expression ( not a temptress as she is supposed to be) and she struggles with Ashton because of her musicality! Let Magri Beatrrix Nicol Edmonds et al have their chance to shine otherwise they will go elsewhere and we will be left with a void. As Lesley Collier commented she only got to dance Rhapsody with Barishnikov because the first choice was injured

[@fahriyedemir5495]

What are you even talking about? Nobody at the Royal Ballet has favoritsm. The ROH does not frequently stage Ashton pieces any more. The only ones she has danced in since she first got here 5-6 years ago are Rhapsody, La Fille, Marguerite & Armand, and Sylvia. And in my opinion she showed great artistry, characterization, and musicality. You have to remember, the Ashton repertoir is difficult for all Russian-trained dancers because it requires certain structural elements they are not familiar with. In fact, you will not find one Russian dancer who has ever danced his ballets that doesn't think his ballets are difficult to adapt to. But nevertheless, Osipova is one of the great dancers of her time -- with an artistry, charisma, and lyricsm very few dancers have reached (especially in the Romantic ballets). So, there is hardly any injustice going on here. In my opinion, their social media team hasn't featured enough of her performances on their sites; I believe they only have two clips featured here (Giselle and Odile). I prefer her Odette in the White Swan Pas De Deux Adagio over her Odile (although I do think she has a great Odile). She takes a more languid and impassioned approach to the Pas De Deux Adagio that I have never seen from any dancer before.

[@siegfried923]

Do your research Les patineurs The Two pigeons Maguerite and Armand Sylvia are all Ashton works all performed recently. Look back into the Nureyev /Fonteyn era a lot of dancers were passed over because the audiences only wanted to see Nureyev and Fonteyn read your dance history before commenting !!!! @@fahriyedemir5495