This ICONIC PDD is NOT OUR THING?! | TIER LIST Ranking Ballet Pas De Deux | Ballet Reign 

Okay, about the Sugar Plumb Fairy PDD - I recently saw a yt video about the Nutcracker - one of those "dark origins of..." things. According to this video Tchaikovsky wasn't at all enthusiastic about writing the music for the ballet. He thought that it was too simplistic and childish to be interesting, but it was an important job so he forced himself to do it. But while working on it and dealing with his depression he found out that his sister - who had always looked after and supported him had died. This is when he began to write the music for the Nutcracker in memory of his sister. From the beginning party scene where he remembers growing up with her to the PDD - which ultimately is Tchaikovsky imagining his last memories of or maybe his hope of reuniting with his sister. That kind of explains the very definite sense of sadness and - to me desperation of the music in this PDD. Just an interesting thought.

balcony pas de deux being in "not my thing" got me GAGGING, IT HURTS SINCE THEYRE MY FAVE😭

Take Romeo and Juliet back to where’s my partner. IMMEDIATELY!

Girls. Girls. Girls! Having sobbed my way through many performances of the R&J Balcony pdd, I can’t agree with your assessment, though you did redress the balance somewhat by loving The Dream. Please do look at Voices of Spring, especially the original version with Merle Park and Wayne Eagling. They had enormous charisma and technique.

Romeo and Juliet and Manon two of my top favourites

I’m a big fan of Macmillan, so my favourite PDD is the Manon Bedroom PDD, closely followed by the Mayerling Bedroom PDD. Not exactly the epitome of pure classical ballet, but still so beautiful. I also like the orange pdd from Concerto.

I love your list! I'd kind of just line them all up at the top! Some of my other favorites are the "bedroom" PDD from "Manon" its really beautiful and showcases the nature of the relationship between the couple. Not sure of the name but the main PDD (the one Sylvie Guillem danced) of "In the Middle Somewhat Elevated". The " White Cat and Puss in Boots: PDD in "Sleeping Beauty". The PDD between Terpsichore and Apollo in "Apollo". And the PDD in "Diamonds" in the ballet "Jewels" - just too gorgeous for words!.

YES!!! Giselle takes the cake! Pure love , grief, regret, despair, desperation, resolution through music, choreography and the talented genius of the best casts. A winner!

Please, make the same video on variations/coda AND pas de trois (Odalisques, Three Shades, Paquita PDT, Swan Lake PDT, Precious Stones). Most of them are “where’s my partner” especially if the music is equally beautiful. My favorite PDDs with my dream partner Leonid Sarafanov are Flower Festival in Genzano (definitely near top because of music by Helsted), Satanella (you can’t go wrong with Pugni), Tchaikovsky’s PDD has one of my favorite pieces of music, Diana et Acteon (Drigo and Vaganova no brainer!), both Swan Lake PDDs, Grand Pas Classique, I’m so happy you included Voices of Spring (Johann Strauss Jr is one of my favorite composers and the first time I went to Vienna I broke into a Waltz), the whole Act II of Giselle. I do love variations and coda of Flames of Paris, Sleeping Beauty Grand Pas is perfection (I was coached by Irina Kolpakova - THE Aurora). La Bayédéré was my first PDD so it changed my life. Le Corsaire is fun. Firebird, Delibes tells me you both love late classical to neoclassical music, I appreciate it but not for me. I CANNOT stand Sugar Plum, Don Quixote and especially Bluebird PDDs. They’re so overdone, the music gives me low key PTSD.

Romeo and Juliet = Where’s my partner. Not only the dancing but the music by Prokofiev.

Paquita: I’ve done all the parts and you have to appreciate that the corps is performing the adagio unsupported. You guys should rank the Paquita variations.

I took an 8-year old to Nutcracker and during the GPDD she asked (loudly) why the man didn't just get out of the way and let the lady dance!?! 😂

you guys should make a video ranking pointe shoe brands... or just talking about pointe shoes in general!

i love sugarplum pdd so much 🙁 the music, the choreo, it all ties in and just works so well with itself!!! i wouldve put sugarplum at “wheres my partner”, but I do understand where you two r coming from!

My favourite PDD is the bedroom PDD from Act 1 of MacMillan's Manon. Didn't even make the list.🥲

Prokofiev’s R&J is my favorite ballet, and The Firebird 2nd. Missed R&J 😢

Tchai Pa deserves to be in top of the list!! I love this pa so much!!

Love your videos!! 💗 Some of my personal faves: farewell pas de deux from Winter Dreams by Macmillan, purple pas de deux from Lady of the Camellias by Neumeier, and the final pas de deux from Onegin by Cranko ✨

And as always, I'd love a part 2 with the other parts. Male variations, codas, and even corps pieces would be really fun to rank.

guys, if we are speaking classical repertoire, what about Raymonda? I know officially it’s a pas de 18, but you get my point 😉

lol, even with the pixelated pictures in the thumbnail, I could tell which one was in the "not our thing" section xD It may not be your thing bit it IS iconic lol

Please do a video on the last one (Grand Pas de Deux by Spuck). I love it and glad to see it's being mentioned. My favorite interpretation danced by is Ulyana Lopatkina and Igor Kolb. If you pay attention, you will notice that there's little bits and pieces satirizing classical ballet (eg Swan Lake, Giselle, one part looks like Grand Pas Classique)

Thanks for another fun and instructive video! Would love to see an analysis of Voices of Spring - Ashton seems to be in perennial danger of being consigned to history as being irrelevant or old-fashioned, and it's lovely to see his work being taken seriously. Also, I have a couple of suggestions for future videos. First is, I wonder what you think about ballet competitions and the expectations they create in the dancers who do well. It seems that they spend their times working on solo variations usually performed by principals and first soloists, and then they get into a company, often in the corps, and sometimes don't last long. Also, from reading about British ballet (although I assume this is the same elsewhere), it seems that promising local students are booted out of the vocational schools when the principal (or someone equivalent) sees a polished dancer at one of the international competitions and decides he wants them in the school instead of the home-grown students. Secondly, I was watching a documentary on some ballet students, a couple of whom weren't the standard body type, and they found it impossible to get into leading companies because of their physique - it seemed as though their ability to dance was secondary to their body type. I remember commenting in a forum that at this rate Margot Fonteyn would have never got into a major company school nowadays and several other people said, yes, she wouldn't have. Seems as though priorities in training young dancers are a bit skewed these days.

You guys always have such cute hairstyles. ❤ Also I’m really enjoying learning so much about ballet lately from you guys. Hooray for the Arts. 😊

Gielle Act Ii is my absolute favorite. Those beautiful developees and penchees, the lifts-- incomparable! It is prototypic n'est-ce pas? The way Albrecht slowly becomes aware of Giselle's presence but at first can't quite grasp her, then starts dancing her steps and becomes her true partner...I just love it.

I know it doesn't count as a classical PDD, but I'm a huge fan of Wheeldon's "After the Rain"!! It would be fun to see you two react to some neoclassical work/PDD like that one :)

I’d love a Voices of Spring commentary! Yuhui Choe is my absolute favorite in that ballet she’s so wonderful!

I just came here to add one of my faves of all time, the one from Spartacus. The passion, the heartbreak... I love it.

Petipa's "Talisman" pdd is wonderful! It's in the same style, with almost identical costumes as "Diana and Actaeon" but there's no bow as a prop that you have to dance with. The difference is that "Talisman" is taken from Indian mythology and "Diana and Actaeon" is taken from Greek mythology. It's also choreographed to music by Ricardo Drigo. It's obscure but the choreography and music are absolutely beautiful. I also adore MacMillan's Balcony pdd & Act 3's Bedroom pdd from "Romeo & Juliet," and the first pdd in the courtyard and final pdd from "Manon." I rank these MacMillan pdds and all of Tchaikovsky's pdds - the white swan and black swan pdds from "Swan Lake," the Act 2 Vision scene pdd and Act 3 Wedding pdd from "The Sleeping Beauty," and the grand pdd from "The Nutcracker," and the Act 3 scarf pdd of NIkiya and Solor from Minkus' "La Bayadere" in the "Where's my partner?" category. Ashton's final pdd between Natalia Petrovna and the tutor, Beliaev in "A Month in the Country," is sublime in much the same way as his "Marguerite and Armand." His "The Dream" final pdd between Titania and Oberon I'd also place in the "Where's My Partner?" group. I also love the final pdd from Cranko's "Onegin," and the Dream pdd from Act 1 Scene 2 between Raymonda and Jean de Brienne in "Raymonda." Other "Where's my partner" pdds for me are: Balanchine's Terpsichore & Apollo's pdd from "Apollo," the "Agon' pdd, "Diamonds" and "Rubies pdds in "Jewels," the wedding pdd from "Don Q," Taor and Aspicia's grand pdd from Lacotte's "Pharoah's Daughter," and the pdds of Marco Spada and Angela in his "Marco Spada," as well as Roland Petit's "La Rose Malade" pdd set to Mahler.

Please, do voices of spring! I enjoy your videos so much! Love, Sol

about paquita (for summer intensive we did the grand pas, allegro, and coda) and the corp CARRIES the pdd. our director said that most people are looking at the corp instead of the couple

Thank you so much this videos! Love you guys! Keep going❤🩰I enjoyed it so much

it was fun to see the rankings, I especially love the Bluebird pas de deux and it was also fun to read the original tale by Madame d' Aulnoy, and there is also a full Bluebird ballet staged meanwhile inspired by the famous pdd (; I still think that the Disney Sleeping Beauty movie took heavily inspiration from it for the "I wonder/Bluebird" sequence. what I missed here in the rankings are the not so full official pas de deux. the white swan pas de deux (pas d'action) from Swan Lake, and the Snow Pas de deux, in some productions of the Nutcracker. I really love that music of act 1 before the snow flakes waltz (;

Seeing y'allz content just makes me smile! I really love how you guys are always so in-depth in explaining the context, the characterization, the music, everything! I'm just curious what y'all would rank the Sylvia pas de deux by Ashton coz it's one of my top faves :DD

Wonderful video, ladies! Thank you!!!! ❤

For me the greatest classical (stylistically) PDD of all is Balanchine's Tchaikovsky PDD. It has everything. Then there's his Diamonds PDD. And his Symphony in C slow mvt PDD. Guess you can tell who my favorite choreographer is! Have you two ever had an episode about him?

I watched and enjoyed! Thanks so much!

Thought it was today, I was wondering why I didn't get a notif

Yes..of course, The Dream PDD ranks high, and of COURSE, Romeo and Juliette...also, Cinderella...marvellous music and choreography. I guess we could go on and on...what fun!

Ladies!?! Diamonds PDD from Balanchine’s Jewels!!!

Yes please to voices of spring!! I’d like to see the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux as well please. I’d love to see your take on both. I’d also like to see a full commentary on La Fille Mal Gardée which is my absolutely favourite ballet!! Btw, i love your videos. I only discovered them a couple of weeks ago and have binge watched ever since!! Well done girls!

love this video☺️

Voices of Spring PDD commentary, please!

Some other favourites are the charming and original Knave of Hearts PDD from Alice in Wonderland, the bedroom scene PDD from Roland Petit's Carmen (Polina Semionova and Roberto Bolle do a smouldering version on YT) and the Kingdom of the Shades PDD from La Bayardere. The La Scala version on YT with Svetlana Zacharova and Roberto Bolle is sensational. I love the chemistry with these two and this is one of their best. Finally the PDD between Apollo and Terpsichore in Balanchine's Apollon Musagetes. I am working on choosing partners for you both for these. I think when you are tired of a well danced Sugar Plum Fairy PDD you must be getting tired of life!

Yes! Commentary on Voices of Spring, please! I'd love to hear you two wax poetic about this ballet!

Please do a commentary on Voices of Spring, I went by myself to watch that performance of Marci and Anna Rose so would love to hear some other ballet nerds dialogue 😅😂

You should consider giving us your thoughts on Voices of Spring. Just a thought. Fun post. 👍

For me, the Sugarplum Fairy pdd is actually really interesting, because the version on the Nutcracker that I grew up with had Klara herself dancing the role of the sugarplum fairy, kind of like her stepping into the role of princess next to the prince. I just find it a very interesting choice🤷‍♀️

Le Grand PDD is (inexplicably) new to me, I didn’t even recognise Lauren Cuthbertson behind the handbag. I walk through of that pointing out all the musical and choreography connections would be fabulous.

Strauss and Tchaivowsky are my two favorite classical composers! :D :D

Ok I actually love that ballet and would absolutely love for you guys to absolutely do a commentary for it. Also I really love Romeo and Juliet both the book and the ballet.

Also one of my “find me a partner” PDD is Act I PDD from the Nutcracker!!! Personally I love it even more than the sugar plum PDD

I’d really love for you to credit the dancers, it’s a good way for us fans to learn about more dancers, if it’s the royal ballet, I recognise almost every dancer, I recognise popular recent recordings, but some of the ballets that are more performed in Russia, I’ve got no chance! I was completely unfamiliar with Voices of Spring, but to see Marci and Anna Rose doing it was fabulous.

I love this so much

Haha I agree RnJ isn’t my thing, more on the acting side not the dancing. I get a little emotionally drained watching it, like I know im supposed to feel a lot but I’d like to see some dancing

being a ballet nerd who's also a classical musician has never felt so good

Maybe I missed it on your channel, but I would absolutely love a full commentary of Coppelia. I think its really nice to get some explanations of ballet stories in a view of a actual Balletdancer.

OK, this will probably make you happy: I have never seen Voices of Spring, so introduce me. I am not a huge fan of Bluebird or the Peasant pas de deux. I think I like the Gamzatti-Solor one better than you do, and the Coppelia one a little less. A really great one, though almost too long to count, is the one in Diamonds, from Jewels. I also really love the bedroom PDD from Manon.

so cute!! i love your videos :)

Where would you put Manon bedroom pas de deux? 👀👀

What a beautiful video! Pretty choices! I very much love the Macmillan pas de deux, especially mayerling pas de deux! And when I look the pas de deux of Giselle and the pas de deux of the bayadere kingdom of the shadows i always cry. I would like to know your opinion on Macmillan's pas de deux and on that of the kingdom of shadows, please. 🥰❤💯🩰

A favorite, and never performed it but my heart yearns for if I could roll back time... Act 1 pas de deux from Coppelia, Swanhilda and Franz. There is a YT Coppelia with Osipova that, well.. heaven sent. So many great pas partnerships of course... of this. And hey... with so many of great partnerships since time began, one could just take every pas from Iconic and place them in "Where's My Partner", mebbe? Well, that would be my board because... just because...

Another enjoyable video, and yes please I`d like to see your commentary on 'voices of spring'.....but no more AMSR please!! It gives me a very unpleasant sensation in my tummy🙂❤

Pls do an voice of spring commentary!!!

Please do a take on Le Grand pas de Deux. Would to hear what you think and your analysis… 😊

Love this video, but can u plssss do another story time on a ballet. I would loveee to know the story of Don Quixote because I never understand the story and it’s hard to find❤❤❤

My favorite PDD is the Bedroom PDD in Mayerling. It's so expressive, violent, acrobatic. It's why I love Mayerling: the frame is a super classic ballet but goes deep into emotions and violence.

LA GRAND PDD at the Top

This is off topic, but might I humbly request you do a brief video tribute to the most unsung heroes of ballet - BALLET MOMS (sorry dads, but it usually the moms). They are like soccer moms to the 10th power, especially for girls. The countless hours waiting in your car in the snow for one of a MILLION Nutcracker rehearsals going for years from party children to soldiers to Act II parts, then the summer courses and all the gear that needs to go with, the $$$$$ for pointe shoes and the costumes if they are in any competition, the AIRFARE and travel expenses for auditions all over the world… i

Let’s go! 🎉

What is Delibes Suite I've never heard of it, I would love to know more about that. I watched the Grand Pas and loved it. Loved this video too, a huge fan of all of your videos.

FYI, in the Russian version, the pas de deux is danced by Masha (Clara) and Nutcracker Prince: it becomes then a celebration of growing up as a person and finding your first love.

My favorite thing about the Bluebird pdd is that in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, Aurora sings the melody along with a little bluebird it’s so beautiful 💙

OMG was that Nina as Firebird? One thing I NEVER saw her in (video or live)

Please do a commentary on Voices of Spring. 😊 Thank you!

you guys really disrespected Romeo and Juliet like that like it isn’t the most adored pas de deux ever

When you say everybody knows sugar plum , I chuckled . Never heard of it until I start watching videos of American ballerina . And I saw many productions of nutcracker . Russians ones . It is iconic for because since childhood I know that it is a part where Masha( mari) is dancing with a prince in her dream . And it is Mari not Clara .

i definitely love the poise of la bayadere act 2 pas de deux, paquita, and romeo and juliet/outside of that list i personally love the three pas de deux from le parc and Manon's the ends of each act + 3 pas de deux from La Dame aux Camelias (Neumeier's version) + the one at the end of Les Enfants du Paradis + the love scene pas de deux from Sasha Waltz's Romeo and Juliet

I haven't seen the spring pas de deux PLEASE DO A COMMENTARY VIDEO

I have been dreaming of a video like this ever since I discovered you two, and I can definitely say that I absolutely loved this. 🤍 Cheers Ballet Reign 🦢 P.s. You two should definitely do a commentary on the Voices of Spring. We would very much love it.

The costumes for La Bayadere by Paris Opera Ballet (Nureyev production) is simply breathtaking! But personally, I'd rather see the act 3/white act pas de deux where Solor meets Nikiya for the first time in the Kingdom of the shades. That pas de deux is almost like they're dancing in slow motion, with breathtaking music.

Being born and raise in Qc, Canada. For me the Fernand Nault's Nutcraker is the best choreography. Such a theatrical ballet, such emotion and less academic. I think the Sugar Plum Pas de deux would be more to your taste. Les Grands balles Canadiens de Montreal Pretty in agreement with the rest of the list. And who doesNT L❤VE Tchaikovsky. WE NEED A "review" and some context for the Grand PPD

all those food similes for Delibes' music hahaha

Ok so regarding Romeo and Juliet, I do appreciate the choreography by Sir Kenneth McMillan especially because he created his version of the ballet on Dame Margot Fonteyn (part Brazilian like me!) and Rudolf Nureyev. I think the Balcony Scene is iconic and Alessandra Ferri is one of the greatest Juliets of all times. However, I do not care for Prokofiev’s score even though I recognize he’s a great composer. So not for me. I’ve seen the full ballet at Covent Garden and yes it was life changing but still…

Where is Spartacus pas de deux....

The Grand Pas Clasique is the most beautiful dance - but - it so demands pure timing. I have seen it once and it was superb. It’s from 1991/2 ( ancient history for you girls) , Russian but I csnt remember much of their names. Her surname was something like Paley ? Think it started shriek. Mouse!!!!!!!!!!🐭

Would you ever like to do any analysis on Manon? I know it’s more contemporary, but it seems to draw a lot of inspiration from classical ballet. Would love to here your thoughts!

I love Kitri! I wish I could have danced professionally so I could have danced her. I also love the Pas De Ruban from La Fille Mal Gardee.

I'm sorry, Romeo and Juliet is one of the most perfect pas de deux of all time

Out of curiosity, was there a particular style or choreographer you were using? Were you basing it off of classic choreo or Balanchine, etc...?

Loved Giselle second act pdd🎉

Please explain Raymonda

There's an old joke that pas de deaux means " father of twins"

Yes to the voices of spring

FIREBIRD VIDEO AND VOICES OF SPRING VIDEO NOW!!!! please 😊

Dear Ballet Reigndeers! What an enjoyable video! I loved your description of Delibes' music! Thanks to you and a number of fine people in the comments, I now have tons of pdd to look up and enjoy! Naturally, I would love to see any video that you are keen on making, regardless of what ballet is featured! Does Jemima Puddle-Duck get a pdd? One of the most unusual pdd I have ever seen is Rudolf Nuryev dancing Swan Lake with Miss Piggy! Link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aHbGqJ_MonU.html There is a lot of creative choreography there as I'm sure you will agree! 😂 OK, so you think I am culturally challenged, slightly dimwitted, and pretty immature. Thank you very much for this generous assessment! Allow me to prove some obscure knowledge! There is a pdd I discovered a few years ago called "The leaves are fading" by Dvorak. Link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qtysMJRBuRM.html The audio quality is not perfect. It sounds like when people used to watch video tapes too often, the tape would physically become worn out and cause audio and/or video distortions. In this case, it's only audio and it only happens three or four times. I suppose this does count as a pdd even though they spend so much time dancing alone? Thank you so much for the video! Thank you for always being so bright, positive, enthusiastic, and energetic! J 🩰☔️🦌 and E 🩰☔️🦌

How about La Talisman

Please do a voices of spring commentary!

Finding myself a bit bored by Tchaikofski's full length ballet PDDs. Sugar Plum is BORING! Give me Tchai Pas from Balanchine, for #1, any from Bayadere, Corsaire, Paquita, Don Q or anything from the more esoteric Russian repertoire, some of which is relatively unknown in the west...poor us. Enjoying your super nerdy comments, ladies. Nerd on!!!!! Brains count as much as bodies.

WHAT ABOUT MANON!?!? the most romantic one😭😭