The Art of Pas de Deux

By Nicolai Serrebrenikov

Book Overview

After a distinguished career as a dancer, Nicolai Serrebrenikov became one of the leading teachers at the Vaganova Choreographic School in St. Petersburg. In this major work on pas de deux, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0903102846
• ISBN13: 9780903102841
• Release Date: January 2011
• Publisher: David Leonard
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

If you can find a used copy, buy it.

This book is a short overview of ballet technique that was translated from the Russian by Joan Lawson. It addresses strictly the techniques behind partnering in ballet, the famous pas de deux, and is a good source of information for the dancers who need hints and sound suggestions on executing some of these difficult movements. It could also be read profitably by biomechanicians studying the physics of ballet, and by anyone who wants to appreciate more what is involved in the actual execution of pas de deux. It has many illustrations that are quite good actually (and are not stick figures). Part 1 covers the basic holds in supported adage, holds with two hands on the waist, turns (including promenade, revolve, and pirouettes), falling poses and positions using two hands, hand holds, supported adage using falls into poses and positions, holds with one hand, supported adage into and falling positions and pose. Part 2 covers the more difficult area of lifts in the air, and discusses little jumps and small lifts to the level of the chest or shoulder, jumps holding the girl with both hands on her waist, jumps with a lift from two hands using various holds, jumps with one-hand holds, small lifts, half turns with a throw into the air, jumps into the boy's arms, grand elevation with lifts on to the chest and shoulders, jumps on to the chest and shoulder, lifts and holds in grand elevation, lifts in a fixed position, lifts with fixed poses on the fullest stretch of the boy's arms, and throwing the girl into the air with and without a change of pose.