Thursday evenings are a favorite of many students at VBC—because that’s the night they get to attend pas de deux classes. Pas de deux instruction is a critical component of our upper-level pre-professional dance training. But what is pas de deux, anyway?
The pas de deux, or “step for two,” is often the dramatic crescendo of a classical ballet. Classic examples include the Nutcracker’s Grand Pas de Deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, or the wedding pas de deux from ballets like Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, or Don Quixote. These famous duets feature awe-inspiring lifts and jumps, whose grace and beauty belie their difficulty. In professional companies, it’s the prima ballerina and the principal male dancer who perform these roles.
A VBC dancer performs Arabian Coffee pas de deux with a guest artist in our 2023 Nutcracker. Photo by Ruth Judson.
Training can be hard to come by
At many ballet schools, students don’t study partnering outside of the occasional master class or perhaps at a summer intensive. This is often due to logistics, particularly at schools that do not have a lot of male students. If students are cast in a role that includes a pas de deux, they may be dancing with a professional. In such situations, they may only get to practice partnering a few times before the performance.
VBC students work with our male partnering volunteers during their weekly pas de deux class. Photo by Vincent Crawley.
But many schools won’t cast students in these roles at all. Often, they will hire professional dancers to perform the more complicated roles that involve pas de deux. Even when these roles are given to students, it’s rare that more than one or two dancers receive this opportunity in a given year. But that’s not the case everywhere.
Pas de deux classes at Virginia Ballet Company
Our philosophy at Virginia Ballet Company and School (VBC) is a little different. Our dance curriculum, which follows the Vaganova method, is formulated to prepare dedicated dancers for dance careers. We strive to equip our students with all of the skills that they will need for professional success. This includes the favorite weekly pas de deux class.
Students receive corrections from Artistic Director Dina Fadeyeva during weekly pas de deux classes. Photo by Vincent Crawley.
Advanced dancers and select intermediate IV dancers who have been approved by the Artistic Director may take pas de deux. This weekly lesson is an opportunity for students to learn basic partnering technique and gain experience performing lifts under the guidance of experienced faculty. We have had the pleasure of training numerous students, both male and female, for lead pas roles in our full-length productions.
VBC students practice shoulder sits during weekly pas de deux class. Photo by Vincent Crawley.
Like most ballet studios in the area, we don’t currently have a large number of male students, but we don’t let this prevent our dancers from learning how to partner! We are fortunate to have a dedicated corps of male volunteers who assist our students, including fathers, male dancers who take our adult classes, and even friends and brothers who are able to log volunteer hours for their service.
Partnering performance opportunities
After spending some time in pas class, many students are cast in partnering roles in VBC’s annual Nutcracker. Our full-length production, which has run annually for more than 60 years, offers numerous opportunities for our students to perform pas de deux.
A VBC student and volunteer partner learn how to execute a bluebird lift in pas de deux class. Photo by Vincent Crawley.
In addition to the traditional duets danced by the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen, VBC frequently incorporates pas de deux into other beloved scenes, such as Spanish Chocolate and Arabian Coffee. The Reed Pipes are often performed as a pas de trois, featuring one boy and two girls. Additionally, VBC’s original role of Sugar Rose, danced at the beginning of Act II, is often staged as a pas de deux.
A VBC student performs the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Grand Pas de Deux with a professional guest artist during the 2023 Nutcracker.
Letting our students shine
VBC runs at least four and as many as six Nutcracker shows every December with multiple casts. This year, nine of our students will perform pas de deux with professional male dancers.
Artistic Director Dina Fadeyeva gives corrections to a student performing a bluebird lift. Photo by Vincent Crawley.
The choreography is complicated, with difficult lifts and turns of the sort you would expect to see in a professional production. But our students can approach these roles with confidence and a firm foundation in classical ballet technique, thanks to their pas de deux training.
VBC’s Snow Queen performs a fish lift with a guest artist in Nutcracker. Photo by Ruth Judson.
Are you looking for a studio that prepares students for professional careers? VBC offers comprehensive pre-professional classical ballet training in the Vaganova method. Many of our students have gone on to careers at a variety of professional companies, thanks to their hard work and rigorous training.