THE ENTRÉE
The entrée, or ‘entrance,’ is when the couple arrives on stage. In The Nutcracker, they arrive with the music and greet each other as well as Clara and Drosselmeier.
THE ADAGIO
This quickly transitions into the adagio, the part of the pas de deux paired to a slower tempo. The Sugar Plum Fairy performs slower movements and extensions en pointe supported by her partner, the Nutcracker Prince. As the pas de deux progresses, there are big, impressive overhead lifts.
THE VARIATIONS
After the adagio comes the variations. First, the Nutcracker Prince performs his more upbeat variation, with lots of elaborate jumps and turns. Then, the Sugar Plum Fairy performs her variation, to her iconic music. Her variation highlights her pointe work abilities, focusing on difficult small steps while maintaining grace, and concluding with a series of turns.
THE CODA
Lastly, THE CODA is performed – an exciting finale. Each dancer returns to the stage, with the Nutcracker Prince appearing first, followed by the Sugar Plum Fairy. They briefly dance separately, before finishing the grand pas de deux together with energetic jumps and turns.
Come see the magic of this iconic pas de deux come to life on stage in Mikko Nissinen’s THE NUTCRACKER.