Cracking the Code on The Nutcracker’s Grand Pas de Deux - Boston Ballet
x

We’re currently experiencing technical difficulties with all Boston Ballet School registration (excluding Adult Dance Program). Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this issue. If you have any questions please email school@bostonballet.org.

Cracking the Code on The Nutcracker’s Grand Pas de Deux

By Boston Ballet Staff

Viktorina Kapitonova and Patrick Yocum in Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker

Photo by Brooke Trisolini

Ever wonder what’s going on in that final scene of The Nutcracker? Why do the two main dancers keep leaving the stage only to return? Why does it look familiar?

The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince’s final dance together is a beloved scene in The Nutcracker. Did you know that this iconic duet, or grand pas de deux, follows a structure that’s well-known in the classical ballet canon? Dive into classical ballet history to discover the five components that make up the grand pas de deux.

Chisako Oga and Derek Dunn in Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker by Brooke Trisolini

Daniel R. Durrett in Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker by Brooke Trisolini

History of the Grand Pas de deux

In the earlier days of ballet, partnering was very limited. It was not until the Romantic Era in the 19th century that significant developments in ballet partnering occurred. Lev Ivanov is largely credited for choreographing The Nutcracker’s Act II grand pas de deux as we know it today. A pas de deux, literally translating to “step-of-two,” refers to a couple dancing together. A grand pas de deux contains an order to the dances, a structure which shows up in many classical ballets. The grand pas de deux contains five components: the entrée, adagio, his variation, her variation, and lastly the coda.

Lia Cirio and Paul Craig in Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker

Photo by Brooke Trisolini

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.

Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker November 29-December 29, 2024