Chorus Member Joined: 1/5/13
Help me settle a debate! What is the most famous/popular/recongized dance male/femalpas de deux IN MT? It can be a dance break during a song and it can be from a movie version of a musical and any genre.
Thanks!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Not sure, but briefly in the Dream Ballet from Oklahoma!, is this a pas de deux between Laurey and Curly ( starts @ 3'53" ) ?
Updated On: 9/16/15 at 11:18 PM
I would say CAROUSEL's famous second act one.
Ya the Oklahoma pas de deux section I would say is relatively well known among fans especially in its DeMille staging--and I'd agree that the one between Louise and the Carnival Boy is even better in Carousel (the film of which also uses DeMille's choreography though uncredited--I believe she sued--but you can find video of Kenneth MacMillan's ecellent piece for the Hytner revival which was one of the last things he did before he died.)
Otherwise the only other one that really comes to mind is the gorgeous pas de deux section of Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Ave ballet in On Your Toes. Or maybe the dream pas de deux in On the Town, though the original choreography has been lost.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Presumably the choreography for the film adaptation of OKLAHOMA! was from Agnes de Mille -- starts @ 1'12".
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
And from the film version of CAROUSEL, Louise Ballet, starts @ around 4'21".
It was. R&H (Rodgers specifically) found Agnes insufferable on the set of Oklahoma! which is why she wasn't invited back for Carousel. Which is too bad as much of the film choreography was awful--however, it has since been acknowledged that the best dance bit, the long Louise ballet, was basically a copy of DeMille's without originally giving her credit.
Here's the Pas De Deux from MacMillan's version of the Carousel ballet
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
This is just exquisite! Who are the dancers please?
First thing that came to mind - probably known more than any of the other examples by "non-theatre" people, just because of how famous West Side Story is.
the official pas de deux starts at 5:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2uaRmlQNg
I hope Chris Wheeldon's choreography of American in Paris becomes famous many years from now.
As usual, joey is exactly right. There really is no question.
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