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Suzanne Farrell Ballet About the Performance Suzanne Farrell, founder and director of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, is regarded as one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. She has danced in more than 100 different ballets, nearly one-third of which were created expressly for her by choreographer George Balanchine (BAH-lahnsheen), known as “the father of American ballet.” At this working rehearsal, you will see the company in The Balanchine Couple. This performance features nine selections of partnered dance, with narration by Suzanne Farrell. The program is presented in loose chronology, reflecting Balanchine’s evolving career as an American choreographer.
About George Balanchine George Balanchine was the most prolific–and often considered the most influential–ballet choreographer of the 20th century. He revolutionized classical ballet by eliminating complex plots and emphasizing movement that expressed the music. Balanchine created more than 400 ballets and founded the New York City Ballet. His artistry and fresh approach helped popularize ballet in the United States.
The Pas de Deux In each of these selections, the focus is on the couple, dancing together in pas de deux (PAH-d’-DUEH). From the French, meaning literally, ‘step for two,’ it is designed to show the virtuosity of the ballerina and her partner. Key to the pas de deux is the interactions between the partners. Whether telling a story through mime, or creating purely architectural shapes, the dancers are working together to communicate the choreographer’s vision. Sometimes, they are formal and distant, others times, in intimate unison.
Sara Ivan and Runqiao Du in Apollo. Photo by Carol Pratt 2008