"Two memorable pas de deux’s on Wednesday 4 June 2014 at New York City’s Lincoln Center make me proud to study ballet.

At the Metropolitan Opera House, I saw the matinee of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s ‘Manon’ danced by American Ballet Theatre to the Jules Massenet’s score. It’s the tragic tale of Manon, who with the devoted love of des Grieux, is still lured and corrupted by her brother’s and her own desire for prosperity. Every scene was convincing, and it seemed every movement and limb seemed to have an expressive purpose.

I was swept away completely by the passion and love between Manon and des Grieux in a magnificent Parisian bedroom pas de deux I won’t soon forget... their dancing conveyed their love so compellingly.

Later at David Koch Theatre, I saw the evening performance of George Balanchine’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ set to Felix Mendelssohn’s score. It was a dazzling display of comical madness with tiffs, pursuits, mix-ups, and of course love, all taking place in a magical and lush forest, with very lush ballet. The energy did not flinch once, and the soaring, flying, and leaping seemed just as magical as the forest itself.

In the wedding celebration in the second half of the performance, there was a most impressive long, slow promenade that will provide inspiration for me at the barre, and made me so eager for my next week of classes with Donna in the Ballet Espressivo studio."


Giovanna
Ballet Espressivo student
of 5 years