Please continue this series either with nutcracker or other classical ballets! It's so interesting to see and hear all about the different roles and what's difficult or fun about them!
The disk is such a wow moment of the whole pas de deux. I love how Balanchine incorporated a stage trick into a supposedly classical pas. Makes this version really stand out.
Katie, I'm always blown away at how difficult this pas is. Every ballerina who talks about this pas de deux says it is deceivingly difficult, and Balanchine's version seems even harder. I remember Gelsey Kirkland even referenced the difficult "hair pin turns" in the Coda (in her book). Thank you so much for the amazing Nutcracker content!
I have been so lucky to see both dance our Nutcracker (Ballet Hawaii) for many years. Megan just did it again. She just sparkled, illuminated. She was just incredible.
YES!!! I am just so in love with these Ballet Deconstructed videos 🤩 especially these Nutcracker ones! please continue the series! Hot Chocolate perhaps?? ❤ Thank you thank you!
This grand pas almost always moves me so much I cry. It's just soooo beautiful! I love your insights, it makes me appreciate it all the more. Both their lines are absolutely stunning !
Darci Kistler's final dip in the coda in the 1993 film is absolutely INSANE. They do not slow down at all, it is so exhilarating, one of my favourite ballet moments ever, and definitely the best execution of the Balanchine coda ending I have EVER seen!
This was such a great breakdown. Megan and Joaquin were such a great partnership. They are so gorgeous together and have such a great connection and both are beautiful on their own. I think if I could see Ashley Bouder as Dewdrop and Megan as Sugar Plum, it would be my ideal Nutcracker. This has been so much fun watching you break down Balanchine’s Nutcracker. One of my favorite versions because it offers some very different interpretations of a very well known ballet. ❤
Thank you so much for also deconstructing Joaquin's variation! Would definitely love it if you did more guy stuff (but I get it). Maybe some guest appearances from some old guy friends from NYCB/SA? Would love to learn what their experiences were like.
No magic ruined here! Having always performed the classical version your insights and behind the scenes stories about Balanchine's version are so fun to learn!
I have been watching you since the very beginning when i was 15 and your tips and stories are with me in every ballet class i take! Thank you so much and greetings from germany ❤
Such an amazing video, thank you!! Wow I cannot get over how beautiful Joaquin is... thank you for highlighting that, he deserves it. This series is so fun and festive, really appreciate it :)
Please do Sugar Plum Fairy Solo and possibly the Peacock but was that PNB? Those are my two faves aside from the dolls. Our Nutcracker was slightly different but this brings back memories. Thank you. ❤
Omg. It’s astonishing how difficult this is! I’ve seen 50 plus Nutcrackers plus another 50 pm video but since I never partnered. I did not appreciate all this plus the pros all make it seem so smooth !
As a cellist, I can never figure out how one of Tchaikovsky's most beautiful pieces of music is used for this pas. The melody is so heartbreakingly beautiful -- full of longing, regret, sadness. It sounds like parting forever. For me, it has never fit in with the rest of an otherwise sugar-laden ballet.
I love watching your deconstructing videos so much! I love the Sugar Plum variation so much, I like how you break down each part and all of the moves! Thank you💗
Having met both of these amazing dancers I completely concur with Katie - they are two of the most down to earth people I’ve ever met. Even when I met Megan when she was on broadway doing miss turnstile and was probably exhausted she was so sweet and friendly. Can also say the same for her brother when I met him during American in Paris. Come to think of it I don’t think I’ve had any bad experiences with any of the NYCB dancers I’ve been privileged enough to meet. All absolutely amazing
I really really love these videos of you very well explained ❤ I know it’s going to be difficult but I would love to hear your deconstruction of the nutcracker pas de deux of Rudolf Nureyev version thanks a lot ♥️♥️♥️
I feel like a full third of this video is just Katie thirsting over Joaquin's dancing and.... same, girl. Hard same. 🤣🤣 In all seriousness, a fabulous analysis of one of my favorite pdds of all time. Megan is an absolute dream. (But also, ohmygod Joaquin!!)
I absolutely love this deconstructed series 👏🏻 It's so interesting. I was surprised to learn that there are choices in the choreography that can be changed to show off the dancers' strong suits. I grew up in ballet class and I never thought I could do it professionally because there are certain things I can't make look good on my left side/weaker side. It blew my mind to know that professionals have the choice to do whichever side they want! I would also love to see you deconstruct pieces where the man has saved a step that's gone wrong. The audience usually doesn't know when that happens because the dancers are so good, so it would be fascinating to understand the nuances of saving a lift or a balance, etc.
I like that Peter Martin actually counted and did a proper risk assessment. You don’t know what you’re dealing with in any business without that analysis. That ballet masters do it too is interesting.
Ruin the magic for me any day. I am legally blind. And regular glasses are not much help sadly. SO hearing all the tilts and fish flops and targeting the shoulder vs arm. Gives me all the entire fine details that I’d have actually never seen 👀 in detail. So thank you Kathryn. 🙏 ❤️
I really enjoy this deconstruction. Speaking of a live orchestra with ballet, I believe that it is necessary. As a full season subscriber to the San Francisco Ballet for over forty years, I love that their dedicated orchestra keeps pace with the dancers. A number of years ago, I went to see Sleeping Beauty in San Francisco. It was wonderful. A few weeks after, I went to see a small company perform Sleeping Beauty. They had recorded music. During the Rose Adagio, the principal dancer and the music were not “in synch.” It was unfortunate to see the ballerina try to rush through such an iconic scene. I have followed your UA-cam channel for many years, and have learned so much. I have never taken ballet lessons, but can appreciate the hard work and skill involved. The more I know, the more I enjoy being in the audience.
Is there anyway you could deconstruct 1977 Baryshnikov/Kirkland Nutcracker? There is a clean vid on TY. Both of them are so stunning, and it would be fun to hear your commentary on the bits you find interesting. I have so enjoyed this series. Brava! 👏🥰 💐
I love how you break down the performances, and I appreciate them more because of it! I am curious about what you think of the 1993 production of the Nutcracker, especially the way Kyra Nichols played Dewdrop, and the grand pas de deux performed by Darci Kistler and Damien Woetzel. By the way, it looks like Finn's being a silly pooch! lol 😂
Yes- I thought about this! What’s interesting is that all the little options I was talking about in the pas (one handed catches, the switch places on the entrance)… Damian and Darci do those! And Kyra- stunning. Maybe I should do that at some point!
It would be great to hear about mother ginger and the polichinelles, and also candy cane!Id love to hear about the students in these roles, their ages , how they are chosen, etc.
I would love deconstructions of other rep as well once nutcracker season eventually wraps up. either other nycb / balanchine or even petipa works that you've performed during your career.
From the point of view of the musician, not all conductors are as good as this one, here, they not only watched for the dip, but they watched for the indication they will dip, and anticipated to give that final note indication to the orchetsra for the music to be in perfect sync. most conductors watch for the final dip/ pose and gesture as it happens making the sound slightly delayed. (just came bcak from a nutcracker where every. single. final note was a quarter second late)
I can appreciate this pas de deux, but personally, I find Balanchine's machinations a little contrived. The magic in ballet is when it looks natural (I know it's an oxymoron). Somehow, the wrist holding in the panche seems unnatural to me. The fingers are too spread out and Magen looks like a fallen tree - the fingers being the branches. I can definitely still appreciate the amazing difficulty of this piece, but still I feel it's the choreographer's job to make it seem "meant to be". Interestingly, when the dancers were doing the small part that was a tribute to the classical version, it was beautiful and natural, in my opinion.
I totally get where you’re coming from…..it’s also a bit stressful for no reason, in my opinion! The gig version (when you do this Pas de Deux on guestings) is either a promenade or a penche. And I am usually grateful for that 😂
I had a similar feeling the first time I saw a video of this Pas de Deux (I think I yelled "wait WHAT?"), it totally threw me out of the magic because you know there has to be a stage trick... but then I realized that for kids seeing this Nutcracker live, it must seem like actual magic (she's floating!!!). So that makes me appreciate it.
She's SO strong! I love that the NYC dancers don't look like they're starving.
Please continue this series either with nutcracker or other classical ballets! It's so interesting to see and hear all about the different roles and what's difficult or fun about them!
Second this!! I love hearing the commentary and behind the scenes insight :)
Katie, I love how your deep appreciation for these dancers is so obvious in your voice. You don’t hold back your love and admiration.
I never realized how difficult this pas is! I really hope Megan Fairchild gets a chance to watch this, you said the nicest things about her!
The disk is such a wow moment of the whole pas de deux. I love how Balanchine incorporated a stage trick into a supposedly classical pas. Makes this version really stand out.
Katie, I'm always blown away at how difficult this pas is. Every ballerina who talks about this pas de deux says it is deceivingly difficult, and Balanchine's version seems even harder. I remember Gelsey Kirkland even referenced the difficult "hair pin turns" in the Coda (in her book). Thank you so much for the amazing Nutcracker content!
Awesome analysis. Never knew there were 13 spots that are "hit or miss". Megan and Joachim make it appear effortless. The music is splendid.
I have been so lucky to see both dance our Nutcracker (Ballet Hawaii) for many years. Megan just did it again. She just sparkled, illuminated. She was just incredible.
I’m sure!! She’s stunning!
YES!!! I am just so in love with these Ballet Deconstructed videos 🤩 especially these Nutcracker ones! please continue the series! Hot Chocolate perhaps?? ❤ Thank you thank you!
This grand pas almost always moves me so much I cry. It's just soooo beautiful! I love your insights, it makes me appreciate it all the more. Both their lines are absolutely stunning !
Darci Kistler's final dip in the coda in the 1993 film is absolutely INSANE. They do not slow down at all, it is so exhilarating, one of my favourite ballet moments ever, and definitely the best execution of the Balanchine coda ending I have EVER seen!
Yes! I agree!
This was such a great breakdown. Megan and Joaquin were such a great partnership. They are so gorgeous together and have such a great connection and both are beautiful on their own. I think if I could see Ashley Bouder as Dewdrop and Megan as Sugar Plum, it would be my ideal Nutcracker.
This has been so much fun watching you break down Balanchine’s Nutcracker. One of my favorite versions because it offers some very different interpretations of a very well known ballet. ❤
Thank you so much for also deconstructing Joaquin's variation! Would definitely love it if you did more guy stuff (but I get it). Maybe some guest appearances from some old guy friends from NYCB/SA? Would love to learn what their experiences were like.
I love his mirroring of her arms,lovely. Made me feel quite emotional.
Meghan is one of my favourite dancers. She makes every role her own and she is so expressive ❤
Kathryn, I as an audience member am enjoying your analyses very much. Please continue doing them.
No magic ruined here! Having always performed the classical version your insights and behind the scenes stories about Balanchine's version are so fun to learn!
I have been watching you since the very beginning when i was 15 and your tips and stories are with me in every ballet class i take! Thank you so much and greetings from germany ❤
Aww thank you so much!
I saw nycb nutcracker last night!! Such a gift to have your commentary to reflect and continue to enjoy it afterwards
Yay! That is what my goal was! ❤️
Thank you for making these deconstructing videos. I've loved this ballet since I was a child. Your descriptions make me love it even more.
I 💕love💕your analysis!! 🤗 That 1st step looks so effortless…I had NO appreciation for the difficulty until you broke it down. Wow! 🤩 🩰💐👑
P.S. We saw you do Sugar Plum at Texas A&M in 2021! It was SO good! 👏Can’t believe it was 3 years ago! 😊
Gorgeous performance, thank you for this deconstruction ❤
Your commentary is so insightful, detailed, and Generous🥰
I saw Megan Fairchild in “Coppélia” at NYCB this past October. She was amazing!
Thank you I enjoyed it so much. ❤ nobody have tought me those stuff cause we don’t have time in class Those videos are so educational and fun
love the ballet breakdowns. You gotta do this with more ballets Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, after the rain!
Such an amazing video, thank you!! Wow I cannot get over how beautiful Joaquin is... thank you for highlighting that, he deserves it. This series is so fun and festive, really appreciate it :)
I've been saving this one for last- it was wonderful! You actually make it more magical by deconstructing it. Thank you so much! 💖💖💖
Please do Sugar Plum Fairy Solo and possibly the Peacock but was that PNB? Those are my two faves aside from the dolls. Our Nutcracker was slightly different but this brings back memories. Thank you. ❤
Omg. It’s astonishing how difficult this is! I’ve seen 50 plus Nutcrackers plus another 50 pm video but since I never partnered. I did not appreciate all this plus the pros all make it seem so smooth !
I'm so glad that they are nice people! Love this video! I saw the ballet last night and the pas always makes me cry!
They make it seem so easy! 😍
As a cellist, I can never figure out how one of Tchaikovsky's most beautiful pieces of music is used for this pas. The melody is so heartbreakingly beautiful -- full of longing, regret, sadness. It sounds like parting forever. For me, it has never fit in with the rest of an otherwise sugar-laden ballet.
He had experienced the loss of his sister during his composition of The Nutcracker. I think that influenced him.
I love this whole series of deconstructed ballets.
They are so on the music and he is such a wonderful partner!
Yay!!! Have been waiting for this one!!! Thanks Kathryn, I love your content!
Thank you! ❤️
I love watching your deconstructing videos so much! I love the Sugar Plum variation so much, I like how you break down each part and all of the moves! Thank you💗
41 minutes yess we have been blessed!!!
Thank you for these. Ballet is more fun to watch now
I love these ballet deconstructions! Please could you do some of the Royal Ballets Nutcracker too?
That would be awesome. Marianella and Vadim also dance a wonderful Sugar Plum pas de deux.
Yes! Would love to!
Having met both of these amazing dancers I completely concur with Katie - they are two of the most down to earth people I’ve ever met. Even when I met Megan when she was on broadway doing miss turnstile and was probably exhausted she was so sweet and friendly. Can also say the same for her brother when I met him during American in Paris. Come to think of it I don’t think I’ve had any bad experiences with any of the NYCB dancers I’ve been privileged enough to meet. All absolutely amazing
Yes! They are just the best! So lovely.
I really really love these videos of you very well explained ❤ I know it’s going to be difficult but I would love to hear your deconstruction of the nutcracker pas de deux of Rudolf Nureyev version thanks a lot ♥️♥️♥️
I feel like a full third of this video is just Katie thirsting over Joaquin's dancing and.... same, girl. Hard same. 🤣🤣
In all seriousness, a fabulous analysis of one of my favorite pdds of all time. Megan is an absolute dream. (But also, ohmygod Joaquin!!)
I absolutely love this deconstructed series 👏🏻 It's so interesting.
I was surprised to learn that there are choices in the choreography that can be changed to show off the dancers' strong suits. I grew up in ballet class and I never thought I could do it professionally because there are certain things I can't make look good on my left side/weaker side. It blew my mind to know that professionals have the choice to do whichever side they want!
I would also love to see you deconstruct pieces where the man has saved a step that's gone wrong. The audience usually doesn't know when that happens because the dancers are so good, so it would be fascinating to understand the nuances of saving a lift or a balance, etc.
Thank you for pointing out all of the nuances. We can see that it looks beautiful & impressive, but you explain *why* it looks like that.
Maybe next year you could brake down the classical version? Love these videos
Please add more workouts!! I love these!
My all time favourite is Francesca Hayward! I could watch her dance The Sugar Plumb Fairy, over and over !!!
Thanks, Kathryn, for expert feedback.
Loving all your cute sweater moments!
I LOVE THESE!!! Thank you :)
I like that Peter Martin actually counted and did a proper risk assessment. You don’t know what you’re dealing with in any business without that analysis. That ballet masters do it too is interesting.
I really like these videos! Cheers from Italy
The act 1 pas de deux before snow
The music is SO beautiful
Ruin the magic for me any day. I am legally blind. And regular glasses are not much help sadly. SO hearing all the tilts and fish flops and targeting the shoulder vs arm. Gives me all the entire fine details that I’d have actually never seen 👀 in detail.
So thank you Kathryn. 🙏 ❤️
Megan IS the Sugarplum Fairy come to life, I'm fully convinced of that!
Yes, I agree 1 million percent!
Love Megan Fairchild. I remember in an interview she joked about having job security because Peter needed her for fifth position. ☺
Hahaha yes. She’s the best
I really enjoy this deconstruction. Speaking of a live orchestra with ballet, I believe that it is necessary. As a full season subscriber to the San Francisco Ballet for over forty years, I love that their dedicated orchestra keeps pace with the dancers.
A number of years ago, I went to see Sleeping Beauty in San Francisco. It was wonderful. A few weeks after, I went to see a small company perform Sleeping Beauty. They had recorded music. During the Rose Adagio, the principal dancer and the music were not “in synch.” It was unfortunate to see the ballerina try to rush through such an iconic scene.
I have followed your UA-cam channel for many years, and have learned so much. I have never taken ballet lessons, but can appreciate the hard work and skill involved. The more I know, the more I enjoy being in the audience.
Is there anyway you could deconstruct 1977 Baryshnikov/Kirkland Nutcracker? There is a clean vid on TY.
Both of them are so stunning, and it would be fun to hear your commentary on the bits you find interesting.
I have so enjoyed this series. Brava! 👏🥰 💐
So fabulous to have you break it all down. Why did I always think a grand pas had five parts?
I DESPERATELY need someone to talk about Boston's bear lmao
lol I’m in Boston and available to talk about the bear. Unpopular take: I could do without it.
Love these so much! Could we get a Battle Scene deconstruction?
I love how you break down the performances, and I appreciate them more because of it! I am curious about what you think of the 1993 production of the Nutcracker, especially the way Kyra Nichols played Dewdrop, and the grand pas de deux performed by Darci Kistler and Damien Woetzel.
By the way, it looks like Finn's being a silly pooch! lol 😂
Yes- I thought about this! What’s interesting is that all the little options I was talking about in the pas (one handed catches, the switch places on the entrance)… Damian and Darci do those! And Kyra- stunning. Maybe I should do that at some point!
It would be great to hear about mother ginger and the polichinelles, and also candy cane!Id love to hear about the students in these roles, their ages , how they are chosen, etc.
Please do a video on the classical version of Sugarplums.
I would love deconstructions of other rep as well once nutcracker season eventually wraps up. either other nycb / balanchine or even petipa works that you've performed during your career.
So beautiful.
Thank you so so much! I look up to you so so much! Just finished my nutcracker so this was bittersweet to watch!! 🥹💞
What do you mean by telegraphing? Ive never heard that in the context of dance :)
Thank you for these videos btw! Very insightful
I admit NYCB isn't my favorite version of Nutcracker (Royal Ballet is), but this is my favorite part of the ballet.
I wish Gone with the wind d be turned to new ballet and You are soo suitable for the dance which Vivian Leigh was acting as a role of that movie.
Awww thank you! I take that as a huge compliment!
From the point of view of the musician, not all conductors are as good as this one, here, they not only watched for the dip, but they watched for the indication they will dip, and anticipated to give that final note indication to the orchetsra for the music to be in perfect sync. most conductors watch for the final dip/ pose and gesture as it happens making the sound slightly delayed. (just came bcak from a nutcracker where every. single. final note was a quarter second late)
absolutelyyyyyyyy
Katie ❤❤❤❤❤❤ 😊
I think these Nutcracker deconstructions should become a tradition. Maybe Royal version next year?
Yes! LOVE this idea!
You would look Cute as Glinda from The Wizard Of Oz Kathryn 😍😍😍
Can you do Arabian??? There’s different versions and I would love to see you discuss the diff approaches to it and costumes etc…
Oh yes, I’d love to learn about Arabian, if there are particular dancer types that tend to do it, etc.!
❤❤❤
Is that his real hair? So beautiful
Please do Arabian!
It's on my list! I want to finish the ballet by Christmas!
LSS. Can we just admit the Megan owns the stage? Let’s stop pretending it’s anything else. She owns the stage and lets us enjoy.
Dos-a-dos = (one) back to (the others back (sounds like dosey-doe I guess 😉)
The set design and costuming really doesn’t do much for this beautiful choreography and dancing …
I can appreciate this pas de deux, but personally, I find Balanchine's machinations a little contrived. The magic in ballet is when it looks natural (I know it's an oxymoron). Somehow, the wrist holding in the panche seems unnatural to me. The fingers are too spread out and Magen looks like a fallen tree - the fingers being the branches. I can definitely still appreciate the amazing difficulty of this piece, but still I feel it's the choreographer's job to make it seem "meant to be". Interestingly, when the dancers were doing the small part that was a tribute to the classical version, it was beautiful and natural, in my opinion.
Balanchine's choreography is unmatched!
This music seems sad.
Unpopular opinion- the disk is gimmicky
I totally get where you’re coming from…..it’s also a bit stressful for no reason, in my opinion! The gig version (when you do this Pas de Deux on guestings) is either a promenade or a penche. And I am usually grateful for that 😂
Yes, but it's so "Sugar Plum".
@@jennyanne So true!
I had a similar feeling the first time I saw a video of this Pas de Deux (I think I yelled "wait WHAT?"), it totally threw me out of the magic because you know there has to be a stage trick... but then I realized that for kids seeing this Nutcracker live, it must seem like actual magic (she's floating!!!). So that makes me appreciate it.