The Art of Pas De Deux [Paperback]

Nicolai Serrebrenikov (Author), Joan Lawson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1990

After a distinguished career as a dancer, Nicolai Serrebrenikov became one of the leading teachers at the Vaganova Choreographic School in St. Petersburg. In this major work on pas de deux, the students and teachers are taken step by step through the fundamentals of double work to the most complex enchainements of the classical repertoire. The translator and editor, Joan Lawson, studied dance with Margaret Morris and Serafina Astafieva, and later became of of the first English ballet dancers to study in Soviet Russia, subsequently becoming a distinguished and much-loved teacher at the Royal Ballet School in London.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Russian (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Princeton Book Co Pub (February 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916622878
• ISBN-13: 978-0916622879
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,923,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you can find a used copy, buy it., August 1, 2001

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Pas De Deux (Paperback)

This book is a short overview of ballet technique that was translated from the Russian by Joan Lawson. It addresses strictly the techniques behind partnering in ballet, the famous pas de deux, and is a good source of information for the dancers who need hints and sound suggestions on executing some of these difficult movements. It could also be read profitably by biomechanicians studying the physics of ballet, and by anyone who wants to appreciate more what is involved in the actual execution of pas de deux. It has many illustrations that are quite good actually (and are not stick figures).

Part 1 covers the basic holds in supported adage, holds with two hands on the waist, turns (including promenade, revolve, and pirouettes), falling poses and positions using two hands, hand holds, supported adage using falls into poses and positions, holds with one hand, supported adage into and falling positions and pose.

Part 2 covers the more difficult area of lifts in the air, and discusses little jumps and small lifts to the level of the chest or shoulder, jumps holding the girl with both hands on her waist, jumps with a lift from two hands using various holds, jumps with one-hand holds, small lifts, half turns with a throw into the air, jumps into the boy's arms, grand elevation with lifts on to the chest and shoulders, jumps on to the chest and shoulder, lifts and holds in grand elevation, lifts in a fixed position, lifts with fixed poses on the fullest stretch of the boy's arms, and throwing the girl into the air with and without a change of pose.