Rudolph Nureyev, Svetlana Beriosova - PDD from ’Diana and Actaeon’ (1964)

This 1964 pas de deux with Rudolph Nureyev and Svetlana Beriosova is from the Bell Telephone Hour Performances, 1961-1967. In various contexts, it is titled ’La Esmeralda’ but clearly it’s from ’Diana and Actaeon’. The footage is uploaded round You Tube, but, with my admiration for this Lithuanian born ballerina, I couldn’t resist having it on the channel. What’s interesting about the dancers is the similarly expansiveness of gesture, line and phrasing that is typically Russian. And it’s what probably encouraged their early experimental pairing. They work very well together stylistically and it’s a pity they didn’t attempt more together. Incidentally, I couldn’t help noticing the extent of Beriosova’s musicality here - something I’d not entirely been aware of before. And it may well have been this quality, among others, that led to her being taken into the Royal Ballet in 1952. Enjoy!