A Ballet Life

Pas de Deux Pairings: A Guide to Ballet’s Most Enduring Partnerships

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  • Balanchine: Father of American Ballet

    Dance Company: San Francisco Ballet

    Balanchine: Father of American Ballet
    War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States
    A tribute to the driving force behind modern ballet in America, ‘Balanchine’ showcases George Balanchine’s artistic evolution in three iconic works. Diamonds is a reflection of the choreographer’s training in the Russian tradition and a deep knowledge of classical technique. Serenade—the first ballet Balanchine created for American dancers—captures the emotional...
  • Balanchine: Father of American Ballet

    Dance Company: San Francisco Ballet

    Balanchine: Father of American Ballet
    War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States
    A tribute to the driving force behind modern ballet in America, ‘Balanchine’ showcases George Balanchine’s artistic evolution in three iconic works. Diamonds is a reflection of the choreographer’s training in the Russian tradition and a deep knowledge of classical technique. Serenade—the first ballet Balanchine created for American dancers—captures the emotional...
  • Balanchine: Father of American Ballet

    Dance Company: San Francisco Ballet

    Balanchine: Father of American Ballet
    War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States
    A tribute to the driving force behind modern ballet in America, ‘Balanchine’ showcases George Balanchine’s artistic evolution in three iconic works. Diamonds is a reflection of the choreographer’s training in the Russian tradition and a deep knowledge of classical technique. Serenade—the first ballet Balanchine created for American dancers—captures the emotional...
In ballet, love is not declared. It is practiced—again and again.

At the heart of so many powerful ballets is a partnership—two dancers moving not just in time with the music, but in conversation with one another. Throughout this season of love, we’re celebrating the many ways devotion, trust, and connection take shape onstage. 

The Romantic Leads

Soft epaulement, floating lifts, and phrasing that lingers just behind the music. These partnerships invite the audience into a world of longing, where every glance carries weight and time seems suspended. 

The Firebrands

Fast footwork, daring balances, and an appetite for risk. This pairing thrives on electricity—precision sharpened by passion, momentum fueled by mutual fearlessness. 

The Classical Ideal

Clean lines, seamless transitions, and unwavering musicality. These dancers honor tradition through harmony and restraint, proving that refinement can be as powerful as spectacle. 

The Storytellers

Less about virtuosic display, more about what passes between them in stillness. A shared breath, a subtle hesitation—these partnerships make narrative feel inevitable. 

The Modern Pairing

Grounded, athletic, and emotionally direct. Weight is shared visibly, movement begins from the floor, and connection feels immediate—sometimes raw, always present. 

The Lifelong Partnership

Years of dancing together distilled into instinct. Timing is intuitive, trust is absolute, and movement feels less like choreography and more like memory.

TRENDING NOW

In ballet, love is not declared. It is practiced—again and again.
Inspired by Balanchine’s brilliance, the Bay Area’s finest jewelers take center stage.
An exciting new season anchored in the classical lineage but full of contemporary fire.