NYCB Vol. 9 No. 20 & 21 - Nutcracker

(20/50)

"In 1958, Balanchine removed the grand pas de deux, substituting for it a dance for the Sugar Plum Fairy supported not by a cavalier (who disappeared completely) but by four soloists from other divertissements--Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, and Candy Cane. The result of this, according to Walter Terry, 'is something like the Rose Adagio from The Sleeping Beauty in form, but this new adagio is not nearly as exciting as the Rose Adagio is, nor is it, to my mind, as stirring as the now absent Grand Pas de Deux, with its entree, adagio, two solos, and coda.' [...] By 1959, the the Cavalier reappeared as support for the pas de deux."

-- Repertory in Review (affiliate link)

Behind the scenes photos from the 1958 Playhouse 90 color taping of Balanchine's Nutcracker.

Diana Adams - Sugar Plum

Edward Villella- Candy Cane

Arthur Mitchell - Coffee

Roy Tobias- Hot Chocolate

Deni Lamont - Tea

Photos by Fred Fehl, 1958.

The Pas de Cinq begins at 1:14:25

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(21/50) Interestingly, the “pas de cinq” version of the adagio was not just for the televised performance. It was used on stage in 1958 as well! Shown here with Allegra as the Sugar Plum Fairy. By 1959 the Cavalier and pas de Deux had been reinstated.

Allegra Kent, Edward Villella (left) Arthur Mitchell (behind Allegra)

Photo by Fred Fehl, 1958.