We talked to Unity Phelan and Aaron Sans about their pas de deux in Robbins' "In the Night." Unity returns to the role while Aaron is making his debut tonight.
LJ: You are both dancing the second pas de deux of "In the Night" tonight. Where do you picture your characters and what is their relationship?
Unity: "I feel like we are a military general and his wife hosting a ball and we are on display. I have to become very subdued and relaxed. And it feels more performative than other pas de deuxs where it's about you and your partner. This is about presenting ourselves to our guests."
Aaron: "Choreographically, it's probably the heaviest and most mature of the three couples."
LJ: How do you think performing this ballet outside at Vail will affect the ballet?
Aaron: "I think our pas, in particular, is meant to be indoors as you would be welcoming your guests to a ball, maybe candle lit. But because we perform it at the end of tonight's program, it will be completely dark so maybe that will create a good atmosphere for it."
LJ: What is your favorite part of this ballet?
Aaron: "For me, the music does a lot. It brings the essence of each pas de deux out of you very well."
Unity: "The music makes the steps very instinctive. And it's always amazing having the live music."
Unity and Aaron rehearse in Vail. Photos by Chris Duggan, 2022
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