Preconceptions Turned On Their Heads?

[Tattin]

This is an absolutely fascinating thread. In my case I nearly always get weepy when Giselle dies at the end of Act I, although there have been exceptions  - poor productions and/or indifferent ballerinas. But Act II, though I love it, rarely moves me in the same way. An exception was a performance with Alina Cojocaru, when she was still a RB principal, dancing as a guest with the Romanian National Ballet in Madrid about 20 years ago. But I never, ever imagined that I could possibly be moved to tears by the Act II pas de deux OUT OF the context of the whole ballet. However that is exactly what happened with Marianela, partnered by Kim Kimin (Mariinsky), at a gala in Barcelona in 2019. It was astounding -you almost see Myrtha and the willis on stage with them. And they had just danced the Le Corsaire pas de deux a few minutes earlier!!!