Alla Osipenko and John Markovsky – PDD from Act II of ‘Swan Lake’ (1972)

This is film of Alla Osipenko and John Markovsky performing the famed pas de deux from Act II of ‘Swan Lake’ in 1972. I love restrained, delicate and refined quality of Alla Osipenko’s dancing – the embodiment of the St Petersburg style. Osipenko joined the Kirov Ballet in 1950 after graduation, and was promoted to prima ballerina in 1954. She began teaching at the Vaganova School in 1966. She brings a spiritual quality not often seen to the role of Odette that makes this performance very moving, and not just an exercise in classical ballet. In particular, I love her beautiful softly undulating and musically expressive arms, which allow her to express the meanings of love and yearning at this point in the ballet. John Markovsky was born on Feb 23, 1944, in Yakutsk. He graduated from the local ballet academy in 1960, dancing with the local company from 1962-1964, after which he went to the Vaganova Academy where he joined the finishing class (1964-1965). He was then with the Kirov Ballet from 1965-1971. He was then with smaller companies and migrated to Israel after 1982. The footage is not the greatest quality but for me the performance is. Enjoy!