Uploaded November 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
This is footage of Italian Prima Ballerina Carla Fracci and Jacques D'Amboise dancing the famous pas de deux from Act 2 of 'Swan Lake’.
The performance was Carla Fracci’s American debut.
A curious phenomenon - I noticed that D’Amboise, in his solo towards the end of the footage, turns with his foot flat on the floor, rather than on demi-pointe. Has anyone seen this kind of turning before? Can anyone add anything about this particular technique?
I was lucky to see Carla Fracci dance the whole ballet on December 28, 1973 in Milan at La Scala. Her partner was Rudolph Nureyev. I was introduced to the ballerina after the performance by an American friend who was also a dancer - Mme Fracci very kindly autographed a rehearsal photograph of the ballet.
Enjoy!
This is footage of Italian Prima Ballerina Carla Fracci and Jacques D'Amboise dancing the famous pas de deux from Act 2 of 'Swan Lake’.
The performance was Carla Fracci’s American debut.
A curious phenomenon - I noticed that D’Amboise, in his solo towards the end of the footage, turns with his foot flat on the floor, rather than on demi-pointe. Has anyone seen this kind of turning before? Can anyone add anything about this particular technique?
I was lucky to see Carla Fracci dance the whole ballet on December 28, 1973 in Milan at La Scala. Her partner was Rudolph Nureyev. I was introduced to the ballerina after the performance by an American friend who was also a dancer - Mme Fracci very kindly autographed a rehearsal photograph of the ballet.
Enjoy!
