Duet (02:48)

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Duets can be a courtship, a scheme, a battle, or a game. Francois Alu and Myriam Ould-Braham rehearse for "La Bayadére" at the Paris Opera.

Weight and Balance (05:08)

Angelin Preljocaj describes how Judo helped his pair. Excellent balance is necessary for dances that incorporate acrobatic work. The Lindy Hop originated at the Savoy Jazz Club during the 1920s.

Tango (06:57)

European peasants, mostly from Spain, migrated to South America in the late 19th Century. At Milongas, men and women dance the tango. Laly Robledo fell in love with her partner.

Pas de Deux (04:13)

This duet in classical ballet conveys stereotypes of a powerful man and ethereal woman. Alu feels a dance is successful if his partner appears light and beautiful.

Fighting Against Preconceived Notions (05:00)

Dada Masilo choreographed the "Swan Lake" pas de deux using two men to explore homosexuality within the ballet. Jerome Bel rehearses "Tombe" using a principal dancer and audience member.

Exploring Gender in Dance (06:34)

Merce Cunningham's choreography reimagined partnering and explored gender issues. Yvonne Rainer performed post-modern dances at Judson Memorial Church. Steve Paxton developed Contact Improvisation techniques.

Intellectual Approach to Dance (03:25)

Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker choreographed "Fase" which explores the interplay between dance and music. The two dancers begin in unison and gradually disconnect from each other.

Uprock (07:13)

In New York City, Puerto Rican immigrants began the dance genre by incorporating traditional movements into modern music. Dance battling erupted and combatants would make fun of each other. Dancers found inspiration in Fred Astaire, Gene Kelley, and Michael Jackson .

Modern Dance (02:08)

Akram Khan and Israel Galvan compare their history and dance technique in "Torobaka." Duels occur in all dance genres, but do not need to be violent. The duet pushes the artists to another level of dance.

"Tombe" (08:36)

Bel rehearses a pas de deux with an amputee and principal dancer for the Paris Opera; Bel decides to use a wheelchair. Individual artists need to lose their voice to create an effective duet.

Credits: Duet (00:29)

Credits: Duet