When a piece was choreographed on the dancers performing it, you can kinda just tell. And I think this is the perfect example of that. It's my favorite pas de deux of all time, partially for that reason.

Over the years, standards for dancers' technical abilities get higher and higher. There have been others who've performed this same piece, with more impressive technical abilities. But, in my opinion, those versions can't ever be this perfect. Because this piece was made on these particular people's bodies, and it's optimized specifically for them.

I think that's a fun thing to think about, not just as it pertains to dance.

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Excerpt from "In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated"
Sylvie Guillem & Laurent Hilaire (Paris Opera Ballet)
Choreographed by William Forsythe (1987)

When a piece was choreographed on the dancers performing it, you can kinda just tell. And I think this is the perfect example of that. It's my favorite pas de deux of all time, partially for that reason.

Over the years, standards for dancers' technical abilities get higher and higher. There have been others who've performed this same piece, with more impressive technical abilities. But, in my opinion, those versions can't ever be this perfect. Because this piece was made on these particular people's bodies, and it's optimized specifically for them.

I think that's a fun thing to think about, not just as it pertains to dance.

----
Excerpt from "In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated"
Sylvie Guillem & Laurent Hilaire (Paris Opera Ballet)
Choreographed by William Forsythe (1987)
https://youtu.be/YjMnCZB-oD4?si=T25yPyU5PWn4k1hO

Mathematics/Design linktr.ee/sinusoidalsnail
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Yes! Exactly! Here's a short clip of the same piece, but dancers with technical ability that probably didn't even exist in 1987. It's undeniably more physically impressive. But no longer so personal.

Yes! Exactly! Here's a short clip of the same piece, but dancers with technical ability that probably didn't even exist in 1987. It's undeniably more physically impressive. But no longer so personal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me3NHiecO7A