Running time: 40 minutes


Schedule for "Paquita" Grand pas. 2022

Composer: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Costume Designer: Irina Press

Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra

Grand pas from the ballet "Paquita"
Revival consultants: Pyotr Gusev, Lidia Tiuntina, Georgy Konishchev
Set design: Gennady Sotnikov
Costume design: Irina Press

World premiere (Act III from the ballet Paquita): 27 January 1881, Mariinsky Theatre
Premiere of the revival: 29 June 1978, Kirov Theatre, Leningrad

Duration: 40 minutes

The Paquita Grand pas classique was revised in 1896 by Marius Petipa for a gala performance held at Peterhof in honor of Empress Catherine II. For the occasion the Imperial Ballet's newly appointed Prima ballerina assoluta Mathilde Kschessinskaya invited several ballerinas to participate in the performance by interpolating their favorite classical variations (or solos) from different works. Thus, the tradition of including an entire suite of solos for various ballerinas began, a tradition which is still in place today. Anna Pavlova included the Grand Pas classique in her company's repertory.

Rudolf Nureyev staged the piece in 1964 for the Royal Academy of Dancing, and at La Scala in 1970. Nureyev also staged it for the Vienna State Opera Ballet and American Ballet Theatre in 1971. For all of his productions of the work Nureyev used John Lanchbery's adaptation of the music. In 1984 Natalia Makarova staged a new version of the Paquita Grand pas classique for American Ballet Theatre with music again arranged by Lanchbery. To date the company still retains Makarova's staging in their repertory, and many companies throughout the world have staged her version of the piece.

In 1974 the Ballet Master Nikita Dolgushin produced a staging of the Paquita Grand pas classique for the Maly Theatre Ballet of St. Petersburg. For his production Dolgushin called upon the former ballerina Elizaveta Gerdt—who performed in Marius Petipa's original version of the piece— to assist in restoring the Paquita Grand pas classique to its form as performed during the early 20th century.

In 1978 the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet's newly appointed artistic director Oleg Vinogradov staged a new version of the Paquita Grand pas classique for the company, a staging largely based on the version Pyotr Gusev staged for the Maly Theatre Ballet in 1952. The Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet still retain Vinogradov's version in their repertory, and many companies throughout the world include his version of the piece in their repertories.