The Turning - Seasons 1, 2 & 3: Season 2, Episode 9 - "Pas de Deux" Summary

Introduction

In Season 2, Episode 9 of The Turning, titled "Pas de Deux," host Erica Lance delves into the nuanced world of ballet, exploring the intricate dance of partnerships, gender roles, and LGBTQ representation within this traditional art form. The episode spotlights Adriana Pierce, a passionate ballet choreographer, whose personal and professional journeys illuminate the challenges and triumphs of redefining ballet's conventional narratives.

Adriana Pierce's Early Ballet Experience

The episode opens with Adriana Pierce reflecting on her formative years at the School of American Ballet (SAB), where she first engaged deeply with the mechanics of partnering in ballet. She reminisces about her initial choreography experience, crafting a sensual and romantic pas de deux that mirrored her personal exploration of love and sexuality.

Adriana Pierce [03:17]:
"And I was kind of going through my discovery of my own sexuality at the time. I just had my heart broken for the first time... I wanted to elicit some sort of, like, deep emotional response from the audience."

Adriana emphasizes how these early experiences shaped her understanding of movement and emotional expression within ballet.

Gender Roles and Partnering in Ballet

Adriana delves into the gendered dynamics inherent in ballet training, highlighting the binary roles assigned to male and female dancers. She discusses how female dancers are trained to be graceful and elegant on pointe, while male dancers focus on strength and jumps.

Adriana Pierce [07:17]:
"So my job as a woman was to be grabbed and held and let them figure it out. And you put your trust in that."

She recounts the traditional expectations placed on women in ballet, where their primary roles are to follow and support, often leading to a lack of agency and self-expression.

Personal Struggles and Coming Out in Ballet

The episode poignantly addresses Adriana's personal struggles with her sexuality within the predominantly heteronormative ballet community. She shares her fear and anxiety about coming out, particularly during her time as an apprentice at the New York City Ballet.

Adriana Pierce [12:25]:
"But like, is that just Peter's behavior? I don't think so... So that's how I came out to all of the women in the corps de ballet and New York City Ballet in 2009."

This moment was traumatic for Adriana, as it forced her to confront her identity publicly in an environment where such discussions were uncommon and often stigmatized.

Challenging Traditional Choreography

Adriana's journey leads her to challenge the traditional choreography of pas de deux, a dance duet typically performed between a man and a woman. Her first pas de deux was characterized by a male lead overtly pursuing a hesitant female dancer, symbolizing traditional romantic dynamics.

Adriana Pierce [09:00]:
"It's about two people with equal agency working together to create something beautiful."

Determined to redefine these dynamics, Adriana embarks on an artist residency in the Catskills, aiming to choreograph a pas de deux between two women. This endeavor seeks to explore and portray a partnership grounded in mutual respect and equality, free from conventional gender roles.

Creating a Queer Pas de Deux

During the residency, Adriana collaborates with two dancers to create a pas de deux that challenges the status quo. She outlines five pillars of partnering essential to ballet and creatively reinterprets them to suit a same-sex duet:

1. Lifts: Redefining who leads and who follows without reinforcing traditional hierarchies.
2. Counterbalance: Ensuring both dancers support each other equally.
3. Tension: Balancing the physical and emotional tension between partners.
4. Promenades: Rotational movements that symbolize fluidity and partnership.
5. Connection and Storytelling: Crafting a narrative that emphasizes genuine connection over dominance.

Adriana Pierce [42:27]:
"That's it. There you go. Prom. And I love it. And 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. I don't want to just stick two dancers on pointe together and fit them inside the, like, traditional rubric or traditional blueprint of what we understand partnering to be."

Adriana meticulously works through each pillar, ensuring that the choreography reflects an authentic and respectful queer relationship. This process involves innovative techniques, especially considering both dancers are in pointe shoes, traditionally limiting the ability to lift and support each other.

Overcoming Technical and Emotional Challenges

One significant challenge Adriana faces is the technical limitation of having both dancers on pointe. Traditional lifts are typically performed by a male lead supporting a female dancer from a standing position. Adriana innovates by alternating leadership and support roles between the dancers, fostering a sense of equality and mutual trust.

Adriana Pierce [44:35]:
"Sierra, let her really carry you. She's got you and reach. She go into an attitude."

This approach not only addresses the physical limitations but also symbolizes the shifting dynamics of power and support within relationships, particularly in the LGBTQ context.

Historical Context and Critique of Ballet's Gender Norms

Adriana provides a historical overview of ballet's representation of women, referencing classical ballets like "Giselle" and the character of Myrta, a ghost queen embodying bitterness and cruelty. She critiques the perpetuation of these gendered roles and the lack of equality within the art form.

Adriana Pierce [23:06]:
"Ballet is women, but women don't have a say in anything that happens to them or their bodies. That's what's passed down."

By addressing these historical contexts, Adriana underscores the necessity for change and the importance of redefining roles to reflect contemporary understandings of gender and sexuality.

Impact and Reception of the New Pas de Deux

Adriana's innovative choreography receives emotional and positive responses from audiences and fellow dancers. Viewers express appreciation for the authentic representation and the fresh perspective it brings to ballet.

Ayla O'Day [26:31]:
"I kept asking around, being like, is she gay? Is she gay?... And then I DM'd you because you made a huge impact on Me, clearly."

The episode highlights how Adriana's work not only challenges traditional norms but also inspires and empowers other queer dancers to embrace their identities within the ballet community.

Conclusion and Future Directions

In her concluding remarks, Adriana emphasizes the ongoing need for diversity and inclusion within ballet. She advocates for commissioning works from diverse choreographers and creating spaces where dancers can express their true selves without conforming to outdated stereotypes.

Adriana Pierce [50:10]:
"We need to be making more diverse works. We need to be hiring, we need to be commissioning from more diverse people and telling more stories so that these people... have a space to actually exist as themselves."

Erica Lance wraps up the episode by acknowledging Adriana's contributions to transforming ballet and encouraging continued dialogue and efforts towards inclusivity.

Production Credits

The episode is a collaborative production between Rococo Punch and iHeartPodcasts, featuring contributions from story editor Emily Forman, sound designer James Trout, assistant producer Jessica Carissa, digital producer Andrea Aswahe, and others. Special thanks are given to dancers Sierra Armstrong and Remy Young for their performances in Adriana's pas de deux. The music is provided by composer Julia Kent.

Erica Lance [52:00]:
"Our story editor is Emily Forman. Mixing and sound design by James Trout... Special thanks to Sierra Armstrong and Remy Young, who danced in Adriana's pas de deux."

Final Thoughts

"Pas de Deux" serves as a compelling exploration of how ballet can evolve to embrace diversity and authenticity. Through Adriana Pierce's experiences and artistic endeavors, the episode invites listeners to reconsider traditional narratives and support the ongoing transformation towards a more inclusive and equitable ballet community.