Diane et Actéon Pas de Deux

Diana, virgin goddess of the hunt, appears with her nymphs and the hunter Actaeon in a showcase of dance rather than a literal telling of the Ovidian myth of Actaeon's transformation and death. The piece follows the classical grand pas de deux form - entrée and adagio for the pair, an ensemble interlude for the nymphs, solo variations for each dancer, and a joint bravura coda. Rather than ending in conflict or punishment as in the myth, it closes with the two dancers matching each other's virtuosity in a spirited, competitive finale.