before subsiding to a gentle closing, ending in a famous pose: an exaggerated "fish dive" with the ballerina cradled at her hips between her partner's arms, her hands held in his, her legs neatly crossed at the ankles, and her face very close to the floor. In the original performances by Verdy and Ludlow, she would turn her head at the last count of the music and look quizzically up at him as if to say, "Hello—what am I doing down here?" The ebullient male variation that follows, which was originally much longer, varies from performer to performer, although the sequence of steps is much the same, featuring big jumps and double tours en l'air. The choreography for the ballerina's variation is, however, rigorously maintained, with a darting attack and flashing footwork expressing the sparkling melodic line. The air-flung coda builds dramatically with the music in high lifts, dazzling turns, and breathtaking leaps, as the ballerina flies across the stage into the waiting arms of her partner. Finally, she is carried offstage, high overhead, with one leg extended in front, her arms and head flung back in rapturous abandon. The steps for the opening and closing parts of the ballet are much the same as those that Balanchine set at the beginning of his work on the piece, with Diana Adams and Jacques d'Amboise. Other sequences and the variations were devised to suit Verdy and Ludlow as the choreography developed. Video discography 1960s. Violette Verdy: The Artist Teacher at Chautauqua Institution. A documentary, directed by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. Includes an excerpt from the female variation, danced by Violette Verdy. Released by Video Artists International (VAI) in 2009. 1978. Choreography by Balanchine. Includes complete ballet, danced by Patricia McBride and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Released by Nonesuch Records in 2008. 1978. Peter Martins: A Dancer. A documentary, includes an excerpt from the male variation, danced by Peter Martins. Released by Kultur Video in 2001. 1984. Balanchine. A documentary, includes performances of the male and female variations. Released by Kultur Video in 2004. 1984. The Art of the Pas de Deux. Includes complete ballet, danced by Patricia McBride and Reid Olsen. Released by Video Artists International (VAI) in 2006. 1989. Dancing for Mr. B.: Six Balanchine Ballerinas. Includes an excerpt, danced by Melissa Hayden and Edward Villella. Released by Kultur Video in 2008. 1994. Gala Tribute to Tchaikovsky. Includes complete ballet, danced