Pierrefonds dancer takes on Grand Pas de Deux
Famous duet from The Nutcracker is pinnacle role in ballet production
It took nine years for Mateo Picone to climb the ranks to reach The Nutcracker pinnacle in Ballet Ouest de Montreal’s version of the ballet so many enjoy during the holiday season.
The teenager from Pierrefonds first fell in love with the dance world’s lights, action and applause when he performed the role of Fritz, the mischievous brother of Clara. That was nine years ago.
He went on to dance the role of the Nutcracker Doll and Prince. And now, the 19-year-old will partner with Meimi Hasegawa in Act II’s Grand Pas de Deux (“grand pas” for dance aficionados) when Ballet Ouest comes to Centre Pierre-Péladeau for three performances over two days, Dec. 7.
The production is choreographed by artistic director Claude Caron and features 120 dancers.
In the Grand Pas de Deux, Picone is the Cavalier and Hasegawa is the Sugar Plum Fairy. From the first moments of Tchaikovsky’s elegant and familiar score, the audience sits a little taller.
“It’s the big one everyone comes to see,” Picone said.
Picone and Hasegawa are both enrolled in the professional program at École supèrieure de ballet du Québec, the school affiliated with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal.
ESBQ students can often be spotted in the Ballet Ouest performances, with the blessing of ESBQ artistic director Anik Bissonnette. The more experience a dancer has onstage, the better the dancer is prepared for the rigours of the professional dance world.
For a male, classical dancer, partnering takes upper body strength, instinct and elegance. Conditioning classes are part of the training at ESBQ. Picone does chin-ups and works out with weights at home. Both artistic and athletic skills are required to make it in the highly competitive world of dance.
“What’s challenging about the grand pas is keeping your energy up,” Picone said. “It’s a long 12 minutes. You have to find that stamina without losing your character.”
And there is no room for ego. A classical pas de deux is all about the ballerina.
“The man should be invisible,” Picone said. “It’s all about making your partner look her best.”
Picone’s parents enrolled him in ballet classes at Ballet Ouest’s school. He loved soccer and wasn’t so keen about the ballet thing at first, but he took to the stage with ease. Caron, who has described Picone as a natural performer, encouraged the young dancer to join ESBQ’s professional program in 2017.
Picone graduates at the end of the academic year, which means he will set out on the audition circuit, with the goal of landing a contract with an established company.
Last summer, he participated in a dance exchange that took him to Arts Umbrella and Ballet B.C., both in Vancouver. As part of the exchange, Picone got to work with contemporary choreographer Gioconda Barbuto (a Les Grands Ballets alumna).
So what direction does he plan to go?
“I fell in love with contemporary. It’s a different world,” Picone said. “But I also love Ballet B.C.’s artistic vision. And I will always love to perform with Ballet Ouest.”
Ballet Ouest’s Nutcracker also visits St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Trois-Rivières and St-Jérôme.
Ballet Ouest is at Centre PierrePéladeau, 300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E., Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7-8 at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $26 to $52, depending on age and seat location, if purchased at the box office, or $28 to $54 for tickets purchased by telephone, 514-987-6919, or online, www. centrepierrepeladeau.uqam.ca. For more information about Ballet Ouest, visit www.balletouest.com.