The Dream Titania and Oberon pas de deux (Akane Takada, Steven McRae The Royal Ballet)

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, interpreted by Frederick Ashton, is a classic of The Royal Ballet’s repertory. Titania, Queen of the Fairies (performed by Akane Takada) and Oberon, King of the Fairies (performed by Steven McRae) dance this powerful pas de deux. Watch on ROH Stream from Friday 19 March: The high-spirited misadventures of the two pairs of mortal lovers from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream combine with the humorous cavorting of Bottom, played by a male dancer who dances en pointe after his ludicrous transformation. The ballet culminates in a powerful pas de deux for Oberon and Titania, which moves through a stormy conflict of wills to a harmonious union. Felix Mendelssohn’s witty, gossamer-light music for the play provides a perfect partner to Frederick Ashton's inventive choreography.