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an emotional language as she flirted with Kobborg, urging him to stay with her. Cojocaru is small, a slip of a girl whose waiflike appearance belies her technical strength. Her unusually expressive legs sliced through the air like a sharp-edged sword. As Manon, she was coy, hesitant and, finally, rapturous, clinging to Kobborg, the ardent lover who returned her tender caresses at last. In the evergreen traditional pas de deux from the ballet Le Corsaire, which is always guar- anteed to thrill audiences, Daniil Simkin and Misa Kuranaga were a stunning combustible duo. He was like a sprite, joyously soaring through the air in a series of unique barrel turns and open-legged leaps, and then per- forming numberless pirouettes, all with an understanding of the choreography's intrin- sic shading of dynamics and musicality. And Kuranaga was equally a wonderful discovery. She was precise and sparkling in her numer- ous pirouettes, which matched the brio of Simkin's exciting performance. As I watched these two energetic dancers graze the stage in response to the flamboyant, energetic and driving rhythms of the Adolphe Adam score, it was not only fun to observe them, but it was also easily one of the highlights of an evening filled with special moments and gor- geous dancing. Misa Kuranaga/Contributed photo Erica De La O/Contributed photo Sarasota News Leader May 2, 2014 Page 96