#TBT: Erica Cornejo in "Swan Lake" Pas de Trois

Sprightly and sweet, the Swan Lake Act I pas de trois variations are deceptively difficult. But Boston Ballet principal Erica Cornejo betrays no hint of effort in this clip, filmed in 2005 while she was a soloist at American Ballet Theatre. The divertissement doesn’t require a huge emotional range from its dancers. Still, Cornejo delivers a warm, generous stage presence. Her smile is authentic, not affected, and the only thing as natural as her joy is her jump, which is buoyant from the first entrechat six to the diagonal of temps de flèche.

Cornejo’s career, which started at Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino when she was just 14 years old (with her brother, ABT principal Herman Cornejo), has been full and brilliant. She has guested at festivals and galas worldwide and even danced for presidents. This year marks Cornejo’s 10th as a principal at Boston Ballet. Happy #TBT!