Few dancers have been as popular with audiences as Angel Corella. When he gave his farewell performance with American Ballet Theatre last night, the vast Metropolitan Opera House, rarely full to the rafters, was sold out. Ballet lovers had come from all over to say goodbye. Corella first dazzled on the Met stage as […]
A company is only as strong as the sum of its parts—and at ABT, each member plays their part to the utmost. I had the opportunity to be a super in ABT’s Taipei productions of La Bayadere this weekend, playing one of the two girls who stand on stage left during the pas d’ action […]
What makes a great ballet partnership? To most of us, it seems to be some mysterious combination of sweat and magic. Earlier this week, The New Zealand Herald posed the question to Gillian Murphy, who’s currently starring as Odette/Odile in the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s tour of Swan Lake. She says commincation and diplomacy […]
Exciting things are underfoot at American Ballet Theatre as they begin their 75th anniversary season. But this week brought bittersweet news: Three of their principal dancers have announced their retirements. Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent and Xiomara Reyes will retire at the end of ABT’s 2015 season in New York City. All three stars will dance […]
Last week, ballet superstar Sylvie Guillem announced her retirement slated for 2015. She will conclude her 39-year career with a world tour—called Life in Progress—in which she will dance works by Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Mats Ek. This season is shaping up to be a tough one for ballet lovers—first Wendy Whelan and […]
Carla Körbes in “Diamonds” from George Balanchine’s Jewels (photo by Angela Sterling) For ballet fans around the world, there is a lot to be sad about in the 2014/2015 season. Wendy Whelan ended her career at New York City Ballet, while Carla Körbes will retire in June. At the end of the American Ballet […]
Photo by Fabrizio Ferri, Courtesy TWB. Just a year ago, Julie Kent and Xiomara Reyes took their final bows at American Ballet Theatre. Now, the two ABT stars will be working together even more closely. Kent, who was named artistic director of The Washington Ballet in March, announced today that she has appointed Reyes as […]