Home & + | Search
Featured Categories: Special Focus | Performance Reviews | Previews | DanceSpots | Arts and Education | Press Releases
Join ExploreDance.com's email list | Mission Statement | Copyright notice | The Store | Calendar | User survey | Advertise
Click here to take the ExploreDance.com user survey.
Your anonymous feedback will help us continue to bring you coverage of more dance.
SPOTLIGHT:
INSIDE PERSPECTIVES
ExploreDance.com (Magazine)
Web
Other Search Options
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
Inside Perspectives
American Ballet Theater
Ballet
Lincoln Center
American Ballet Theatre
USA
United States
New York City
New York
New York, NY

Backstage with the American Ballet Theatre Fans - Second Year Reunion

by Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
June 18, 2004
Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.
140 West 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
212.875.5456

Featured Dance Company:

American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre (office)
890 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212-477-3030
www.abt.org

About the Author:

Backstage with the American Ballet Theatre Fans - Second Year Reunion

(See ABT Stage Door Interview and Candids, 2003)

(ABT Website)

By Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
June 18, 2004

June 18, 2004, Inside the Stage Door Entrance of the Metropolitan Opera House, about12: 30 AM, late and languid, I was joined by Marianne Stegeland, Lois Kirschenbaum, Tommy Ng, and Adam Jagusiak. (See June 18, 2004 Swan Lake Review).

REZ: Here we are again, late and hot, as usual. You all look great! Thanks so much for meeting again. We have to do this at a reasonable time over drinks, soon.

While we were talking, earlier, you mentioned Amanda McKerrow. I've seen so little of her this season.

Group: Amanda is a dancer's dancer. Her heart is in any role. After Pillar of Fire, she was emotionally drained and shaking.

REZ: Tonight's Swan Lake with Julio and Nina was incredible again.

Group: There was no traffic flow at intermission, with even standing room sold out! They bring out the best in each other. Nina never does routines. There's always a surprise. That falling back motion tonight after the Black Swan Pas de Deux was a new nuance.

REZ: Tell me about some other high points for all of you this ABT Season.

Group: Definitely Bocca and Xiomara in the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Marcelo tonight (von Rothbart). Marcelo is always one of the most supportive partners.

REZ: Latest news?

Group: Julie Kent and Victor Barbee had a son on April 9, William Spencer Kent-Barbee. He's been here (Stage Door) a number of times. Victor will be in Copélia and was in Don Quixote. Ethan Brown is retiring and getting married. He's been in the Company 23 years. Carlos Molina is joining Boston Ballet. David Hallberg was promoted after City Center, where he was Dorian.

REZ: I plan to see BOCCATANGO at the Joyce. He's Argentinean and probably a great Tango performer. There are other Argentinean ABT dancers, too.

Group: Erica Cornejo and Herman Cornejo were in Ballet Argentina. Luciana Paris (Corps) is from Argentina.

REZ: What did you think of the new ABT Raymonda?

Group: It had great costumes, sets, and music, but no glue, no drama. Raymonda Variations is better, a distilled version. It's a plotless ballet, and Julio was lost in it with a tiny role. Marcelo was great.

By the way, he comes back tomorrow as Siegfried (was von Rothbart tonight). He goes back and forth between roles.

REZ: Some dancers seem to be missing or scarce. But, now we have Frederic Franklin back; what a treat.

Group: Malakhov is busy with the Berlin Ballet. Frederic Franklin is 90 years old and restaged Copélia. He was with the Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo. Now he's Wolfgang in Swan Lake and Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet. He likes my lemon drops (Marianne). Carreño has been cautious. He hurt his ankle. So, Ferri is dancing with Angel (Corella) two times. Julio is no longer dancing Romeo and Juliet either. He retired from that role. Tommy bought the DVD from La Scala with Angel Corella and Alessandra Ferri dancing Romeo and Juliet.

REZ: Who else did we mention earlier?

Group: Gillian (Murphy) is very shy. She has great technique, but at the stage door she's casual in blue jeans. The Russian dancers come out with long scarves and jewelry. Veronica (Part, from Russia) speaks little English. Sometimes back here she just signs her last name. She danced with the Kirov.

REZ: What did you think about the dancer being fired from the Bolshoi?

Group: She was all of 103 lbs.

REZ: You know my signed ballet slipper collection is probably worth a fortune now. I can't believe what the shoes are selling for now.

Group: They just lowered the price to $250 to sell more. The money for the shoes goes to the Dancers Emergency Relief Fund, so if they're suddenly injured and can't dance, they receive assistance.

REZ: Thanks again so much. Let's not wait another year to get together again.


ABT Stage Door at the Met
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Adam and Tommy
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Tommy and Lois
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



ABT Stage Door at the Met
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Marcelo Gomes Signs for Lois
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Ethan Brown Signs for Lois
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Ethan Brown and Fiancee
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Julio Bocca signs for Lois
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Julio Bocca
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Julio Signs for Tommy
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Nina Ananiashvili Signs for Tommy
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Nina Signs
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Nina Ananiashvili
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Adam, Marianne, Lois, Tommy
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Nina Ananishvili
Photo courtesy of Tommy Ng



A Reunion Group Photo: Tommy, Adam, Marianne, Roberta, Lois
Photo courtesy of Tommy Ng

Search for articles by
Performance Reviews, Places to Dance, Fashion, Photography, Auditions, Politics, Health