Center "King" Joins Mikhailovsky Ballet

Marcelo Gomes, a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, has thrilled Center audiences many times. He has added a new title, Guest Principal Dancer of the Mikhailovsky Ballet for its 2012-13 Season. In recent seasons at Segerstrom Center, Gomes was seen as the Rogue in the West Coast premiere of Twyla Tharp’s Rabbit and Rogue (August 2008), which was a co-commission of the Center with ABT, Tour de Force II (April 2011); Kings of the Dance (October 2011) and as Prince Ivan in ABT’s new Firebird, which had its world premiere here in March, 2012.  

Photos:

Top: Marcelo Gomes in King of the Dance 2011; photo by Doug Gifford

Bottom: Marcelo Gomes and Natalia Osipova, from Lady of the Camelias; photo by Gene Schiavone

Fabulous Firebird Fashion

Misty Copleland, who will star in the new American Ballet Theatre production of Firebird choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, is shown here in some last minute costume adjustments. Galina Solovyeva is the designer. The role will be danced by Natalia Osipova on Thursday, March 29 and Saturday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. , by Copland on Friday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m., and by Isabella Boylston on Saturday, March 31 at 2 p.m. ABT’s program will include Ratmansky’s Firebird, Duets by Merce Cunningham and Thirteen Diversions by Christopher Wheeldon.

Photo by Marcia Wilson Wide Vision Photography

ABT Dancer Comes Home to OC

Orange County native Jamie Kopit will return home to dance with American Ballet Theatre during the Company’s engagement at Segerstrom Center March 29 – April 1, which will include the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Firebird. Before joining ABT’s corps de ballet, Jamie studied at Southland Ballet Academy and also earned scholarships to study with San Francisco Ballet and the Royal Ballet School. To read more about Jamie’s homecoming, click here for her interview with Pointe magazine And in the video above go behind-the-scenes with Jamie during rehearsals for Firebird at ABT in New York City.

The "ballet world's Cary Grant" arrives with ABT next week

With the much anticipated arrival of American Ballet Theatre's Giselle next week, audiences will have ample opportunities to see many of ABT's greatest star dancers, including Julie Kent, Xiomara Reyes, Jose Manuel Carreño, Herman Cornejo, David Hallberg and many more. 

Audiences will have two opportunities to see Marcelo Gomes as he partners Paloma Herrera (at the Nov 4 & 7 evening performances).  Gomes was featured in a New York Times article this past summer which said  Gomes "is like the ballet world’s Cary Grant: he has all the urbane charisma in the world, but pushes it aside in favor of making his partner look good."