Pas de Deux
Ballet and Pop Royalty Converge at ABT Gala
American Ballet Theatre's Spring Gala showcased kings and queens of the American dance stage, as well as the artist formerly known as Prince. The diminutive pop star joined ballerina Misty Copeland at dinner, where, in perhaps the evening's most impressive sidestep, he avoided pretty much every photographer in the room.
After all, it was the dancers' big night: in particular, Diana Vishneva and Marcelo Gomes in an ecstatic pas de deux to Massenet's Manon and Julie Kent and Cory Stearns in a tender number, accompanied by piano only, from Lady of the Camellias. The mere sight of Irina Dvorovenko in an endless white gown earned loud applause before her performance even started. "That dress has a life of its own—and it added seven pounds," Dvorovenko explained afterward, adding that her partner, Maxim Beloserkovsky, had a much easier time of it than he did a few years ago, when the floors were sticky.
ABT's gents, of course, have also been known to wow the spectators. They rarely wear anything flowing, though. "I'm assuming their pants are painted on," offered Michelle Ochs. (She and her design partner, Carly Cushnie, had outfitted principal dancer Gillian Murphy in a blue cocktail dress.)
"The movements, the music, the romanticism, there are so many things I love about ballet," said Carolina Herrera, who co-hosted the evening. "Ballerinas look different. They're very graceful. That's why little girls should do ballet when they're growing up." Hey—it might just land them a Prince.
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