Are you responsible for the entire Joffrey repertory, or only for certain ballets or choreographers?
We have three ballet masters who share responsibilities, including sometimes having joint watch for certain ballets, such as Trinity. I’m the caretaker for Lilac Garden, Square Dance, Prodigal Son. Currently we are at 32 dancers strong and six apprentices. What are some of the challenges in staging a ballet? I like to know a ballet inside and out, so the time spent in doing this is often a challenge, as we frequently have several ballets being rehearsed at once and I’d prefer one thing at a time! How do you learn ballets? From different sources, I’m sure… I have good recall of ballets I learned long ago. I use video of course, but also like to physically learn parts as well. You’ve known some “greats.” Tell us a few stories… Well, I had had success as the ‘Blue Boy’ (a turning part) in Les Patineurs. In 1978 Agnes de Mille came to create A Bridegroom Called Death at the Joffrey and asked, Can you do 12 pirouettes every time? Being honest, I had to reply that I couldn’t guarantee 12
