Stella Abrera

NYCDP Questionnaire:

Stella Abrera, Soloist with American Ballet Theatre

What career would you choose if you could not be a dancer? SA: I would be a restaurant owner/chef What are your worst fears (professionally or personally)? SA: Professionally: injury. Personally: (other than the obvious: losing family or friends) I have a real phobia of snakes. I avoid them at all costs. Even the rubber snake that "bites" Nikiya in Act 1 of La Bayadere makes the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. Which person (dead or alive) would you most want to dance with if you could? SA: Gene Kelly (I must have watched Singin' in the Rain a thousand times as a kid). If a child told you they wanted to be a dancer, what would your advice be? SA: Work with determination and grit. Every day endeavor to reach your full potential. If you aren’t successful on a particular day, be proud of trying, and then get back in the saddle again the next day. And cross train. If you could be an animal, what would animal would you choose and why? SA: I'd love to be a big wildcat of some kind - tiger, lion, cheetah, panther. I love how lithe, agile and graceful those animals are. What is your greatest indulgence? SA: Lazy Sundays: sleeping in, staying in my pajamas until early afternoon, brunch (always with a side of bacon), pouring over foodie magazines and the NY TImes, watching CBS Sunday Morning, getting a massage, having a decadent dinner and going to a movie at the best movie theater in the city (the Ziegfeld theater--when you walk in, it's like traveling back in time)--all of this with my gorgeous husband, Sascha Radetsky. I also love a good midnight snack. Clearly, my favorite indulgences involve food! What 3 items do you always have in your dance bag with you? SA: Lipstick (a gal always needs a lovely lipstick ready for a quick spruce up), spearmint Tic Tacs (to be considerate of my partners), and the ever-forbidden rosin (because slipping and falling sucks). What career would your family have chosen for you? SA: My family would have supported any profession about which I were passionate. What is your idea of perfect happiness? SA: Refer to above description of my Sundays. Who would you like most to have a coffee with (could be dead or alive)? SA: Cleopatra What is your favorite city to tour to and why? SA: Athens--legendary ABT tour. One summer, we performed at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an outdoor theater at the foot of the Acropolis. The extreme temperature restricted us to working only after dusk, so we spent the day lolling on the beach and lunching al fresco by the sea. When the sun went down, we took class and then did the show. Performing on such a historic stage, looking up at the Parthenon in the moonlight while dancing some really fun repertoire was unforgettable. And on the free days, we roamed on foot and feasted our eyes on all of the amazing historical landmarks. What was your biggest mishap in a performance? SA: Snow Queen (Kevin McKenzie’s Nutcracker) Washington DC--before my entrance, I (half-jokingly) begged the stage manager to please ease up on the amount of snowfall during the snow scene at the end of Act I. He apologized and told me he was under strict orders to make it really look like a blizzard…in other words, expect more snow than usual. About 10 seconds into my solo I face-planted. For a split second, I was tempted to make a snow angel ;-) Instead, I got up and finished my solo in the blizzard. The show must go on, after all. Is there a special meal you have before performances? SA: I love a big sandwich a few hours before the show (e.g. turkey, salami, swiss, lettuce, tomato, pickled peppers, on wheat toast), then I take a quick power nap, then a coffee and half a chocolate chip cookie as I apply my makeup. (I eat the other half on my walk home as my post-show treat/appetizer for dinner).

Hair and Makeup by Riva Pizhadze Gamzatti costume courtesy American Ballet Theatre Black dress by Trash-Couture

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland, Soloist with American Ballet Theatre In the past year, Misty Copeland has become a household name. Walk around Soho and you'll see her on a billboard. Turn on the TV and might catch her Under Armour commercial. Open up last week's New Yorker and you'll see a full-length feature about her life. She's kind of everywhere. She has the resume of a celebrity, and the poise of a ballerina.

Despite her accomplishments, there are still a few firsts that Misty is waiting to check off her list. Premiering Odette/Odile during the ABT's Australian tour was one. Now back in New York City, NYC Dance Project caught up with Misty and she gave us the inside scoop on her performances and the tour. The night before the show we ran through everything in Swan Lake, and it was probably the worst rehearsal that Alex Hammoudi and I had throughout the entire process of putting it together. Kevin was very calm about it. He kept saying,"Maybe you guys shouldn't do anymore. I think you guys are so ready for this, you've rehearsed so much." But we insisted on running though everything. It just wasn't working. So we left the night like, "Oh my god, that rehearsal was so bad." I went home to my hotel room, which was a little apartment so I could cook, which is something I really enjoy doing. Cooking definitely keeps my mind at ease. When I woke up in the morning I felt ready to finally do it. During the show, I wasn't walking into something where I didn't know what to expect. Usually each act of tech is given to a different Principal, but I was able to do a full run through the day after we flew. It was kind of like, if I can get off a plane, jet lagged and do the whole show - then I can do this. The shocking part was how much I enjoyed performing and how relaxed and calm I was. I was expecting people to say "Good first time! You've got a lot of work to do!" I mean, I think everyone was kind of in shock, like - you did it! You did it well. And the artistry was there, and you didn't struggle though anything. It's still setting in. The greatest thing that I continued to hear was that it didn't look like my first time doing Swan Lake. The timing couldn't be more right in my career. I don't even know if a year ago I would have been capable of handling a situation like this and prepared to do a ballet like Swan Lake. I can do anything. After dancing Swan Lake you feel like you can conquer the world. I feel like a different dancer now. I'm more in control of my craft. I am so grateful that Kevin has continued to have faith in me that I could become this artist that I think he's always dreamt of me becoming. And all I can do is just be grateful and thankful that he's waited this long. These opportunities don't normally come for someone at this age. I think that it says a lot about the belief that Kevin has always had in me. It's proof that there's a bigger picture. To get an opportunity to dance Swan Lake says a lot about the path that he sees for your career. So, I'm hopeful that's why I'm getting these roles. When I'm in the midst of doing what I do, dancing and performing, if I step back and think about everything or the magnitude of what it is, I think I could completely lose my head. I'd get overwhelmed and think "this is a lot on me." So I try not to. Dancers are athletes, ballet is not a sport. A sport is a competitive thing where you have a way of keeping score and it's very black and white. An art form isn't that. Of course there are competitions, but I think it's so insanely difficult to fairly judge a dancer in a competition. It's about the panel and their take, opinion and perspective. It is so much more than a sport. Susan Jaffe constantly told me how powerful other people's words can be and how you can't let them define you. You have to really be able to sift through things people are saying. That could mean anything: critics, people around you, or the ballet mistress in front. Take what you think is going to help you and don't let it beat you down.

Interview by Cory Stieg

Misty is dancing with partner, Alexandre Hammoudi, Soloist with American Ballet Theatre.

Hair and Makeup by Juliet Jane, Dress by Trash Couture

Ashley Ellis

NYCDP Questionnaire:

Ashley Ellis, Principal Dancer, Boston Ballet

What is it like for you to be back in NYC and performing at Lincoln Center?AE: I'm really looking forward to performing for the first time on the Koch Theatre stage. Although I spent years performing at the Met, this stage holds a whole different history, so it's sure to be a special experience. And of course I am always happy to be back in NYC to visit with wonderful friends. What do you love most about NYC?AE: The high level of so many kinds of arts that the city has to offer. I'm always impressed by the energy in this city. What career would you choose if you could not be a dancer?AE: I enjoy learning about how the body works, and it is beneficial for my daily work, so physical therapy or other areas of medicine appeal to me. What are your worst fears (professionally or personally)?AE: My reoccurring dance nightmare is that I am late for a show, something isn't ready yet. Either my hair is down, pointe shoes are not on yet, I have to do my makeup, etc. So I always try to give myself a little extra time. Which person (dead or alive) would you most want to dance with if you could?AE: There are so many amazing and inspiring dancers out there. My best experiences on stage are with partners what I truly feel connected and comfortable with. When I feel we are really experience that moment together and not just dancing next to each other, that is the person who I would want to dance with. If a child told you they wanted to be a dancer, what would your advice be?AE: Being a dancer is such a rewarding profession, but it does not come without a lot of hard work. So if you really love it, then go for it. Try to take inspiration from all around you and never stop learning and growing. Being a dancer is not just about the physical accomplishments, but about what you can share with audiences. If you could be an animal, what animal would you choose and why? AE: I think I would be a fish, it would be amazing to see a different world and to move like that under the water. What is your greatest indulgence?AE: Ice Cream. What 3 items do you always have in your bag with you?AE: Phone, warm ups and more pointe shoes than I actually need. What career would your family have chosen for you?AE: What I am doing right now. My family has always been extremely supportive of what I wanted to do. I feel very lucky to have had the encouragement from all of them to help me achieve my goals. What is your idea of perfect happiness? AE: Spending time with the people I love; laughing, talking, going on adventures together. Who would you most like to have a coffee with (could be dead or alive)?AE: My husband. What is your favorite city to tour to and why?AE: I would say Barcelona. It is a gorgeous city with a wonderful energy. Also, I spent a few years in Spain so it has sort of a home away from home feeling for me. What is your biggest mishap in a performance?AE: In my first entrance dancing The Firebird. I had only taken about one step onto the stage and I fell flat on my butt. They had place the fog machine right where I had to pass to enter it created a nice slick spot. I wanted to come out of the wing like I was flying, just too bad I had a crash landing! Is there a special meal you have before a performance?AE: I like to eat light snacks before a show like a protein bar and some train mix and then have a larger meal after the show.

Juliet Jane - Hair & Makeup

Costumes courtesy of Boston Ballet,

Bella Figura costume design by Joke Visser, Diamonds costume design after Barbara Karinksa

Gabrielle Salvatto

Gabrielle Salvatto, ballerina with Dance Theatre of Harlem

NYCDP Questionnaire:

DANCER: Gabrielle Salvatto, currently filming Flesh & Bone to be aired on Starz, air date to be announced What career would you choose if you could not be a dancer? GS: If I were not dancing, I would do something involving writing. I've always loved to write - maybe a journalist or a columnist (perhaps post-dance, a critic). What is your favorite ballet and why? GS: George Balanchine's Seranede. To me, it is the epitome of everything beautiful in ballet. I can watch this ballet anytime - the music is breathtaking, the costumes move beautifully with the movement and of course, Mr. B's ingenious choreography makes this a timeless ballet for me. What is your dream role that you hope to dance one day? GS: My dream role would have to be Swan Lake. Cliché I know, but the technique and character demanded are definitely something I am working towards and greatly admire in other dancers. I adore the music as well. (I'm still working on my fouettés) Describe your first experience onstage with DTH: GS: I was in Alvin Ailey's Lark Ascending in Louisville, Kentucky. I just remember being so excited and nervous because it was my first principal role in a professional company. Performing Lark was very challenging because we learned the grounded Horton based movement on pointe. Finding the right balance between control and freedom was not an easy feat. What is your favorite role or ballet that you have danced? GS: I love performing the Pas de Deux in George Balanchine's Agon. I love the energy behind the movement and the non traditional partnering dynamic. It was actually a dream role of mine, before I got the chance to perform it! What is your proudest achievement? GS: It is a rather recent one - teaching the children in a master class on our trip to Tegulcigalpa, Honduras. They were so eager to learn (and very talented) despite their lack of exposure to professional dance and "less than idea" classroom settings. Many came up to me after the class to ask for corrections and feedback and their dedication and passion was so inspiring! What is your proudest achievement? GS: My proudest achievement would have to be graduating from Juilliard. It was an amazing experience but pretty stressful at times. I considered leaving a few times, questioning whether I should be out in the world dancing, but I'm so glad that I completed my 4 years and got my BFA. What is your daily routine? GS: My daily routine (not on a performance day) consists of waking up at about 7:45am (and snoozing until 8) I have a quick breakfast, yogurt and tea usually and head downtown at 8:45. Class starts at 10am followed by a 6 hour rehearsal period that can end anytime between 5:45 and 7. I take the train home and usually just chill out for a few minutes when I get in. Feed my dogs and make dinner, maybe watch a mindless show or read a little while stretching and then (try to) head to bed around11:30.

Red skirt: Body Wrappers Tutu: Chacott by Freed of London

Juliet Jane - Hair & Makeup

Anthony Javier Savoy

NYCDP Questionnaire:

DANCER: Anthony Javier Savoy, Dance Theatre of Harlem

What career would you choose if you could not be a dancer? AJS: If I was not a dancer, I would want to be a Marine Biologist. I have always been fascinated by the ocean and the world under it. Most of my fascination comes from coral reefs and the mini-communities they build. I would make that my main focus. Luckily, I am a dancer, however, I have really considered it. What is your worst fear (professionally or personally)?AJS: My worst fears; professionally and personally, are wrapped up in not reaching my full potential. This truly is my greatest fear. Never attaining "my ideal' of happiness, love, success, clarity and so on.. It's something that I struggle with quite often. Sometimes, I have to remind myself, I'm young and there is still time. You really have to focus on one thing at a time, or else, everything ends up being in shambles. Which person (dead or alive) would you most want to dance with if you could?AJS: (Gasp) Svetlana Zahkarova. If a child told you they wanted to be a dancer, what would your advice be?AJS: If a child told me, "I want to be a dancer" and they wanted my advice, I would say, "think long and hard!" But, if they knew this was their dream, I would tell them, "believe in yourself, because honestly, that's half the battle. Dreams do come true, but only with hard work and sacrifice. If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?AJS: A cheetah. I'm slightly obsessed with them. As a species, they are so regal, slender (smiles), elegant but ferocious. I like to think I have some of those qualities/characteristics. They also have an agility to them that is mesmerizing.What is your greatest indulgence?AJS: My greatest indulgence... White chocolate Reese's and Kit Kats. Surprisingly, they are very hard to find outside of New York City.The bane of my existence. What 3 items do you always have in your bag with you?AJS: In my bag, my Iphone, chap-stick and some type of fragrance. My dance bag, will always include ballet slippers, a baseball and my Ipad. What career would your family have chosen for you?AJS: My family has always been supportive of my career. I don't know, I guess I should ask. What is your idea of perfect happiness?AJS: My idea of perfect happiness includes: A family of my own (including both sets of grandparents and siblings), a love that has been tested by time and remains unrelenting, great communication with that "special person" and lots of laughter. Everything else can be managed. Who would you like most to have a coffee with (could be dead or alive)?AJS: RuPaul! That would be hilarious and monumental. What is your favorite city to tour to and why?AJS: Any place international. International touring is always fun -- food, traditions, languages, and new music. What was your biggest mishap in a performances?AJS: My biggest mishap on stage is allowing the "character" take over, completely. To me, character, is never wrong and this is not a reliable excuse (Laughs). Someone has to be accountable. Is there a special meal you have before performances? AJS: I don't have a special meal before performances. I usually eat whatever the catering has provided, with the exception of red meat. What is your dream role that you hope to dance one day? AJS:Phlegmatic, from the ballet Four Temperaments. It's the section with the solo male and four women. I love it because, it requires a quiet precision that I would love to experience. Having to pull from a deep place to express the tender nuances would be a challenge, as well as a reward for my career. It doesn't hurt that it's a leggy section either(laughs) I'd also love to dance Des Grieux, from Kenneth McMillan's Manon. Simply because, it's one of the most poetic ballets I've ever seen. I would love to explore that character.

Grooming,Juliet JaneKnit pants by KD Dance

Anthony Javier Savoy and Gabrielle Salvatto

NYC Dance Project had the pleasure of working with Anthony Javier Savoy and Gabrielle Salvatto, dancers from the Dance Theatre of Harlem. We are looking forward to seeing their upcoming performances at "Jazz at Lincoln Center" which runs from April 23-27th. More photos and Q&A's with Anthony and Gabrielle coming soon.

Hair and Makeup by Juliet Jane, Leotards by Ainsliewear

Hee Seo

NYCDP Questionnaire:

DANCER: Hee Seo, Principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre

What career would you choose if you could not be a dancer? HS: A happy wife and Mom of 3 children, like my mom. What is your worst fear (professionally or personally)? HS: I don't have one particular worst fear. Which person (dead or alive) would you most want to dance with if you could? HS: Baryshnikov!!! If a child told you they wanted to be a dancer, what would your advice be? HS: Dance with your heart! When I saw ballet performances before, I realized that I was picking out tiny details, but now I go and enjoy the whole atmosphere of a dancer and the whole company. If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why? HS: My Chinese animal sign is a tiger, but my mom called me puppy, so a little baby tiger. What is your greatest indulgence? HS: Any sweets, then I move on to salty, then back to sweets... and for Sweets it would be chocolate cake, salty would be Lay Wave potato chips What 3 items do you always have in your bag with you? HS: My iPhone, credit card, apt key. In my dance bag, I have pointe shoes, lipstick, perfume. What career would your family have chosen for you? HS: Professor of any kind. What is your idea of perfect happiness? HS: Being at home with my family eating, talking about old memories and we start laughing till we cry, then we make fun of each other. Knowing and feeling these people really love me, no matter what. Who would you like most to have a coffee with (could be dead or alive)? HS: Right now my boyfriend. We had an argument that we haven't really addressed yet. Even though he doesn't drink coffee, can have a tea. What is your favorite city to tour to and why? HS: Spain. Every city has it's own charm, the architecture and flamenco blew my mind when I was there. It also has beautiful scenery. What was your biggest mishap in a performance? HS: I fell twice in Balanchine's ballet, the day I got promoted to soloist and it was my little brother's first visit to NY to see me dance on stage. Pretty sad... Is there a special meal you have before performances? HS: I eat normally, whatever I want to eat that day, but I have a power bar and coconut water handy.

Tutu:Chacott by Freed of London

Damian Monzillo - Hair, Juliet Jane - Makeup and Irina Chernyak - Stylist.

Daniil Simkin

Daniil Simkin is a Principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre as well as being a talented photographer and collaborator for NYC Dance Project. More to come...

Special thanks to Damian Monzillo (Grooming) and kd dance for lending us some wonderful clothing