Is any golden-boy choreographer more connected than the young Brit Christopher Wheeldon? Although his new company, Morphoses, which debuts at City Center October 19, won’t hire full-time dancers until 2010, his years at NYCB have linked him to a solar system of talented colleagues—an extraordinary number of whom have clamored to be a part of his venture.
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(Photo: Rosalie O'Connor/courtesy of Morphoses) |
Christopher Wheeldon
Has, since 2000, made sensual, shapely ballets for New York City Ballet as choreographer-in-residence. Leaves in 2008 to direct Morphoses full-time.
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(Photo: Patrick McMullan) |
Edwaard Liang
Former City Ballet soloist, frequent Wheeldon dancer, and budding choreographer, often compared with Wheeldon. His pas de deux to Death and the Maiden is on Morphoses’ season program.
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Lourdes Lopez
Executive director. Also heads the Balanchine Foundation. Former City Ballet star, now a financially savvy, revered figure. Runs Morphoses “like a venture capitalist”—expects to see it grow very big.
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(Photo: Kyle Froman/courtesy of New York City Center) |
Damian Woetzel
City Ballet principal who just got a degree at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Directs the Vail Dance Festival; gave Morphoses a residency this summer. Wheeldon choreographed Carousel (A Dance) on him.
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Aesha Ash
Gorgeous dancer; one of the first and only African-American ballerinas at City Ballet—which she left. Unattached to a company, guests frequently; could be a Wheeldon go-to.
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(Photo: Patrick McMullan) |
Wendy Whelan
Wheeldon’s muse; established veteran at City Ballet, beloved by the dance world. Angular beauty lends itself well to his origami-like partnering. Likely wouldn’t leave City Ballet for him (she’d retire first), but will clearly be his go-to ballerina.
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(Photo: Patrick McMullan) |
Tyler Angle
Unusually mature young corps member at City Ballet, in the mold of the danseur noble. Starred in Wheeldon’s latest for the company, The Nightingale and the Rose, with Whelan.
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(Photo: Dafydd Jones/FilmMagic) |
Alistair Spalding
Runs London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre; connected Wheeldon with City Center. Known for incubating young choreographers and giving them a platform; wants to book Morphoses for three years at Sadler’s Wells.
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(Photo: Ferdaus Shamim/Wireimage (left); Tatyana Balashova/TAR-TASS/Newscom (right)) |
Darcey Bussell and Johann Kobborg
Two of the biggest ballet stars overseas, both at the Royal Ballet and as frequent guest artists elsewhere—likely standbys for Wheeldon when he’s in London.
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(Photo: Patrick McMullan) |
Ashley Bouder
Perky upstart star at City Ballet; great for Balanchine, lately has shown range. How will she look in a Wheeldon piece?
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(Photo: Patrick McMullan) |
Narciso Rodriguez
Sleek designer extraordinaire; talked to Lopez and 30 minutes later wanted to costume and do stage design (sans fee) for both new Wheeldon ballets at City Center.
