Six dancers at New York City Ballet have been promoted: we have five new principals and one incredibly lovely new soloist. Alphabetically, we have Tyler Angle, seen above in Christopher Wheeldon's THE NIGHTINGALE & THE ROSE...
...and Robert Fairchild, pictured above as Romeo in Paul Kolnik's photo from the Peter Martins setting of ROMEO & JULIET. Both Tyler and Rob have been promoted to the rank of Principal.
Kathryn Morgan, photographed by Paul Kolnik in her memorable performance as Aurora in the SLEEPING BEAUTY pas de deux at last season's Dancer's Choice Gala (with Tyler Angle). Katie is NYCB's newest soloist.
The dazzling Tiler Peck is shown above in Balanchine's THEME & VARIATIONS with Joaquin de Luz (Kolnik photo). Tiler is promoted to Principal...
...as is Amar Ramasar, shown above in a Joe Anderson rehearsal photo for the upcoming film release of NY EXPORT: OPUS JAZZ. (The film, by the way, has a PBS airdate of March 24, 2010!)
And now gracing our roster of Principal ballerinas is the tall, blonde and beautiful Teresa Reichlen, pictured above in her debut as The Siren in PRODIGAL SON with Daniel Ulbricht in the title-role. Photo: Paul Kolnik.
These six dancers have already given us so many resplendant performances and we can look forward to their future successes with keen anticipation. Please join me in saluting their extraordinary talents.
I'm just so thrilled about this! Each one is a well-deserved promotion!
Congratulations to all of our wonderful dancers! The winter season can't come soon enough!
Posted by: Deborah | October 28, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Yes! All deserved!!! So exciting!!!
Posted by: Laura | October 28, 2009 at 12:25 PM
It just occurred to me that we have 2 Angles, 2 Fairchilds, and 2 Staffords at the Principal level!
Posted by: Laura | October 28, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Great news! Congrats to all!
Posted by: Marisa | October 28, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Kudos to all those promoted and more importantly, thank you (NYCB dancers, promoted or not) for sharing your gift!
However, I was surprised about one of the soloists promoted to principal (refuse to say which one). I honestly don't feel this dancer has that wow factor I get from other dancers like Rebecca Krohn, Craig Hall, Sean Suozzi, and Adrian Danchig-Waring (I know Adrian's only been a soloist since February, but his technique, energy, and lines are absolutely gorgeous), but again, NYCB sees things behind-the-scenes that the audiences do not.
Five principals is a lot to add on the roster, which I find a little much with the recent lay-off. Does that mean that the Company will force more dancers to retire?
The promotion I'm most excited about is Kathryn Morgan's because it is the most deserving. She's just pure magic on-stage and a really nice, humble person off-stage. I only go to performances where she's has a leading role (as same with Adrian).
I would've liked to have seen another corps dancer promoted to soloist, like Faye Arthurs.
Most importantly, hope there are no more layoffs in the immediate future.
Posted by: Lesley | October 28, 2009 at 01:07 PM
Good news, and all six of them truly deserve the recognition.
Posted by: Andrea | October 28, 2009 at 01:50 PM
Lesley, I think all six of the dancers really deserve to be promoted though I do agree with you that there are others who are just as deserving - and of course I am fully in agreement with you about Faye Arthurs especially!
I believe within in the next year we will see some retirements from the top echelon (Darci's is already announced) and the roster will begin to stabilize with the usual numbers of dancers at each rank.
My guess would be there will be no more layoffs. I hope I'm right.
Posted by: Philip | October 28, 2009 at 01:58 PM
I agree with everyone, especially Lesley's appraisal of Katie Morgan who is just the nicest, sweetest, kindest person going.Five years ago seeing her at SAB, I knew she would one day be a principal, so she's on her way.
JIM
Posted by: jim | October 28, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Earlier this year I met Winthrop Corey of Mobile Ballet who was one of Kathryn Morgan's mentors. He said she walked into his studio one day and he knew immediately that she was going to be a star.
Posted by: Philip | October 28, 2009 at 02:47 PM
YES!!!!!! :)
Posted by: Anne Coburn Whitmore | October 28, 2009 at 03:31 PM
What great news!! I am especially thrilled about the promotion of Katie Morgan, who is just as beautiful a person as she is a dancer and is unquestionably destined for major stardom but I join in the consensus judgment that all six dancers are truly deserving of promotion. Hats off to Peter Martins and NYCB for recognizing the talents of these very special artists. The future at NYCB is indeed very bright!
Posted by: Bob | October 28, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Katie Morgan's talent and physical beauty are enhanced by her inner beauty. All of that combined is what makes her performances exquisite. Congrats to all!
Posted by: Terri | October 28, 2009 at 04:00 PM
All well deserved, and for me especially. Tess
Posted by: Dick B | October 28, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Great photo of Amar!
Posted by: Grazia | October 28, 2009 at 05:10 PM
Philip, you have chosen such nice pictures of each dancer and your love for the City Ballet shines thru clearly in this article.
Posted by: Nina | October 28, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Wow,I can't beleive there are five new principals!!Right when I found out about the promotions, I came straight to this blog because I knew you'd have something posted about it!I've been expecting a promotion for Katie and Tess!! I'm so excited for all of these wonderful dancers!
Posted by: Juliane | October 28, 2009 at 07:36 PM
So funny (and telling!*) - Juliane!, I did the EXACT same thing!! ;)
* Philip, this is how much we love and revere and depend! on your blog! ;)
Posted by: Anne Coburn Whitmore | October 28, 2009 at 11:37 PM
City Ballet has chosen a true star in Katie Morgan. I performed several years with her while she was training with Winthrop Corey and Mobile Ballet and she is every bit the star. Katie always knew how to conduct herself on and off stage. Congratulations Katie & NYCB.
Posted by: David | October 29, 2009 at 06:30 AM
I agree about Katie. She could be on stage with 20 other Corps girls and yet your eyes are drawn right to her. And it's not just because she is beautiful (all of the ladies at NYCB are gorgeous!) She just has that "it" quality that cannot be taught.
Posted by: Laura | October 29, 2009 at 01:07 PM
Congrats to all who were promoted. I was a bit surprised not to see Erica Pereira's name among the new promotions. I was here last season to see her do Sugerplum and some other roles she is a firecracker for sure and her foot work is impeccable. I hope she will be featured this year in some nice roles.
Posted by: Nick | October 29, 2009 at 03:38 PM
I agree completely about Erica - she is outstanding both technically and in her presence onstage. I feel certain that she and 2 or 3 of the other girls in the corps will be promoted in the next wave.
Posted by: Philip | October 29, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Philip, thanks for posting this. I haven't been around for awhile, but I finally get to come to NY next month from Los Angeles and see the Nutcracker on Dec. 4th. It's been way too long. Hope I see our Westside alumni Andrew Veyette and Tiler Peck (congrats to her on her promotion) (P.S. My daughter worked for Colleen Neary at LAB this summer)
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=642379647 | October 29, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Hi Jan, it's nice to see your name here again!
Posted by: Philip | October 30, 2009 at 08:25 AM
ERICA PERERIA WAS JUST PROMOTED TO SOLOIST!!! I AM SO EXCITED! NOW I AM COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH THE RANKS! I ALSO ENJOY WATCHING BRITTANY POLLACK, AND I HOPE THAT IN THE YEARS TO COME SHE AND CHASE FINLAY ARE PROMOTED (CHASE IS VERY NEW)
Posted by: Christopher Charles | December 23, 2009 at 03:10 PM