Spotlight on ABT's Soloists

American Ballet Theatre’s roster of principal and guest principal dancers is so extensive that its talented soloists don’t always get their chance to shine. On Sunday and Monday evening at 7:30 PM, they step front and center with “American Ballet Theatre—A Cast of Characters,” presented by the Guggenheim Museum’s Works & Process program. Viewers can watch the sold-old performances live at www.ustream.tv/worksandprocess (and interact with other dance fans on Twitter using #WPLive).

As the title suggests, “A Cast of Characters” will focus on how ABT’s dancers bring their roles to life. Our Dec. 2010 cover girl Misty Copeland will perform excerpts of Alexei Ratmansky’s Firebird ahead of its hotly anticipated New York premiere. Stuttgart Ballet director Reid Anderson will coach soloist Hee Seo and principal Cory Stearns in a heart-stopping pas de deux from Cranko’s Onegin. Soloist Sascha Radetsky (who penned this fabulous piece about overcoming injury for our current issue) will perform von Rothbart’s seductive solo from Act III of Swan Lake with members of the ABT Studio company. (Soloist Kristi Boone and corps de ballet member Roman Zhurbin will dance the Czardas from the same ballet.) Zhurbin, who will bring depth and sincerity to a range of portrayals this upcoming season, will be interviewed by moderator John Meehan, and will also perform excerpts from Ashton’s The Dream with soloists Maria Riccetto (Helena), Kristi Boone (Hermia), Craig Salstein (Puck), Jared Matthews (Lysander), and Radetsky (Demetrius). —Kina Poon