After announcing the closure of his Spanish company and saying that he had little choice but to leave Spain if he was to continue working, Ángel Corella has done just that and in September he will become the Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet.
Initially the job will be part-time as he is handed over the reins by Roy Kaiser, who announced his retirement in April, and will become full-time from January 2015.
Pennsylvania Ballet said that 30 candidates were considered for the position. Corella's initial contract with the company will be for three years.
In a telephone interview with the New York Times, Corella said,
I think that my experience of guesting with many international companies and now working with my own company has given me very good exposure to a lot of work. There are a lot of different ways to bring a new audience to the ballet, which is what we have to do.
In the press release he said,
It's a great honor for me to lead one of America's great ballet companies. Pennsylvania Ballet has such a great reputation, such great dancers and such a loyal audience. My dream is to build on this rich history, its Balanchine legacy, and make the Company a center for all the best of the ballet, a true national model.
The Pennsylvania Ballet, founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, is one of America's leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company's annual local season features six programs of classic favourites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
How lucky is the U.S. to have such an incredibly talented, energetic, & passionate dancer/teacher & director?! He is simply brilliant – & authentically kind and supportive- the greatest of this time. Thank you Spain!