Herman Cornejo brings the US premiere of Anima Animal to New York’s The Joyce Theater
He has been a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre since 2003, after joining ABT Studio Company as an apprentice in 1998 when he was just 17.
Is it time for him to rest on his laurels? No way. In February, Cornejo brings the US premiere of Anima Animal to The Joyce Theater, an evening-length work that reflects his deep ties to Argentina’s cultural and artistic legacy. This project was co-produced with the Teatro del Bicentenario (San Juan, Argentina) in 2022.
The piece is inspired by Caaporá, Vaslav Nijinsky’s last project. In 1917, while in Buenos Aires, Nijinsky began developing the ballet, which was based on the Guarani legend of the Urutaú bird. He collaborated with Igor Stravinsky on the concept, but illness prevented him from ever completing it, leaving behind an unfinished fragment of dance history.
Cornejo, born in Buenos Aires, has revived this lost vision in this contemporary, interdisciplinary work that fuses ballet, folklore, and Argentine tradition. He has collaborated with artists from his hometown, with choreography by Anabella Tuliano, an original score by DJ UJI and Noelia Escalzo, and performances by contemporary dance company Grupo Cadabra, which will be making its US debut.
Throughout his career, Cornejo has sought projects that challenge conventions and expand his artistry beyond ABT. Anima Animal is a testament to that spirit, while amplifying the work of Argentine artists on the international stage.
Tuesday 18 February – Sunday 23 February 2025 at The Joyce Theater
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
