JulieKentRetires fromABTand NamedNewArtisticDirector ofABTSummerPrograms


Pictured: JulieKent andDamianWoetzel in LakeCitiesBallet Theatre’s “TheNutcracker.“ Photo:NancyWest Loch


byKellyKilburn Lannin


“Dance lives, breathes, and dies the same day.....Once the curtain comes down, it’s only alive in thememory of the people that sawit and experienced it, that’s it.” Thesemovingwords come fromJulie Kentwho retired this past summer as a PrincipalDancerwith the AmericanBallet Theatre and has been lovingly referred to as “America’sBallerina.”On June 20, 2015, I traveledwith a group of approximately 20North Texas and LakeCitiesBallet friends toNew YorkCity to celebrate JulieKent’s 29 year careerwithABT, and to expe- rience the life and breath of her final performance.Ms.Kent holds a special place inmy heart having guestedwith LakeCitiesBallet for 15 years, and Iwould not havemissed her final “Swan Song.” The vivid memory of thismagical performance is engrained inmymind andwill lastme a lifetime!


Ms.Kent performed the role of Juliet inKennethMacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet graciously partnered byRobertoBolle at theMetropolitan OperaHouse inNewYork’s LincolnCenter. The performancewas sold outweeks in advance and standing roomonly seatswere three rows deep, somethingABT had not seen in years. The excitement in the audiencewas unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Therewas definitely a sense of joy among those fortunate enough to be in atten- dance and it seemed that everyone in the audience felt a connection to one another.Wewere all here for the same reason....towitness history, to celebrate the end of an era, to bemoved once last time by the artistry of our belovedAmerican ballerina.WhenMs.Kent finally stepped onstage, the audience showed its love and admiration and burst into thunderous applause that lasted so long that the orchestra could not be heard.Ms.Kent continued to dance unable to hear the


Continued on page 25. page 22 Nov.-Jan. 2016 www.thedancecouncil.org DANCE!NORTHTEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas vol 18 • no. 4


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