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music but her face beamedwith pure joy. She frolicked about the stage with a girlish grin andwas so believable as the teenaged Juliet, itwas hard to believe shewas retiring. Itwas evident that shewas relishing everymoment and like a true artist, she gave her heart and soul to her adoring fans.Her dancingwas exquisite and the energy fromthe other dancerswho shared the stagewith her that nightwas exciting. Everyone off and on stage knewtheywere part of a historic
night.And
Ms.Kent did not disappoint!Her lifetime of experience allows her the ability to not only dancewith glorious technique, poise and confidence, but to pull her audience into the story transcending us to another world. The role of Juliet
andMs.Kent’s interpretation showed the full range of her talents, gifts as an actress, and the total trust and abandon- ment in her pas de
deuxwork.By the end of the ballet, therewas not a dry eye in the house!
The curtain call had the audience on its feet and lasted 23minutes completewith 23minutes of confetti and enough flowers to fill a flower shop. Itwas thrilling to see the parade of former partners, famous dancers, includingNataliaMakarova,
andMs.Kent’s husband,Victor Barbee, and her precious childrenwho came last. She brought her chil- dren to the front of the stage one at a time, and curtsied deeply to one knee to her sonWilliamand presented a teddy bear to
Josephine.After the curtain finally dropped, the celebration continued backstage and it was then I realized howmany people fromsomany different countries had also traveled to share thismilestonewith her. JulieKent has touched the lives of somany all over theworld through her perform- ances andmade an impression on everyone sheworkedwith because of her genuine kindness and giving spirit. Fortunately, our Texas entouragewas able tomeet upwith her backstagewhere she thanked us for being there and shared howmuch itmeant to her and howcom- forting itwas to feel somuch love and support.
Pictured: JulieKent’s final bowwithAmericanBallet Theatre
What’s next for JulieKent? Shewill finally be able to take advantage of themany offers she has received such as being a recent judge at the Beijing InternationalBalletCompetition and she looks forward to start- ingwork on hermemoirs to share her advice and experiencewith future dancers. Themost exciting news is the recent announcement of her newposition atABT asArtisticDirector of theABT Summer Programs and as a coach toABT, the StudioCompany and the JKO School. In this capacity, a newgeneration of dancerswill be impacted
byMs.Kent’swisdomand giving
spirit.Ms.Kent also looks forward to spendingmore time asmother toWilliamand Josephine and their new addition to the family, a family pet named “Winky!”
It’s hard to think
thatMs.Kentwill no longer be a dancerwithABT, but she certainlywent out on top and left hermark on the hearts of many. Twenty-nine years ago, a starwas born atABT and on June 20, 2015, a star retired. Shemade theworld amore beautiful place as a bal- lerina and nowshe is blessed to be able to continue spreading that beauty and passion in a newand fulfillingway.
KellyKilburn-Lannin, a newmember of theDance Council ofNorth TexasBoard ofDirectors, is the SchoolDirector andArtisticDirector of LakeCitiesBallet.
DALLAS FORT WORTH
AUDITION TOUR 2016 Summer Intensive June 20 - July 22
COMPANY AUDITION SUMMER INTENSIVE AUDITIONS
Fort Worth - February 14 Fort Worth - February 20 | Dallas - February 28
Texas Ballet Theater’s Professional Division prepares advanced dancers for a ballet career. Classes and rehearsals are held five days a week and dancers may have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Company. Attending the Summer Intensive is recommended for admittance to the program.
DANCE!NORTHTEXAS
texasballettheater.org |
tbtsummer@texasballet.org | 1540 Mall Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76116 | 817.763.0207 ext 133 Nov.-Jan. 2016
a publication of the dance council of north texas vol 18 • no. 4
www.thedancecouncil.org
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