Taking the Pulse of New York City Ballet Without Peter Martins
'New York City Ballet both is and isn’t in limbo. Peter Martins resigned as ballet master in chief on Jan. 1. Since early December, the artistic life of the company has been run by a team of four young people, all under 40. Weeks or months are likely to pass before any permanent successor is appointed. Until June, the company dances repertory announced last year by Mr. Martins.
No dance company is static. Performances bring change. In the current six-week season (through March 4), some careers have made advances; others not.
Whoever takes over City Ballet long-term must address not just the legacy of Mr. Martins but also the achievements of this interregnum, too. A controversial slap in Mr. Martins’s “Romeo + Juliet” has been deleted; the ballerina Patricia McBride has coached a role she created. There have been impressive debuts in individual roles. Not least, there’s a new name on people’s lips: that of the 18-year-old Roman Mejia, who was promoted to the corps from apprentice by Mr. Martins in November.
This month, Mr. Mejia danced the faun soloist in the Fall section of Jerome Robbins’s “The Four Seasons” and Mercutio in Mr. Martins’s “Romeo + Juliet.” He has dash, sunniness, spontaneity, courtesy, speed, precision, sparkle, enthusiasm. He can arrive in the air before you saw the jump coming, beat his legs together or flourish his feet in rings while up there. And he turns, both fast and slow, with the same mixture of impulsiveness and security he brings to everything. There’s plenty yet we don’t know about Mr. Mejia — can he partner? — but the rainbow-like naturalness of his dancing makes this early stage of his career a joy for the audience.'>>>
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-winter-season.html?