Real-life pairings at Ballet West
By Lisa Traiger
Friday, Aug. 19, 2011
The pas de deux is often regarded as the embodiment of classical ballet.
"The couple in ballet is the supreme representation of the art form," says Adam Sklute, artistic director of the Salt Lake City-based Ballet West, which performs at Wolf Trap next week. "Put two dancers together, and we see the fantastic possibilities. Without having done anything we already see a story."
Many of Sklute's dancers are mirroring that partnership off-stage as well.
There are five married or dating couples among Ballet West's 37 dancers, which means that nearly a third of the company's dancers share lives outside the theater. And Sklute suggests that a few more behind-the-scenes pairings might be in the works.
"One of the nicest things I noticed about working with the company is how many couples there are," says Susan Shields, the Fairfax-based choreographer whose "Grand Synthesis" will be the centerpiece of the program at Wolf Trap. "It makes for a really nice atmosphere. . . . I noticed they pair off during breaks in rehearsal to share quiet time together."
Principal dancers Christiana Bennett and Christopher Ruud have been with the company since 1999 and 1998, respectively. Married for six years, their story began the day Bennett arrived for company class.
"She was standing at my barre spot," Ruud says, "so I asked her to move." Bennett, a fiery redhead, would have none of that. Ignoring protocol and rank, she stood her ground, literally. Soon after, they were cast as the overbearing wife and henpecked husband in "The Nutcracker" party scene. They've danced many roles together since and will be performing in Czech choreographer Jiri Kylian's "Sinfonietta" at Wolf Trap, although not as a pair.
"Sometimes [married or dating couples] are absolutely right together onstage," Sklute says. "There's both a physical and expressive understanding apparent. ... You can see that natural connection, that spark, that passion." He cautions, however, that other couples end up bickering or challenging one another, which can make for long rehearsals.
"A good partner is someone I can trust completely ... someone who is willing to go through the learning process and push each of us to be better," Bennett says.
"Christopher is such an amazing partner, I would want to do anything with him," she adds. "Of course, having a big, strong, gorgeous guy behind me doesn't hurt."
