Veronika Part (born 21 February 1978) is a Russian ballet dancer. She is a former principal dancer with
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, it is recognized as one of the world's leading classical ballet companies. Through 2019, it had an annual ei ...
. She served as a ballet mistress for Atlanta Ballet during the 2019–20 season.
Early life
Veronika Part was born in
St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
. The doctor who delivered her said she had beautiful legs, therefore her mother believed Part should be a ballet dancer. However, Part started in gymnastics at age 4, and continued for six years. In 1988, at age 10, her mother sent her to audition for
Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a school of classical ballet in St Petersburg, Russia. Established in 1738 during the reign of Empress Anna, the academy was known as the Imperial Ballet School until the Soviet era, when, after a brief hi ...
. She was accepted and started training at the academy.
She graduated in 1996, under the class of Inna Zubkovskaya
Inna Borisovna Zubkovskaya (; 29 November 1923 – 5 February 2001) was a Soviet and Russian ballerina. She was trained at the Bolshoi Theatre and graduated in 1941. She immediately joined the Kirov Ballet where she remained until her retireme ...
.
Career
In 1996, at age 18, Part joined the Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet (russian: Балет Мариинского театра) is the resident classical ballet company of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russ ...
), and became a soloist in 1998. At age 20, she made her debut as Odette/Odile in ''Swan Lake
''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...
'' and the title role in ''Raymonda
''Raymonda'' (russian: Раймонда) is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa to music by Alexander Glazunov, his Opus 57. It was first presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsky ...
''. When the Kirov performed George Balanchine
George Balanchine (;
Various sources:
*
*
*
* born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...
's ''Jewels
A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, a ...
''. She was coached by Gabriella Komleva, Ninel Kurgapkina
Ninel Aleksandrovna Kurgapkina (russian: Нинель Александровна Кургапкина; 13 February 1929, Leningrad – 10 May 2009, Beloostrov) was a Soviet and Russian dance teacher and former prima ballerina for the Kirov Ball ...
, Yelena Yevteyeva and Lubov Kunakova.[ She was the winner of the BALTIKA Prize in 1999.][ The Kirov toured extensively during this time and Part danced in many different countries on many continents. She became frustrated at her lack of progress and being overlooked for principal even though she was dancing principal roles and began to look around in Europe for the opportunities.
Part first performed in New York City in 1999 with the Mariinsky cast as the Lilac Fairy in '' The Sleeping Beauty'' and caught the attention of ]American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, it is recognized as one of the world's leading classical ballet companies. Through 2019, it had an annual ei ...
director Kevin McKenzie. When she returned three years later in the role of Odette/Odile in ''Swan Lake
''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...
'', McKenzie invited her to join as a soloist with the company, which she accepted. Part spoke no English at the time. She made her debut with ABT during its Japan tour. She first performed supporting roles, but gradually got more prominent roles.[
Part considered leaving the ABT and return to Russia, as she wanted to dance more and more support offstage, but was promoted to the rank of principal dancer in 2009. She decided to stay for personal reasons. Since her promotion, she had danced many of lead roles of the company's repertoire, including works by McKenzie, ]Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton (17 September 190418 August 1988) was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He also worked as a director and choreographer in opera, film and revue.
Determined to be a dancer despite the oppositi ...
, George Balanchine
George Balanchine (;
Various sources:
*
*
*
* born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...
and Alexei Ratmansky
Alexei Osipovich Ratmansky (russian: Алексей Осипович Ратманский, born August 27, 1968) is a Russian-American choreographer and former ballet dancer. From 2004 to 2008 he was the director of the Bolshoi Ballet. He left R ...
.[ She had created roles for the latter, including Natalia in his '']On the Dnieper
''On the Dnieper (На Днепре)'', Op. 51, is a ballet in two scenes with prelude and epilogue by Sergei Prokofiev. Composed in 1931 as his fourth work in the genre, it resulted from a commission by the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris ...
'' and Lilac Fairy in his version of '' The Sleeping Beauty''.
Outside of ABT, she had appeared on ''Late Show with David Letterman
The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the The Late Show (franchise), ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by ...
''. She had danced with the Royal New Zealand Ballet
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is a ballet company based in Wellington, New Zealand. It was originally known as The New Zealand Ballet Company.
History
New Zealand Ballet was established in 1953 as an independent charitable trust by Royal Danish ...
as a guest artist.[ She also participated in projects by the ]Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...
and Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...
.[ In 2012, she had returned to the Mariinsky as guest to perform in ''Swan Lake''. The following year, she appeared in documentary ''Ballet's Greatest Hits'', dancing the White Swan pas de deux.
In 2017, Part retired from ABT as her contract was not renewed. Her departure was announced days before her final performance. Her fans started a petition on ]Change.org
Change.org is a worldwide nonprofit petition website, based in California, US, operated by the San Francisco-based company of the same name, which has over 400 million users and offers the public the ability to promote the petitions they care abo ...
to ask the company's leadership to let Part stay. Part exited the company following a performance of Balanchine's '' Mozartiana''.[
Part had taught in schools across the U.S., and was a jury at ]Youth America Grand Prix
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world's largest non-profit international student ballet competition and scholarship program, open to dance students of all nationalities, 9–19 years old. YAGP annually conducts regional auditions in the Unit ...
. She later became a ballet master at Atlanta Ballet
Atlanta Ballet is a ballet company, located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the longest continuously performing ballet company in the United States and the State Ballet of Georgia.
History
Atlanta Ballet was founded in 1929 by Dorothy Alexander as ...
.[
]
Selected repertoire
Kirov
*Nikiya in ''La Bayadère
''La Bayadère'' ("the temple dancer") ( ru. «Баядерка», ''Bayaderka'') is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. The ballet was staged especiall ...
''
*The Queen of the Dryads in ''Don Quixote
is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...
''
*Myrta, Moyna and Zulma in ''Giselle
''Giselle'' (; ), originally titled ''Giselle, ou les Wilis'' (, ''Giselle, or The Wilis''), is a romantic ballet (" ballet-pantomime") in two acts with music by Adolphe Adam. Considered a masterwork in the classical ballet performance canon, ...
''
*Raymonda and Henrietta in ''Raymonda
''Raymonda'' (russian: Раймонда) is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa to music by Alexander Glazunov, his Opus 57. It was first presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsky ...
''
*The Lilac Fairy in '' The Sleeping Beauty''
*Odette-Odile in ''Swan Lake
''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...
''
*Terpsichore in ''Apollo
Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...
''
*"Emeralds" and "Diamonds" from ''Jewels
A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, a ...
''
*Second movement in '' Symphony in C''
*''Serenade
In music, a serenade (; also sometimes called a serenata, from the Italian) is a musical composition or performance delivered in honor of someone or something. Serenades are typically calm, light pieces of music. The term comes from the Italian w ...
''
ABT
*Terpsichore in Apollo
*Nikiya in ''La Bayadère''
*Kitri, Mercedes and the Queen of the Driads in ''Don Quixote
is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...
''
*An Episode in His Past in ''Jardin aux Lilas
''Jardin aux lilas'' (''Lilac Garden'') is a ballet in one act choreographed by Antony Tudor to a composition by Ernest Chausson entitled '' Poème'', Op. 25. With scenery and costumes designed by Hugo Stevenson, it was first presented by Ballet R ...
''
*'' Mozartiana''
*Manon in ''Lady of the Camellias''
*Lescaut’s Mistress in ''Manon
''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was first ...
''
*Sugar Plum Fairy in ''The Nutcracker
''The Nutcracker'' ( rus, Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik, links=no ) is an 1892 two-act ballet (""; russian: балет-феерия, link=no, ), originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaiko ...
'' (McKenzie)
*Clara, the Princess ''The Nutcracker'' (Ratmansky)
*''Other Dances
''Other Dances'' is a ballet choreographed by Jerome Robbins to music by Frédéric Chopin. It was created on Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and premiered on May 9, 1976, at a gala benefitting the New York Public Library for the Perf ...
''
*Raymonda, Henrietta, the White Lady and the Lead Spanish Dancer in ''Raymonda''
*Princess Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in ''The Sleeping Beauty''
*Odette-Odile and the Polish Princess in ''Swan Lake''
*The Sylph in ''La Sylphide
''La Sylphide'' ( en, The Sylph; da, Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts. There were two versions of the ballet; the original choreographed by Filippo Taglioni in 1832, and a second version choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836. Bo ...
''
*''Les Sylphides
''Les Sylphides'' () is a short, non-narrative ''ballet blanc'' to piano music by Frédéric Chopin, selected and orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov.
The ballet, described as a "romantic reverie","Ballet Theater", until 1955. A compact disk ...
''
*Sylvia and Terpsichore in '' Sylvia''
*Second movement in '' Symphony in C''
*''Bach Partita''
*'' Monotones II''
*''Symphony #9''
*''The Dying Swan
''The Dying Swan'' (originally ''The Swan'') is a solo dance choreographed by Mikhail Fokine to Camille Saint-Saëns's ''Le Cygne'' from ''Le Carnaval des animaux'' as a '' pièce d'occasion'' for the ballerina Anna Pavlova, who performed it abo ...
''
*Twig in ''Cinderella
"Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
''
*Prayer in ''Coppélia
''Coppélia'' (sometimes subtitled: ''La Fille aux Yeux d'Émail'' (The Girl with the Enamel Eyes)) is a comic ballet from 1870 originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to the music of Léo Delibes, with libretto by Charles-Louis-Éti ...
''
*Odalisque in '' Le Corsaire''
*Lady Capulet in ''Romeo and Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
''
Created roles
*Natalia in ''On the Dnieper
''On the Dnieper (На Днепре)'', Op. 51, is a ballet in two scenes with prelude and epilogue by Sergei Prokofiev. Composed in 1931 as his fourth work in the genre, it resulted from a commission by the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris ...
'' (Ratmansky)[
*The Lilac Fairy in ''The Sleeping Beauty'' (Ratmansky)][
*''Dumbarton''
*''Kaleidoscope''
*''Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison''
Sources:]
References
External links
*
Veronika Part Beautiful Woman
{{DEFAULTSORT:Part, Veronika
1978 births
Living people
Russian ballerinas
American Ballet Theatre principal dancers
Mariinsky Ballet dancers
21st-century Russian ballet dancers
Russian expatriates in the United States
Prima ballerinas