The director for the Washington Ballet,
Julie Kent, is stepping down.
The critically acclaimed ballerina,
who got her start in Bethesda, MD,
is heading to Houston to be the new Co
artistic director for the Houston Ballet.
She's joining us live in studio
to talk about the transition,
and she's also talking to us about what
is coming up with the Washington Ballet.
Julie, good to see you.
OK, we're calling this the exit
interview, so to speak, right.
As you get ready for this new adventure,
I think we first have to start about all
the great things have been going
on with the Washington Ballet.
I understand Balanchine was
on the program and you guys
are gearing up for yet another
performance coming up in April.
Yes we are. So we had a wonderful week
of performances at the Kennedy Center
of a Balanchine program celebrating
the work of George Balanchine.
Our next performances are April 7th
through 9th at Capital One Hall.
It's a family friendly program of
Aurora's wedding which is a one
act version of Sleeping Beauty
as well as theme and variations.
And then the end of the season
will be May 4th through 7th,
back at the Kennedy Center,
with the full length splendor of
the Sleeping Beauty in its entirety.
So it's a lot to look forward to
in the coming weeks and months.
You know, we, you and I got to chat
about six years ago when you first came
back home about what it was like to kind
of start your new role as an artistic
director at the Washington Ballet,
really backing your hometown now
that you're getting an opportunity
to reflect on those six years.
What will you say has been your legacy there?
Ohh. Well, first of all,
thank you for inviting me back.
Yeah, and for welcoming me six years ago.
You know, I I think my legacy.
If I think about it,
there's a few areas that are really
important that that the investment in
our school and community programs,
the Washington Ballet and
during my 10 years invests $1.4
million annually in our schools,
in our Community programs through
scholarship initiatives and
maintaining both campuses in
the Southeast and Northwest.
So in the growth, the people,
the the growth of the company,
we're a company of 32 dancers from
18 different nationalities as
well as equal number of states.
I mean the there are dancers that come
from all over the world and the country
to live and work as artists in Washington DC.
I think also.
The fact that in my 10 years since 2016,
we've commissioned 26 new works by
over 17 different choreographers,
that's a lot.
It is a lot.
And and for the Washington Ballet to
be considered somewhat of an artistic
incubator for both new talent that's
developing needs opportunity as well
as world renowned choreographers that
can help our own company develop.
And they're, they're artistic.
Opinion through new work and finally
the growth of the repertoire,
not only these exquisite full length ballet,
Swan Lake,
Sleeping Beauty,
Giselle that were sort of handmade
for our company,
as well as the expansion of the repertoire
to include the works of Sir Frederick Ashton,
George Balanchine.
Antony Tudor, Merce Cunningham,
Mark Morris.
So you know the the it's just been
an incredible six years and you know
I am just so grateful for the the
opportunities that I had and and
mainly for the people that I've met.
It's always about the people everywhere
no matter where you are and I'm
really thankful to have been able
to return to the people that I love so much.
Including my my family and my
first ballet teacher, Mrs.
Fonseca,
who as you know just celebrated her 101st
birthday and then make for you know,
meaningful relationships with new people.
So and all of that I will take
with me everywhere. Always.
Yeah. Especially as you head down to
good old Texas for the Houston Ballet.
Again the performance that will be taking
place in April is the help me out here
Julie Aurora's wedding and.
And variations. So great family
friendly introductory program,
I believe April 7th through the 9th.
And you can get tickets by heading to the
Washington Bullets website as well. Julie,
thank you so much and good luck to you.
All right. We appreciate you.
Stay with us. We'll be right back.