Star choreographer Ratmansky signs with American Ballet Theatre
Alexei Ratmansky, one of the ballet world's star choreographers, is set to become the artist-in-residence at the American Ballet Theatre.
Ratmansky will join the New York-based ABT in January 2009.
"It will be extraordinary to have such an incredibly creative artist working with our dancers on a regular basis," ABT artistic director Kevin McKenzie said in a statement released Wednesday.
"I'm confident that having Alexei 'in-house' will result in the creation of wonderful new works that are unique to American Ballet Theatre."
The 40-year-old Ratmansky will start the new post in January, just after completing his tenure as artistic director of Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet in December.
The new post, for which Ratmansky signed a five-year contract, allows him to continue creating ballets for other companies worldwide.
"I am also looking forward to focusing exclusively on my creative work, without the administrative responsibility of being an artistic director, and to a complete change of environment," said the Ukrainian choreographer.
Fresh perspective
Over the past four years, Ratmansky has won praise for infusing new life into the venerable Bolshoi.
Born in St. Petersburg and trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School, Ratmansky began his dance career in Kiev. In 1992, he joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as a principal dancer and gained more familiarity with Western-style choreography. He also worked as a dancer and choreographer with the Royal Danish Ballet.
He had been winning some acclaim for both his revivals of classics as well as his new ballets when, in 2004, he was chosen as the Bolshoi's new artistic director.
While some praised his bold, fresh perspective — which included staging new ballets by more contemporary American and Russian choreographers — others accused him of ignoring the classics of the Russian company's repertoire.
He announced last December his intention to step down in 2008 so as to focus on choreography.
In the new year, news circulated that he was contemplating a position as resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet, which he eventually turned down.
Ratmansky will also still remain principal guest choreographer with the Bolshoi.