June, 2005 - Nr. 6
The National Ballet of Canada
presents:
Suzanne Farrell casts Sonia
Rodriguez in opening of
Balanchine's Don Quixote
Toronto, Ontario...June 7, 2005...
SUZANNE FARRELL, Artistic Director of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet,
today announced that National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancer
SONIA RODRIGUEZ will dance the lead role of Dulcinea in the world
premiere of her new staging of Balanchine's Don Quixote in
the Kennedy Center Opera House, June 22 - 26, 2005. This role was first and
last performed by the legendary Suzanne Farrell and has not been performed
in more than 25 years. Mr. Balanchine bequeathed the ballet to Ms. Farrell,
and now Ms. Farrell is "thrilled and delighted" to pass on the
legacy of the role to Ms. Rodriguez. Additional casting will be announced at
a later date.
The world premiere of Suzanne Farrell's staging of Balanchine's Don Quixote is an historical collaboration between The Suzanne Farrell Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada. Ms. Farrell has had a long relationship with The National Ballet of Canada. She performed as guest artist with the company in 1969 and 1970, and has guest coached numerous Balanchine works since 1998. Ms. Farrell's staging of Balanchine's Don Quixote will have its Toronto premiere performed by The National Ballet of Canada at a date to be announced.
Toronto-born Sonia Rodriguez moved to Madrid, Spain, at the age of five. She received her dance training at Princess Grace Academy in Monaco and with Pedro de la Cruz in Madrid. She joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1990, was promoted to Second Soloist in 1995, to First Soloist in 1997 and to Principal Dancer in 2000. Ms. Rodriguez's many principal roles include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, the title role in Giselle, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanilda in Coppélia and Lise in La Fille mal gardée. In 2004 Ms. Rodriguez created the title role in Kudelka's Cinderella. Her many Balanchine roles include the lead in Diamonds in Jewels, Calliope in Apollo and roles in Divertimento No. 15, Mozartiana, Serenade and Stravinsky Violin Concerto.
Reviewing Ms. Rodriguez's 2002 debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet performance Paula Citron of The Globe and Mail said, "Rodriguez, fully in control of her body, can mask technique within a seamless flow of movement. There is never a jarring line or awkward angle to her body. Over this superb technique, she layers a brilliant interpretation as an actress... She was consumed by her character."
The world premiere of Suzanne Farrell's staging of Balanchine's Don Quixote will be at the Kennedy Center Opera House, June 22-26, 2005. For tickets and further information please call (800) 444-1324 or see www.kennedy-center.org
Balanchine's Don Quixote is a gift from Roger and Kevin Garland.
