NEW YORK (AP) Alice McDermott settled into her seat at the New York City Ballet on a Friday evening, excited to see her first-ever ballet performance. The 31-year-old Manhattanite, who works in recruiting, was enjoying a fun girls' night out with three friends she met at work, starting with dinner.
They told me I'd love ballet, says McDermott, who was also thrilled to realize she already knew one of the evening's performers, Tiler Peck, through the dancers' popular Instagram feed. They said you could put on a pretty dress and simply immerse yourself in another world, while marveling at what the human body can accomplish.
kAm$66>D E96J H6C6 C:89Ei pE E96 6?5 @7 E96 6G6?:?8[ |4s6C>@EE[ 2 ?6H 72?[ H6?E 9@>6 2?5 H2E4965 2 32==6E 5@4F>6?E2CJ]k ^ Am
kAm!6C92AD J@F 4@F=5 42== :E q2==6E 2?5 E96 r:EJn (92E6G6C E96 E6C> 7@C |4s6C>@EED 32==6E 6G6?:?8 H :E9 A2=D[ E96 D46?2C:@ H@F=5 DFC6=J 36 >FD:4 E@ E96 62CD @7 E96 4@>A2?J H9:49 92D 366? 46=63C2E:?8 :ED fdE9 3:CE952J H:E9 72?72C6 E9:D J62C 2?5 6DA64:2==J :ED 2CE:DE:4 =6256CD @7 E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD[ y@?2E92? $E277@C5 2?5 (6?5J (96=2?]k ^ Am
kAm%96EH@[ 3@E9 7@C>6C 52?46CD 2E E96 DE@C:65 EC@FA6 7@F?565 3J v6@C86 q2=2?49:?6[ 92G6 >256 :E 2 <6J 8@2= E@ 3C:?8 :? 2 J@F?86C 2F5:6?46 E@ 6?DFC6 E96 4@>A2?JVD =@?8\E6C> 962=E9 2?5 >@C6 3C@25=J[ E@ 8F2C5 E96 G:E2=:EJ @7 2 46?EFC:6D\@=5 2CE 7@C>]k ^ Am
kAmxE D66>DE@ 36 H@C<:?8] %9@F89 D@>6 :?:E:2E:G6D 92G6 366? 😕 A=246 7@C =@?86C[ E96 =2DE 7:G6 J62CD 92G6 D66? 2 >2C<65 D9:7E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ ?F>36CD AC@G:565 E@ E96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DDi x? a_ab[ dbT @7 E:4<6E 3FJ6CD H6C6 F?56C 286 d_[ 2?5 A6@A=6 :? E96:C b_D >256 FA E96 =2C86DE 286 D68>6?E 3J 564256] u:G6 J62CD 62C=:6C[ 😕 a_`g[ c`T @7 E:4<6E 3FJ6CD H6C6 F?56C d_[ 2?5 A6@A=6 :? E96:C e_D >256 FA E96 =2C86DE 286 D68>6?E]k ^ Am
kAm}@H[ =@?8E:>6 32==6E 7@==@H6CD ?@E6 E92E @? 2 3FDE=:?8 uC:52J 6G6?:?8 J@F 42? =@@< 5@H? 7C@> E96 7:CDE C:?8 @7 E96 s2G:5 w] z@49 %962E6C 2E {:?4@=? r6?E6C 2?5?@ED:>A=JD66[ H6==[ 2 D62 @7 8C2J]k ^ Am
k9am1p vt}t#p%x~} ~u *~&}v !#~ut$$x~}p{$Vk^9am
kAmp >2;@C 724E@C 😕 2EEC24E:?8 J@F?86C A6@A=6[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 F?56C b_[ 92D 366? 277@C523=6 AC:4:?8] %96C6 2C6 2=D@ 6G6?:?8D E2C86E:?8 J@F?8 AC@76DD:@?2=D[ :?4=F5:?8 A@DE\D9@H C646AE:@?D] p?5 E96C6 92G6 366? 4@==23@C2E:@?DH:E9 G:DF2= @C >FD:42= 2CE:DED H:E9 J@FE97F= 7@==@H:?8D =:<6 E96 >FD:4:2? $@=2?86[ H9@ 😕 a_aa H2D 4@>>:DD:@?65 E@ D4@C6 2 32==6E 3J ab\J62C @=5 49@C6@8C2A96C v:2??2 #6:D6?]k ^ Am
kAm%96 $@=2?86 4@==23@C2E:@? H2D 2 D:8?:7:42?E >>@>6?E[ (96=2? 2?5 $E277@C5 D2:5 😕 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H[ DFCG6J:?8 E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD 2D E96 E9F>A:?8 @7 =62A:?8 52?46CD 766E 649@65 E9C@F89 E96 46:=:?8 23@G6 $E277@C5VD @77:46]k ^ Am
kAm(6 D@=5 @FE 6G6CJ D9@H[ (96=2? ?@E65] xE H2D 2 =:EE=6 ?F886E[ 3FE :E H2D >6>@C23=6]k ^ Am
kAm!6C92AD 6G6? >@C6:>A@CE2?E H2D E96 724E[ D2JD $E277@C5[ E92E 23@FE f_T @7 E9@D6 E:4<6E 3FJ6CD H6C6 ?6H E@ E96 4@>A2?J 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ 2 86?6C2E:@? @7 J@F?8 AC@76DD:@?2=D 😕 E96 4:EJ E92E 2C6 2E @FC E962E6C 6G6CJ ?:89E ?@H]k ^ Am
kAmz2E96C:?6 qC@H?[ E96 32==6ED 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J 925 E2<6? 2 =@@< 2E E96 E962E6C 2?5 G2DE=J C65F465 E96 AC:46 @7 46CE2:? D62ED 2?5 D2H E96> 7:== FA] 96$ 2=D@ ?@E65 E96 b_\7@C\b_ AC@8C2>[ H96C6 >6>36CD F?56C b_ 42? 3FJ 2?J D62E 😕 E96 9@FD6 7@C Sb_] %92E E9:?8 92D ;FDE 6IA=@565[ qC@H? D2JD[ 7C@> D@>6 `[g__ >6>36CD 😕 E96 =2DE 7F== D62D@? 367@C6 E96 A2?56>:4\7@C465 D9FE5@H?[ E@ D@>6 `c[___ ?@H]k ^ Am
kAm~?6 42?E 5:D4@F?E E96 AFC6 64@?@>:4D @7 2? 6G6?:?8 2E E96 32==6E[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6[ D2JD (6?5J !6CC@?[ =@?8E:>6 52?46 HC:E6C 2?5 7@C>6C 65:E@C @7 s2?46 |282K:?6] (96? x H2D 😕 }6H *@C< :? E96 f_D 2?5 g_D[ x ;FDE 4@F=5?E 277@C5 E@ 8@ E@ E96 32==6E[Q D96 D2JD]k ^ Am
k9amvt%%x}v qt%%t# pr”&px}%tsk^9h
kAmp=D@ ?@EE@ 36 5:D4@F?E65i E96 67764E @7 D@4:2= >65:2 😕 AC@>@E:?8 52?46CD 2D A6@A=6 H:E9 A6CD@?2=:E:6D]k^Am
kAm(6G6 8@E E9:D 4C@A @7 C62==J 6I4:E:?8 3FE 2=D@ C6=2E23=6[ 2AAC@24923=6 52?46CD[ 2?5 E9C@F89 D@4:2= >65:2[ 2F5:6?46D 42? 4@??64E E@ E96> 😕 2 H2J E96J 4@F=5?E 324< H96? H6 H6C6 52?4:?8[ D2JD $E277@C5[ H9@ C6E:C65 2D 2 52?46C :? a_`c]k ^ Am
kAmr@?D:56C !64[ @?6 @7 E96 4@>A2?JD >@DE A@AF=2C 32==6C:?2D W2?5 2 C:D:?8 49@C6@8C2A96CX[ H9@D6 x?DE28C2> 7665 925 C624965 |4s6C>@EE 367@C6 D96 6G6C D2H 96C 52?46] !64< DFAA=:6D 96C 92=7\>:==:@? 7@==@H6CD H:E9 D9@CE[ AF?49J G:56@D 23@FE 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 96C `_ 72G@C:E6 52?46 C@=6D E@ 9@H D96 2AA=:6D DE286 >2<6FA] w6C G:56@D @7E6 ? 762EFC6 96C A2CE?6C @?DE286 2?5 @77[ C:D:?8 AC:?4:A2= 52?46C #@>2? |6;:2]k ^ Am
kAmxED 2== G6CJ 5:776C6?E 7C@> 2 E:>6 H96? =:<6 ~56EE6 :? $H2? {2<6 32==6C:?2D FD65 E@ 36 >JDE6C:@FD2?5[ 23@G6 2==[ D:=6?E]k ^ Am
kAm$@4:2= >65:2 H96E96C FD65 3J E96 4@>A2?J @CG:2 E96 52?46CD @H? 7665D 42? 2=D@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D][ J@F >:89E 92G6 H@?56C65 H9J 52?46C |:C2 }25@?[ 2D $F82CA=F> u2:CJ[ DF556?=J 5:D2AA62C65 7C@> E96 DE286 2E 2 <6J >@>6?E] %96 2?DH6C H2D@? 96C x?DE28C2> =2E6Ci w6C A@:?E6 D9@6 925 D=:AA65 @77]k^Am
came $66[ J@F 42? 86E 2== J@FC 2?DH6CD 7C@> x?DE28C2> ?@H[ BF:AD (96=2?[ H9@ 96CD6=7 92D 2? 24E:G6 7665]k ^ Am
k9amt$%pq{x$wx}vp !p#%}t#$wx!k^9h
kAmp 76H >@?E9D 28@[ (96=2?[ 2 >F49\=@G65 7@C>6C }*rq AC:?4:A2= H9@ 2=D@ C6E:C65 😕 a_`c[ 8@E 2 4@?8C2EF=2E@CJ E6IE 7C@> $E277@C5 😕 E96 >@C?:?8 :E 925 366? 6I24E=J 7:G6 J62CD D:?46 E96 EH@ 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4d3a3bd_a4c`c_563fegh3ee42chf2f3QmE2<6? E96 96=> 27E6C 2 EFC3F=6?E A6C:@5k^2m H96? R|6%@@ 244FD2E:@?D 42FD65 D42?52=]k^Am
kAmw:DE@C:42==J[ E96 4@>A2?J 925 366? =65 3J @?6 >2? q2=2?49:?6 F?E:= `hgb[ E96? !6E6C |2CE:?D] %9:DE:>6[ E96 3@2C5 EC:65 D@>6E9:?8 ?6Hi 2 5F6E] $E277@C5 H2D 2=C625J :?E6C:> 9625[ 2?5 (96=2? 925 2AA=:65 7@C E96 ;@3]k ^ Am
kAm%96J AFE FD:? 2C@@> 2?5 4=@D65 E96 5@@C[ 2?5 H6 H6C6 =:<6 w:n (96=2? D2JD] %96J H6C6 =: <6[ 7:8FC6 :E @FEP p?5 H6 5:5] $E277@C5[ E96 2CE:DE:4 5:C64E@C[ D6CG6D 2D 2 3C:586 36EH66? E96 4C62E:G6 2?5 3FD:?6DD D:56D] (96=2?[ 2DD@4:2E6 2CE:DE:4 5:C64E@C[ 7@4FD6D @? E96 56=:42E6 E2D< @7 AC@8C2>>:?8]k ^ Am
kAmr@>A2?J :?D:56CD 56D4C:36 2 >@@5 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96 52JD H96? @?6 @FED:K65[ 2==\A@H6C7F= A6CD@?2=:EJ CF=65 7C@> 23@G6] u@C @?6 E9:?8[ E96 A2:C D2JD E96JVG6 :?DE:EFE65 2??F2= E2<:?8\DE@4< 4@?G6CD2E:@?D H:E9 6249 52?46C]k ^ Am
kAms:G6CD:EJ 32==6E :DD=@H=J 492?8:?8 3FE DE:== @G6CH96=>:?8=J H9:E6 😀 2=D@ 2 AC:@C :EJ[ E96J D2J[ 2?5 E92E :?4=F56D 5:G6CD:7J:?8 E96 A:A6=:?6[ >62?:?8 DEF56?ED 2E E96 277:=:2E65 $49@@= @7 p>6C:42? q2==6E]k ^ Am
kAm#646?E=J[ E96 4@>A2?J 96C2=565 :ED 7:CDE EH@ q=24< 52?46CD E@ 52?46 s6H5C@A[ E96 D64@?5 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 76>2=6 }FE4C24<6C C@=6i x?5:2 qC25=6J 2?5 8F6DE 2CE:DE p=6I2?5C2 wFE49:?D@? @7 E96 s2?46 %962E6C @7 w2C=6>] *6E E@ 4@>6 😀 2 q=24< $F82CA=F> u2:CJ]%96 4@>A2?J D2JD aeT @7 @7 :ED 52?46CD :56?E:7J 2D A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C[ H96C62D `_ J62CD 28@ E92E 7:8FC6 H2D `bT] $E277@C5 2?5 (96=2? 92G6 4@>>:DD:@?65 to 32==6ED 3J 49@C6@8C2A96CD @7 4@=@C 😕 E96 =2DE D:I J62CD[ :E D2JD]k ^ Am
came (6[ 2?5 H6 E2<6 :E D6C:@FD=J[ (96=2? D2JD]k ^ Am
kAm$96 2?5 $E277@C5 D2J E96JVC6 2=D@ A2J:?8 >@C6 2EE6?E:@? E@H6==?6DD[ 36 :E A9JD:42= EC2:?:?8 E@ 2G@:5 :?;FCJ[ 962=E9J 5:6ED[ @C 2 >@C6 7C2?< 5:D4FDD:@? @7 >6?E2= 962=E9]k ^ Am
kAmpD 7@C E96 4@>A2?JVD 7:?2?4:2= 962=E9[ :E 😀 DEC@?8[ qC@H? D2JD[ 7@FC J62CD 27E6C E96 A2?56>:4 4@DE E6?D @7 >:==:@?D 😕 =@DD6D %96 a_ac 3F586E 😀 C@F89=J S`_a >:==:@?[ 4@>A2C65 E@ Sgg >:==:@? 😕 a_`h] pF5:6?46 42A24:EJ 92D 6I466565 AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C ?6H 72? |4s6C>@EE[ D96VD A=2??:?8 >@C6 G:D:ED[ 2=@?8 H:E9 96C 7C:6?5D]k ^ Am
kAmx E9: ?< H6 92G6 2 ?6H EC25:E:@? 36EH66? E96 7@FC @7 FD[ D96 D2JD] (6== 567:?:E6=J 36 >2<:?8 :E 2 3:E @7 2 E9:?8]k^Am
