I posted photos of last night’s celebration of Herman Cornejo’s 20th anniversary at American Ballet Theatre on my photography website, notmydayjobphotography.com.
The all Herman evening was a celebration of his great talents starting with Apollo, his ABT debut in the role. I have enjoyed Calvin Royal III and Joo Won Ahn in the role this year, but Herman took Apollo to a much higher level. Next was El Chamuyo, a tango choreographed by Ana María Stekelman and set to music by Francisco Canaro with Herman and his sister Erica, an ABT Soloist from 1999 until 2006 and Boston Ballet Principal Dancer until her retirement in 2017. The work was first performed by the Cornejos in 1998 at a gala dinner honoring Argentina on the Grand Tier of the Metropolitan Opera House with an audience including President Clinton. While in New York for the event, they attended Company class at ABT, and were invited to join the ABT Studio Company. Great to see Erica again dancing with Herman, although El Chamuyo was too short at only three minutes. She was one of my favorite dancers and I remember her great work in the Swan Lake Pas de Trois in the DVD version from 2005.
The last work was A Gathering of Ghosts, a Twyla Tharp work commissioned for Herman’s anniversary I reviewed earlier in the season. The last part of the evening was the celebratory curtain calls. The packed house gave Herman a rousing ovation as Erica, Twyla, and other dancers joined the bows to commemorate his extraordinary work.
Check out my YouTube video below on what makes Herman one of the great dancers of his generation.