Above photo, Le Spectre de la Rose, ABT, October 2015. Check out my latest YouTube video profile on Herman Cornejo. Herman is one of my favorite dancers starting when he was a young dancer at American Ballet Theatre. I remember watching him at City Center in the late 1990s as he made a big impression, thinking, “Who is this guy?” He quickly rose to the top of ABT, with promotions to Soloist in 2000 and Principal Dancer in 2003 at the age of only 22. Herman combines his massive leaping ability with great technique and form. His beat steps are unparalleled in the dance world. His turns are always impressive with great form. The video covers steps that make Herman great: beat steps such as high, big split entrechat six, cabrioles; countless turns; and smooth double assemblés. I wrap it up with an analysis of his Albrecht Act II Giselle solo, one the finest versions that I have seen. For photos of Herman, take a look at curtain call photos at my photography website notmydayjobphotography.com.
Herman is one of the few dancers that is in the same class as Baryshnikov. For perspective, check out my Baryshnikov video trilogy focusing on his turns, jumps, and his turn and jump combinations.
What an interesting video. Thank you for your detailed analysis. I just love Herman!! Yes, he is a superb technician and athlete. But more importantly, I think he also has a boyish charm and that indescribable “something” that radiates all the way to the top rungs of the Metropolitan Opera House (Family Circle). I remember reading an interview once where Herman said that he took figure skating lessons as a young boy, before turning to dance because he wanted to spend more time with his sister. Maybe some of those early figure skating moves influenced his dancing style.
Herman Cornejo and Marcelo Gomes are my two favorite male dancers in the world. They are so different, yet they complement each other in many ways. It will be a very sad day when Herman retires… an end of an era. I hope that we have the pleasure of seeing Herman on stage for several more years to come.