Alexandra Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 June 6, 2005 Suzanne Farrell, Artistic Director of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, today announced that Sonia Rodriguez, a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, will dance the coveted role of Dulcinea on opening night of the new staging of Balanchine’s Don Quixote in the Kennedy Center Opera House, June 22, 2005. The Kennedy Center’s own ballet company, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet will present the world premiere staging of Balanchine’s Don Quixote, the evening-length masterpiece that was last seen more than 25 years ago, when Ms. Farrell herself danced the role of Dulcinea. Balanchine created the role especially for her in 1965 in order to take advantage of her magical and mysterious qualities. This legendary collaboration sealed the unique bond between Ms. Farrell and Balanchine. He bequeathed the ballet to her, 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. 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. In 1989 Ms. Rodriguez won the Enrico Cecchetti award (Grand Prix) at the international competition in Capri. She joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1990, and was promoted to Second Soloist in 1995 and to First Soloist in 1997. In 2000 she was promoted to Principal Dancer. Ms. Rodriguez' many principal roles include Odette/Odile in James Kudelka's Swan Lake, the title role in Giselle, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Lise in La Fille mal gardée, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Kitri in Don Quixote, Swanilda in Coppélia, Cio-Cio San in Madame Butterfly, Princess Vasilisa in The Firebird, Vera in A Month in the Country, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Bianca in The Taming of a Shrew, Olga in Onegin, Lescaut's Mistress in Manon, as well numerous Balanchine ballets including the lead in “Diamonds” in Jewels, Calliope in Apollo and the leads in Divertimento No. 15, Mozartiana and Serenade. Ms. Rodriguez created the title role in Kudelka's Cinderella (2004), as well as roles in Matjash Mrozewski's A Delicate Battle (2001) and Jean-Pierre Perreault's The Comforts of Solitude (2001). In 2004, The Toronto Star called Ms. Rodriguez “radiant in her simplicity and superbly confident in her dancing..." The Suzanne Farrell Ballet is part of the 2004-2005 Ballet Series sponsored by Altria Group, the parent company of Kraft Foods, Philip Morris International, and Philip Morris USA. Altria Group has been a major funder of the Kennedy Center since 1977. For nearly 50 years, Altria Group has been actively engaged in improving, vitalizing and strengthening communities across the globe. For more information about the Altria family of companies’ programs and partnerships visit www.altria.com/media_programs. Ms. Rodriguez can be seen with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet in the Kennedy Center Opera House, June 22-26, 2005. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $29-$84 and can be purchased at the Kennedy Center box office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324. Support for The Suzanne Farrell Ballet is provided by The Cordelia Corporation, The Shen Family Foundation, Ms. Maxine Groffsky and Mr. Winthrop Knowlton, and Dr. Emily Kelly. Link to comment
Paquita Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Congratulations to Sonia! This is fantastic news for her! Any word on whether Chan Hon Goh is also cast in the role? Link to comment
Alexandra Posted June 7, 2005 Author Share Posted June 7, 2005 Right now, the only official casting is what is in the press release I posted. Link to comment
Paquita Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hopefully the rest of the casting will come up soon, as the premiere is fast approaching! I'm interested in finding out who will play Don Quixote himself! Link to comment
Noreen Arnold Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hopefully the rest of the casting will come up soon, as the premiere is fast approaching! I'm interested in finding out who will play Don Quixote himself! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If it is a NBoC dancer I'm hoping it will be Tomas Schramek. He has wonderful stage presence and is a great dance/actor. We'll just have to wait and see I guess. Link to comment
Natalia Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 According to yesterday's preview of Don Q by Sarah Kaufman, in the Wash Post, Heather Ogden, also of the NBofC, will be the second-cast Dulcinea. So Rodriguez and Ogden will be the two Dulcineas in this run. Congratulations to both! Link to comment
Ceeszi Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 Is Sonia Rodriguez the one who is married to ice skater Kurt Browning? Link to comment
Helene Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 Is Sonia Rodriguez the one who is married to ice skater Kurt Browning? Yes. They have a small son, Gabriel Browning Rodriguez, who will be two in July. Link to comment
Sonora Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Is the detailed casting for all performances listed somewhere? Link to comment
carbro Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 This link takes you to the dates for the two Dulcineas, but nothing more. http://kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.c...ent&event=BFBSG Link to comment
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