NEW YORK CITY BALLET ANNOUNCES ELEVEN PROMOTIONS

Adrian Danchig-Waring, Chase Finlay and Ask la Cour

Promoted to Principal Dancer

Lauren King, Ashley Laracey, Megan LeCrone, Lauren Lovette, Georgina Pazcoguin,

Justin Peck, Brittany Pollack, and Taylor Stanley

Promoted to Soloist

New York City, New York - New York City Ballet announced today the promotion of eleven dancers in the Company. Three dancers, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Chase Finlay and Ask la Cour have been promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer, and eight corps de ballet members Lauren King, Ashley Laracey, Megan LeCrone, Lauren Lovette, Georgina Pazcoguin, Justin Peck, Brittany Pollack, and Taylor Stanley have been promoted to Soloist.

Peter Martins, NYCB’s Ballet Master in Chief, made the promotions on Thursday, February 21 just before the Company’s evening performance of Martins’ full-length production of The Sleeping Beauty. All the newly appointed Principal Dancers and Soloists have performed featured roles throughout the two-week run of The Sleeping Beauty, which closes out NYCB’s 2013 winter season with performances through February 24.

Following the winter season the Company will embark on a series of tours, including New York City Ballet MOVES performances at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas (March 5 and 6) and the Fox Centre in St. Louis (March 9 and 10), followed by the Company’s annual performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC (March 26 to March 31), and then performances at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark (April 4 to 8). NYCB will return to the stage in New York for its annual spring performances at the David H. Koch Theater from April 30 to June 9.

New Principal Dancers
Adrian Danchig-Waring was born in San Francisco, California. He began his dance training at the age of 11 at Dance Theatre Seven with David Roxander. Danchig-Waring entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of NYCB, in the fall of 2001. In October 2002 he became an apprentice with NYCB, and in June 2003 he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to soloist in February 2009.

Most recently Danchig-Waring has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Cavalier), I’m Old Fashioned, Kammermusik No. 2, Serenade, Symphony in C (Fourth Movement), and Symphony in Three Movements; Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons (Summer) and In G Major ; Peter Martins’ Romeo + Juliet (Paris and Benvolio), Swan Lake (Benno and Hungarian), and The Waltz Project ; Mauro Bigonzetti’s Luce Nascosta; Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons; Christopher Wheeldon’s Les Carillons, Estancia, and Polyphonia; and Wayne McGregor’s Outlier. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Danchig-Waring has debuted in such works as Peter Martins’ Bal de Couture, and Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces.

Chase Finlay was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and began his dance training at the age of eight at Ballet Academy East. He went on to study at SAB during the summer of 2007 and later enrolled as a full-time student. Finlay became an apprentice with NYCB in September 2008 and became a member of the corps de ballet in September 2009. He was promoted to soloist in July 2011. Finlay is a recipient of the first Clive Barnes Award for dance in 2010.

Most recently Finlay has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet (First Movement), Divertimento No. 15, Duo Concertant, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Cavalier), Liebeslieder Walzer; Symphony in C (First Movement); Jerome Robbins’ 2 & 3 Part Inventions, Glass Pieces, Interplay, and West Side Story Suite; Peter Martins’ Fearful Symmetries, Mirage, and Swan Lake (Pas de Quatre); and Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Finlay has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s Mozartiana and Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux; Jerome Robbins’ NY Export: Opus Jazz (Pas de Deux); and Peter Martins’ Bal de Couture.

Ask la Cour was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and began his dance training at the age of nine at the Royal Danish Ballet School, where he studied with Niels Balle, Adam Lüders, and Colleen Neary. He joined the Royal Danish Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2000.

La Cour joined NYCB as a member of the corps de ballet in the fall of 2002 and was promoted to the rank of soloist in May 2005. La Cour has received several awards, including the 1998 Royal Theatre Award, the 2001 Edith Allers Memorial Award, the 2001 Birger Bartholins Memorial Award, and the 2001 John Roagers Memorial Award.

Most recently la Cour has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet (Fourth Movement), Concerto Barocco, Cortége Hongrois, Episodes, Firebird, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Cavalier), Emeralds from Jewels, Monumentum pro Gesualdo, Movements for Piano and Orchestra, Orpheus, Serenade, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3 (“Elegie”), Vienna Waltzes, Walpurgisnacht Ballet; Western Symphony, and Who Cares? ; Peter Martins’ Barber Violin Concerto, Romeo + Juliet (Friar Lawrence and Lord Capulet), and Swan Lake (Von Rothbart, Russian, and Hungarian); and Jerome Robbins’ In Memory Of… During the Company’s 2012-2013 season la Cour has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s Diamonds from Jewels and Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2; Peter Martins’ Bal de Couture; and Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia.

New Soloists

Lauren King was born in Massapequa Park, New York, and began her dance training at the age of ten with Jane Miller, Luba Gulyaeva, Ali Pourfarrokh, and Lynn Glauber at the American Theater Dance Workshop. King performed with the Eglevsky Ballet Company during its 2000-2001 season. In fall of 2001, King entered the full-time program at SAB. King became an apprentice with NYCB in the fall of 2003. As an apprentice King danced a featured role in Michel Fokine’s Chopiniana, performed by SAB as part of NYCB’s winter 2004 season, and she originated a corps role in Susan Stroman’s Double Feature. King joined NYCB as a member of the corps de ballet in June 2004.

Most recently King has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Chaconne, Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Dewdrop and Marzipan), La Sonnambula, La Source, and Symphony in C (Fourth Movement); Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons (Winter); Peter Martins’ Fearful Symmetries and Swan Lake (Princess and Pas de Trois); and Christopher Wheeldon’s Mercurial Manoeuvres. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season King has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Sugarplum Fairy), Swan Lake, and Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2.

Ashley Laracey was born in Sarasota, Florida. She began her dance training at the age of five with Cheryl Carty and Christine White at the Carty Academy of Theater Dance in Bradenton, Florida. At age 12, she began training with Pavel Fomin, Diane Partington, and Isabel and Javier Dubrocq at Sarasota Ballet of Florida. She continued her studies at age 15 with Victoria Schneider,

Olivier Pardina, and Svetlana Osiyeva at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. Laracey entered SAB in the fall of 2001. In October 2002, Laracey became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in February 2003 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.

Most recently Laracey has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, Cortége Hongrois, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Marzipan), Emeralds from Jewels; Jerome Robbins’ 2&3 Part Inventions, Interplay and N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz; Peter Martins’ Mirage, and Swan Lake (Pas de Trois, Pas de Quatre, and Princess). During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Laracey has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Coffee) and Swan Lake.

Megan LeCrone was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She began her dance training at the age of four at Greensboro Ballet with Maryhelen Mayfield, John Dennis, and Elissa Fuchs. At age 14, she began studying with Melissa Hayden and Duncan Noble at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. LeCrone came to SAB full time in the fall of 2001, and in November 2001 she became an apprentice with NYCB. LeCrone joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in October 2002.

Most recently LeCrone has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracke (Dewdrop and Coffee), Stars and Stripes, and Symphony in Three Movements; and Peter Martins’ Ocean’s Kingdom and Swan Lake (Pas de Trois, Pas de Quatre, Spanish, Russian, and Princesses). During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season LeCrone has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s Serenade and Swan Lake.

Lauren Lovette was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began studying ballet at the age of 11 at the Cary Ballet Conservatory in Cary, North Carolina. She attended summer courses at SAB during the summers of 2004 and 2005 and enrolled at SAB as a full time student in 2006. In October 2009, Lovette became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2010. Lovette is the 2013 recipient of the Clive Barnes Award for dance and is the 2012-2013 recipient of the Janice Levin Award.

Most recently Lovette has performed featured roles in Peter Martins’ Mes Oiseaux and Swan Lake (Neapolitan); Jerome Robbins’ 2 &3 Part Inventions, Dances at a Gathering, Interplay, and West Side Story Suite (Maria); Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons; Susan Stroman’s For the Love of Duke; Christopher Wheeldon’s Les Carillons, Mercurial Manoeuvres, and Polyphonia. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Lovette has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Sugarplum Fairy, Marzipan), and Rubies from Jewels

Georgina Pazcoguin was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. She began her dance training at the age of four at the Allegheny Ballet Academy where she studied with Deborah Anthony, Richard Cook, and Cherié Noble. Pazcoguin entered SAB in the fall of 2001. In addition, she trained at the summer programs of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and SAB. In October 2002, Pazcoguin became an apprentice with NYCB, and in October 2003 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. Pazcoguin was a 2002 recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award.

Most recently Pazcoguin has performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Hot Chocolate and Coffee); Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz and West Side Story Suite (Anita); Peter Martins’ Ocean’s Kingdom, Romeo + Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty (Carabosse), and Swan Lake (Hungarian, Russian); and Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Pazcoguin has debuted in George Balanchine’s Vienna Waltzes (polka).

Justin Peck was born in Washington D.C. and began training at SAB in 2003, where he studied with Jock Soto, Peter Boal, and Peter Martins. In October 2006, Peck became an apprentice with NYCB, and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in June 2007.

Most recently Peck has performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet (Second Movement), Concerto Barocco, Firebird, The Four Temperaments, Liebeslieder Walzer, Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3; Jerome Robbins’ I’m Old Fashioned, N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz, and West Side Story Suite (Bernardo); Peter Martins’ Fearful Symmetries, Romeo + Juliet (Prince of Verona), Swan Lake (Hungarian), Thou Swell; and Benjamin Millepied’s Plainspoken. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Peck has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Hot Chocolate) and Jerome Robbins’ The Cage.

Peck began choreographing in 2009 and has since created Quintet (2009), Tales of a Chinese Zodiac (2010), In Creases (2011), and Mise En Place (2012) for the New York Choreographic Institute; A Teacup Plunge (2009) and Enjoy Your Rabbit (2010) for the Columbia

University Ballet Collaborative; and In Creases (2012), Year of the Rabbit (2012), and Paz de la Jolla (2013) for New York City Ballet. In 2011, Peter Martins designated Peck to receive the New York Choreographic Institute’s first year-long choreographic residency.

Brittany Pollack is from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. She attended summer courses at SAB in 2001 and 2002, enrolling as a full time student that fall. In June 2006, Pollack was asked to become an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2007.

Most recently Pollack has performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Sugarplum Fairy, Hot Chocolate, and Marzipan), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Butterfly); Jerome Robbins’ 2&3 Part Inventions, Dances at a Gathering, and Interplay; Peter Martins’ Swan Lake (Pas de Trois); Christopher Wheeldon’s Mercurial Manoeuvres and Justin Peck’s In Creases. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Pollack has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 and Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia.

Taylor Stanley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and began his dance training at the age of three at The Rock School in Pennsylvania. He attended summer programs at Miami City Ballet in 2006 and 2007 and at SAB during the summer of 2008 before enrolling full time at SAB in the fall of that same year. In September 2009, Stanley became an apprentice with NYCB, and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2010. Stanley was the recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award in 2009 and the 2011-2012 recipient of the Janice Levin Award.

Most recently Stanley has performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s Episodes and Square Dance; Jerome Robbins’ Interplay; Peter Martins’ Fearful Symmetries, Mes Oiseaux; Jeu de Cartes, Romeo + Juliet (Romeo); Justin Peck’s In Creases; Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons; and Christopher Wheeldon’s Les Carillons and Polyphonia. During the Company’s 2012-2013 Season Stanley has debuted in such works as George Balanchine’s Symphony in C (First Movement) and Western Symphony (First Movement).