Miami City Ballet corps de ballet dancers, Brooks Landegger and Isadora Valero portray Romeo and Juliet. / Photo courtesy of Miami City Ballet.
Romeo and Juliet, the timeless tale of star crossed lovers, performed by Miami City Ballet arrives at the Kravis Center weekend with two final performances.
Along with its detailed sets, intricate costumes and Prokofiev’s score, audiences will be transported to Verona as the Capulets and the Montagues battle and two young lovers meet.
For 20 year old Brooks Landegger who portrays Romeo, the choreography is what makes Miami City Ballet’s interpretation of the classic ballet unique.
“John Cranko was the artistic director and choreographer who made this ballet. Cranko’s choreography is absolutely brilliant, it’s a masterpiece. The choreography fits perfectly with the music and with Shakespeare's story,” he said.
Isadora Valero and Brooks Landegger rehearse Romeo and Juliet. Choreography by John Cranko. Photo by: © Alexander Iziliaev.
He worked with Filip Barankiewicz, Czech National Ballet’s artistic director and répétiteur of Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet ballet, to maintain Cranko’s vision for the choreography.
Landegger describes the experience of learning from Barankiewicz, who has portrayed Romeo in previous years, as incredible.
“Filip was extremely giving and very insightful,” he said.
Landegger notes that the first act as a whole is the heartiest for Romeo’s character as it features many pivotal scenes. It begins at the opening market, moves into a difficult dance between Mercutio, Benvolio, and Romeo, and is followed by the initial pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet.
“I think the speed and the initial leap into the first act is quite mighty,” he said.
He finds the beauty of the production lies in the change in emotion portrayed by the dancers and the choreography itself. A definite scene that stands out to him is the balcony pas de deux between the two lovers.
After joining the company’s corps de ballet this year, Brooks’ most memorable career moment is starring in Romeo and Juliet.
“I feel very blessed. Our artistic director Lourdes Lopez…this is only possible because of her. I feel a gratitude that will last my entire life for the opportunity to be in this company, to dance this ballet, and to learn from her," he said.
Isadora Valero and Brooks Landegger rehearse act three of John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet. // Photo by: © Alexander Iziliaev.
He certainly doesn’t take a second of it for granted as he creates magical moments for the audience through meaningful storytelling.
For one of his performances, Landegger recalls taking a different approach to the death scene. To open the third act, Romeo and Juliet lie in bed together and he reaches over and twirls her hair up. The exact movement repeats itself as Romeo dies in Cranko's choreography.
“This past performance, I tried to deepen the connection so the audience would remember that initial moment in the beginning of act three and then see it again as Romeo dies,” he said.
Brooks began dancing at the age of six and credits seeing The Nutcracker at the David Koch Theater as his inspiration for pursuing dance.
At 12 years old, Landegger starred as Billy Elliot for the touring production. Although the musical theater industry operates in a slightly different way than a ballet company, he still applies the lessons of responsibility to his role today.
He also credits his teacher at School of American Ballet Jock Soto and mentor Peter Stark for preparing him for his career.
The biggest shift from training as a student to joining his first company was the amount of choreography dancers are expected to learn. As a student, he practiced one ballet for several months in preparation for a singular performance.
“As a professional, we are expected to work on many ballets at the same time and I love that. To run from studio to studio and work on three or four different ballets in the same day is thrilling,” he said
Tickets for Miami City Ballet's Romeo and Juliet performances at Kravis Center can be purchased at https://www.miamicityballet.org/romeo.
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