Unity Phelan

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Unity Phelan
Russell Janzen and Unity Phelan in Jewels, Diamonds (2).jpg
Phelan (right) with Russell Janzen in Jewels, 2017
Born1994/1995 (age 26–27)
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationSchool of American Ballet
OccupationBallet dancer
Current groupNew York City Ballet

Unity Phelan (born 1994 or 1995)[1] is an American ballet dancer. She joined the New York City Ballet in 2013 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2021. In October 2021, Phelan was promoted to Principal dancer. Outside of the company, she had also danced in films John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

Early life and training[]

Phelan was born in Princeton, New Jersey. She started ballet at age five at Princeton Ballet School, followed by three years at the School of American Ballet in New York City.[2][3] She has a bachelor's degree in economics.[4]

Career[]

Phelan became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in 2012,[2] and joined the corps de ballet the following year.[5] Roles she danced whilst in the corps de ballet include in Balanchine's "Stairway to Paradise" in Who Cares?,[6] Episodes,[7] first pas de trois in Agon and a demi-soloist in Symphony in Three Movements.[2] In 2015, she made her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Balanchine's The Nutcracker.[8] In 2016, she was chosen by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon to create a lead role in American Rhapsody,[1] and by Lauren Lovette in For Clara.[9] Later that year, she debuted as Dewdrop in The Nutcracker.[10] The following year, she originated a role in Pontus Lidberg's The Shimmering Asphalt.[11]

Phelan was promoted to soloist in 2017.[5] Since then, she has danced featured roles, including in "Emerald" from Jewels,[12] A Midsummer Night's Dream,[13] Liebeslieder Walzer,[14] Orpheus,[15] Divertimento No. 15;[16] Robbins' Dances at a Gathering,[17] In G Major[18] and Antique Epigraphs;[19] Wheeldon's Polyphonia[20] and DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse;[21] and Forsythe's Herman Schmermen.[22] She has also created roles in Peck's Easy,[23] Lovette's The Shaded Line[24] and Ratmansky's Voices.[25]

In 2017, she performed a pas de deux in Balanchine's Agon with then-American Ballet Theatre soloist Calvin Royal III, with Arthur Mitchell, who originated Royal's role, in the audience. Following the performance, Mitchell commented the ballet was "in good hands."[26] The following year, after Mitchell's death, Royal and Phelan reprised the Agon pas de deux at his memorial.[27] The same year, following the collaboration between New York City Ballet and Puma, she took part in the latter's promotional tour in Asia.[28]

Phelan appeared in the 2019 film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, as a ballerina who is also training to be an assassin, with the dance sequences choreographed by Tiler Peck.[29] She then appeared in a dance sequence in the 2020 film, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, choreographed by Peter Walker.[30] In 2020, she was featured in a campaign for Gabriela Hearst.[31] Later that year, she danced in Andrea Miller's short film, New Song, which was made for the New York City Ballet.[32]

In 2021, Phelan was promoted to principal dancer. Her promotion came soon after the company return to performing after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as multiple principal dancers' retirements.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Our 25 to Watch for 2017". Dance Magazine. December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "2015 Stars of the Corps: 10 Dancers Set to Ascend the Ranks". Pointe Magazine. August 3, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Five Questions with Unity Phelan". The Saratogian. July 4, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Jacobs, Julia (October 7, 2021). "City Ballet Promotes Dancers Amid Veteran Departures". New York Times.
  5. ^ a b Stamelman, Paul (April 11, 2017). "The Epiphany That Made Unity Phelan An NYCB Soloist". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Macaulay, Alastair (February 19, 2016). "Sugarplum Fairies and Cavaliers Move Ahead at City Ballet". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Macaulay, Alastair (September 30, 2016). "Women Fill New York City Ballet's Season With Splendor". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Cooper, Michael (December 24, 2015). "'The Nutcracker' Gives Young Dancers a Spotlight Role". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Phelan, Unity (September 22, 2016). "Review: City Ballet's Gala Evening of Misses ... and a Lot of Skin". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Macaulay, Alastair (December 29, 2016). "Fresh Dewdrops for New York City Ballet's 'Nutcracker'". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Greskovic, Robert (February 1, 2017). "New York City Ballet's Winter Season Review". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Kourlas, Gia (September 19, 2019). "New York City Ballet Is Back, and the Real Jewels Are the Dancers". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Kourlas, Gia (May 31, 2019). "Some Enchanted Ending: Debuts and Other Spectacular Feats at City Ballet". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Harss, Marina (March 3, 2019). "New York City Ballet – Prodigal Son, Liebeslieder Walzer – New York". DanceTabs. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Serchuk, Barnett (January 26, 2019). "Broadwayworld Dance Review: Balanchine/Stravinsky at New York City Ballet, January 24, 2019". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Greskovic, Robert (February 6, 2018). "A Company On and Off Its Game". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Harss, Marina (October 6, 2019). "New York City Ballet – Dances at a Gathering, Everywhere We Go – New York". DanceTabs. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Harss, Marina (March 2, 2020). "New York City Ballet – Classic NYCB II bill with new Justin Peck – New York". DanceTabs. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Harss, Marina (May 18, 2018). "New York City Ballet – All Robbins No. 4 bill – New York". DanceTabs. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  20. ^ Harss, Marina (October 8, 2017). "New York City Ballet – Liturgy, Polyphonia, Odessa, The Times are Racing – New York". danceTabs. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  21. ^ Escoda, Carla (September 20, 2019). "Something for everyone: Balanchine + Wheeldon at New York City Ballet". Bachtrack. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  22. ^ Kourlas, Gia (April 25, 2019). "City Ballet's 21st-Century Choreographers: Some Future Classics, Some Clunkers". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Stigler, Brett (May 10, 2018). "Paying tribute to Jerome Robbins". All Arts. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  24. ^ Kourlas, Gia (September 27, 2019). "Review: At New York City Ballet, an Intriguing Glimpse of the Future". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  25. ^ Kourlas, Gia (January 31, 2020). "Review: Alexei Ratmansky Finds a New Voice at City Ballet". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  26. ^ Brandt, Amy (October 5, 2017). "Arthur Mitchell on "Agon": "My Skin Color Against Hers, It Became Part of the Choreography"". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  27. ^ Howard, Theresa Ruth (December 7, 2018). "Arthur Mitchell's Memorial Was Both A Homegoing & A Homecoming". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  28. ^ Lansky, Chava Pearl (April 11, 2018). "The Perks of Being a PUMA Brand Ambassador: NYCB's Unity Phelan's Whirlwind Tour to Asia". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  29. ^ Escoyne, Courtney (May 16, 2019). "Who is That Ballerina in the New John Wick Movie?". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  30. ^ Schrock, Madeline (September 5, 2020). "Inside Peter Walker's Dance Scene in I'm Thinking of Ending Things". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  31. ^ Cohn, Alison C. (August 3, 2020). "Top Ballerinas Model Gabriela Hearst's Pre-Fall Collection". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  32. ^ Kourlas, Gia (November 2, 2020). "Dancing on Grass and Concrete at New York City Ballet". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2021.

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