It’s one of the mysteries of ABT casting that another principal dancer (Cassandra Trenary) is mostly relegated to supporting solo roles. His partnering skills have improved – I remember the days when he struggled with the one-arm lifts. He now likes to do a series of decelerating pirouettes and shows off such gorgeous line and control that the audience starts applauding wildly. His cabrioles are still air-splicing wonders. Like all great artists, he knows how to show off what he can do and hide what he can’t do. However, he is still the best dancer onstage. Herman Cornejo (Basilio) is now 41 years old, and no longer the virtuoso trickster of years past. In Kitri's fan variation, I noticed that Brandt waved her fan and timed her échappés with little relation to the music. The weakness was a certain lack of musicality. Her fouettés were excellent – very centered, with multiple pirouettes thrown in. Technically there wasn’t much she couldn’t do, although her jumps are on the small side. She has a great stage face with the large eyes and a bright smile. The performance I attended had excellent dancing, but the overall impression was like a Broadway show that’s been running for so long that the original magic is gone. In contrast, ABT’s Don Quixote comes across as sweet but slight.
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