Among the most accomplished alumni of Princeton Ballet School is Unity Phelan, a 23-year-old Princeton native who is now a soloist at the New York City Ballet. Phelan comes home this weekend to dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in American Repertory Ballet (ARB)’s production of The Nutcracker at McCarter Theatre, Friday, November 23 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. (Princeton Ballet is the official school of American Repertory Ballet).
“I danced so many roles in this production while I was growing up,” said Phelan, who found time to reminisce in between rehearsals for New York City Ballet’s own month-long run of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center’s Koch Theatre, in which she will alternate as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Dewdrop. It is Balanchine’s version of the famous “Sugar Plum” pas de deux that Phelan, partnered by fellow New York City Ballet soloist Joseph Gordon, will dance at McCarter, though the rest of the ballet is ARB’s own version.
Recognizing Phelan’s unusual talent and individual style, ARB Artistic Director Douglas Martin encouraged her to audition for the summer program at the School of American Ballet (SAB), which is affiliated with New York City Ballet, when she was 13. She was accepted, and felt immediately at home. “I absolutely loved it — the speed, the crazy attention you have to give to everything, the jazzier style — it just felt right to me,” she said.
Phelan returned to SAB for a second summer. She accepted the school’s invitation to stay for the winter term and live in the dorm. Three years later, she joined New York City Ballet. Her career took off almost i.l.mmediately, when former director Peter Martins cast her in the corps de ballet of Balanchine’s Agon, one of the choreographer’s “leotard ballets.” Set to a score by Igor Stravinsky, it is fast and notoriously difficult to count. “It is very classic City Ballet, such genius, and one of my favorites. I got really lucky when I was cast in it,” Phelan said, modestly.
The past year has been one of turmoil at New York City Ballet. Longtime director Martins retired following accusations of sexual, physical, and verbal abuse. A few months later, three prominent male principal dancers were removed from the ranks following charges of sexual harassment. An interim team of four people — three former company members and the company’s choreographer in residence, Justin Peck — have been leading the 86-member troupe since Martins’ departure.
ARB will continue performances of Nutcracker (minus Phelan and Gordon) November 24 and 25 before taking the production to Union County Performing Arts Center, South Orange Performing Arts Center, Two River Theater, and the State Theatre. Starting the annual run with Phelan on stage makes sense.