American Ballet Theatre opening-night cast, July 16, 2009
American Ballet Theatre began its five-performance visit to Los Angeles with some value-added scheduling. Thursday’s performance marked Roberto Bolle’s Southern California debut with the company. The 34-year-old Italian heartthrob portrayed Romeo opposite Irina Dvorovenko’s Juliet in Kenneth MacMillan’s staging of that classic love story, set to the music of Prokofiev. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
The Kiev-born Irina Dvorovenko is a recurring audience favorite. In Roberto Bolle, the willowy ballerina was matched to a strong, assured partner. Different dancers fill the title roles at each of the performances, which conclude Sunday afternoon. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
The Mercutio on Thursday: Carlos Lopez. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
Three masked men are the life of the party. Carlos Lopez, left, portrays Mercutio, who with Jared Matthews’ Benvolio cavorts with Susan Jones as Juliet’s nurse. Just behind them is Roberto Bolle’s grinning Romeo. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
