“Barefoot David Parsons, who has never partnered a ballerina, steadies New York City Ballet principal Merrill Ashley as she rises on pointe in an arabesque during a rehearsal of Martins’ “Barber Violin Concerto.” The work is the first by Mr. Martins to blend modern and classical ballet dancers. While Mr. Parsons, an alumnus of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, takes time out to confer with Ms. Ashley about how he should hold her, Kate Johnson, on loan from Mr. Taylors troupe, and City Ballet principal Adam Luders begin to rehearse their unlikely pas de deux, which calls for the 5’3” Ms. Johnson to repeatedly hurl herself at the 6’2” Mr. Luders, who must feign indifference.”
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