NYCB Vol. 17 No. 10 - Serenade, Jillana

Jillana in Serenade. Photo by Martha Swope, 1959

Jillana in I Remember Balanchine:

“My fondest memories are of Serenade. I loved doing the Dark Angel. Even though there was no real story in it, I always had a story. I would make up different ones when I danced it, and I danced all the parts from top to bottom. I would make up stories about being in love with Nicky Magallanes and trying to get him away from whoever the other girl was, pulling and pushing. I made it into a love story for myself. I did that with a lot of ballets that didn't have stories. I could always feel something about them. They meant something to me. Serenade will always be my favorite. I think it is one ballet that never will be dated-never."

Jillana, Roy Tobias and Melissa Hayden. Photo by Martha Swope, 1958

Jillana, Nicholas Magallanes, Melissa Hayden. Photos by Martha Swope, 1961-64

Jillana. Photos by Martha Swope, 1959