National Dance Week: Julie Kent

Julie Kent is in a class all her own, in my humble opinion. Her grace and poise are that of an angel's! I loved watching her in Center Stage and Dancers when I was younger and still love revisiting the classic works she's done over the years.

She began her dance training in Maryland with Hortensia Fonseca at the Maryland Youth Ballet. She attended the School of American Ballet, before joining the company, as an apprentice. In 1986 she was the only American to win a medal at the Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition and became a member of ABT's Corps de Ballet.

She starred in Herbert Ross's film Dancers in 1987 and in Nicholas Hytner's Center Stage in 2002. She's danced countless notable and featured roles with ABT and has danced as The Sugar Plum Fairy in the nutcracker, the title role of Cinderella, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Medora in Le Corsaire and numerous others.

Julie Kent has had two children and danced to full term during both pregnancies. She is currently still a principal with ABT and occasionally guest teaching throughout the country.