At American Ballet Theatre, spring means stars. One of the brightest is Muscovite Natalia Osipova, a brash technician overflowing with emotion. Her performance with David Hallberg in “Romeo and Juliet” last year was so passionate, the crowd wouldn’t stop clapping until the two came out for a curtain call. And it was only the first act.
“She’s the rare artist who creates a completely original moment onstage,” Hallberg says. She’s aiming for another such moment, with Hallberg, when the two reprise their “Romeo and Juliet” roles on June 14.
Osipova has played that is really her greatest — the spitfire Kitri in the comic ballet “Don Quixote.”When paired with Ivan Vasiliev — her partner both onstage and in real life — they give new meaning to the phrase “power couple.” She kicks her legs tothe sky and tears through turns. The two dance “Don Quixote” on May 25 and May 28 — part of American Ballet Theatre’s season, which runs May 13 to July 6 at the Metropolitan Opera House; abt.org.
SPRING HIGHLIGHTS
You can count on Stephen Petronio’s work to be cutting-edge, and gloriously danced. It plays the Joyce from April 30 to May 5, joyce.org; 212-242-0800. As part of the Dancing the Gods festival, Surupa Sen and Bijayani Satpathy, two members of one of India’s top dance troupes, Nrityagram, will perform April 6 and 7, nyuskirball.org; 212-352-3101.
Shut down by financial woes in 2004, Dance Theatre of Harlem makes its long-awaited return. Catch them at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater April 10 to 14, jalc.org; 212-721-6500.
Mark Morris Dance Group promises a big deal in a small package: Its April 3 to 14 season features Mikhail Baryshnikov in the group’s intimate, 150-seat theater, mmdg.org; 866-811-4111.