Thanks to Haglund'eeler, Robin, for bringing these awesome new clips of Herman Cornejo to our attention. Now we can actually see why his picture was splashed across the front pages of the Spanish newspapers when he debuted as Prince Siegfried in Angel Corella's Swan Lake for the Corella Ballet Castilla y Leon. It's hard to believe that at the time of these videos, Corella's company was only a year and a half old.
Everyone knew that Herman would kill the Black Swan PdD, but in these videos of the debut performance he is just as remarkable in the White Swan PdD. His partnering is superb, and he added little touches that give it all such a nice finish – like between minutes 3 and 4 when he lifts the lovely Adiarys Almeida who then splits her legs, Siegfried steps back to the side and then releves with his arms outstretched and his weight falling forward as he is drawn toward Odette.
It remains one of Kevin McKenzie's greatest crimes not to allow Herman Cornejo to dance the role of Prince Siegfried.
Bravo Herman! It's a crime whenever he is kept away from the stage, imo. McKenzie no longer has the "height" excuse to fall back on now that he's letting Simkin debut in the Spring, so what gives? Your most brilliant male dancer left behind? I will never understand.
Posted by: K | January 24, 2012 at 01:14 PM
herman really has some wonderfully sensitive moments here- he's such a classically beautiful dancer in addition to the obvious WOW factor. i just love him.
also a huge thank you to youtube-r adigatti for posting these :D
here's one more short yet gorgeous one- adiarys is breathtaking as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBPTBW3dSzg
Posted by: robin | January 24, 2012 at 01:58 PM
Hi K. True about McKenzie being out of excuses for casting Herman as Siegfried, although I'm sure new excuses are being manufactured. Herman may be short, but he is not small or slight and does not look like a very young teenager - all of which are problematic for Daniil. I wish many opportunities for Daniil, but at the moment, casting him as Siegfried will require the audience to employ a willing suspension of disbelief that is not practical.
Posted by: Haglund | January 24, 2012 at 08:44 PM
Thanks Robin for the additional link. Maybe Boston Ballet could invite Herman to be Siegfried either with Adiarys or his sister, Erica. Either would be worth a trip.
Posted by: Haglund | January 24, 2012 at 08:48 PM
it would indeed, tho it would certainly be more convenient if he could just dance it here!
Posted by: robin | January 25, 2012 at 02:28 PM
And he can LIFT!
Haglund, do we know whether he will be performing with the Corella Ballet in April?
Posted by: Angelica Smith | January 27, 2012 at 09:37 PM