A New Sylvia

Chloe Misseldine takes on Ashton's Ballet with American Ballet Theatre

After Chloe Misseldine's début in "Sylvia" with American Ballet Theatre tonight (July 10) at the Metropolitan Opera House. Her Aminta was Reece Clarke, on loan from the Royal Ballet. Ashton's "Sylvia" is a wonderful frame for ballerinas, because you get to see many sides of them. They have the chance to be playful, and strong, and funny, and resplendent. Misseldine was all of these things; she seemed to find new shadings in her dancing with each new twist of the story. And everything looked so unforced, even when, as in the hops on pointe, they were patently difficult. She seems to take pleasure in the challenge. Clarke was musical and lyrical; I especially loved his phrasing, the way he held some things a tiny bit longer, or sped them up, playing with the music. And he has a great jump, big and buoyant and round. They danced beautifully together, with finesse and good humor. This is such an appealing ballet; I find myself smiling ear to ear by the end. I hope it stays in the repertory for a while. I plan to write about it for The Hudson Review.