Going platinum: as Miami City Ballet turns 20, Allegra Kent interviews Edward Villella about the company's anniversary season, and being true to the choreographers' visions.(Interview) From: Dance Magazine | Date: March 1, 2006| Author: Kent, Allegra | COPYRIGHT 2006 Dance Magazine, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Long ago, at the School of American Ballet in 1951, I remember Mr. Oboukhoff stopping our class and asking a young boy with dark eyes to jump. The kid did so with a wild spring upward, lingering aloft; he created an unforgettable image. That was my first glimpse of Eddie Villella at work. In 1957, he became a new member of New York City Ballet. His splendid talent had already inspired Jerome Robbins to make Afternoon of a Faun and now it was Balanchine's turn. A sky-guy had arrived...