October 2, 1998
Former San Diegan James Kelly, who studied under Jack Tygett as a member of one of the first graduating classes of the High School of Performing Arts in Chula Vista, California, is now Choreographer in Residence with the National Ballet of Mexico (Compañía Nacional de Danza) in Mexico City, under the direction of Cuautemoc Najera.
Kelly's choreography is currently being mounted on two continents simultaneously.
Biarritz, France saw the European premiere of Secretos, a 25 minute ballet set to the music of Phillip Glass on September 19, 1998.
That same evening Kelly was in Miami, Florida where Para Ser Tu, a 10 minute duet set to the music of Michael Nyman was performed to great acclaim, at the Jackie Gleason Theatre by two prima ballerinas of the National Ballet.
From Miami it was off to the opening night gala of Ballet Arizona in Phoenix, where Para Ser Tu was performed on September 24, 1998.
Para Ser Tu (To Be You) in influenced by the poetry of renowned Mexican poet Jaime Sabines.
In addition to Secretos and Para Ser Tu, Kelly has also created for the National Ballet Dos Para El Milenio, a 10 minute duet set to music by Underworld, since his arrival in Mexico City in January of this year.
Additionally, Kelly was reset for the company, Untitled Duet, a 13 minute duet for two men, with music by Henryk Gorecki (3rd Symphony, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) which premiered with his own company, the James Kelly Choreography Project, in Chicago, Illinois, in 1993.
The National Ballet of Mexico is comprised of 80 dancers, tours nationally and internationally, and its repertory includes works by Balanchine, Cranko, Margot Sappington, Mark Godden, Nellie Happee, Caroline Lorca, Carlos Lopez and Fernando Bujones, among others.
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