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Originally from Coppell, Texas, corps de ballet dancer Betsy McBride began her training at the Ballet Academy of Texas and went on to become a principal dancer with Texas Ballet Theater. Betsy joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in June 2015.
See her perform with the Company during ABT’s Fall season at the David H. Koch Theater, October 16–27.
Read on to learn more about Betsy!
Photo: Jiyan Dai.
What is your favorite ballet and why?
I know it’s generic, but my favorite ballet is Swan Lake. I love the beautiful score and I love the drama that the ballet portrays. My dream role has always been to perform Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. I had the opportunity to perform it for the first time with Texas Ballet Theater in 2014 and it was a very special performance for me.
What is your favorite role that you have danced so far with ABT?
Some of my favorite roles I have danced with ABT so far are pas de trois in Swan Lake, Flower girl in Don Quixote, Snow in The Seasons and a leading role in Symphonic Variations.
Describe your first experience on stage with ABT.
My first performance on stage with ABT was surreal. I joined earlier than expected due to injuries. I was planning to start in Fall 2015 but was asked to come as soon as my previous contract had ended to perform in the last five weeks of the Met season. I showed up in the summer, rehearsed for a few days and performed with ABT for the first time within a week. Needless to say, it was all kind of a whirlwind.
What is your favorite ABT memory onstage? Offstage?
My favorite ABT memory onstage was performing in Symphonic Variations. It was my first standout role with ABT and was really a strenuous piece. I loved putting all my effort and focus into the piece for several weeks and getting to perform it was so rewarding. My favorite memories offstage with ABT would be our time on tour. We are all really close and it’s really fun to be working and hanging out with friends! I also love traveling and exploring new places.
What would you be if you weren’t a dancer?
I would want to be a doctor.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
I flew a plane once! I also just earned my Associates Degree in Science.
What are you looking forward to most this year?
I am looking forward to going to Abu Dhabi with the Company later this year! I am also looking forward to planning my wedding for next August.
Betsy McBride is originally from Coppell, Texas. She began her training at the Ballet Academy of Texas. At age 14, she continued her training at Texas Ballet Theater’s School. She performed Clara in The Nutcracker with Texas Ballet Theater and joined the company under O.B.E. Ben Stevenson at age 15.
McBride was an American Ballet Theatre National Training Scholar and performed in George Balanchine’s Mozartiana during ABT’s tour of Texas at age 11. She was awarded the Grand Prix at the 2007 Youth American Grand Prix Regional Competition and was a finalist at the 2012 Helsinki International Ballet Competition.
McBride danced for Texas Ballet Theater, rising through the ranks to principal dancer, from 2007 to 2015. Some of her principal roles include Ben Stevenson’s Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and The Nutcracker, Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow, Svetlana in Stevenson’s Dracula, Green Lady and Solveig in Stevenson’s Peer Gynt, Waltz Girl and Dark Angel in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Solo Girl in Balanchine’s Rubies, pas de trois in Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries and Stevenson’s Sylvia Pas de Deux, as well as roles in Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena, Jonathan Watkin’s Crash, Stevenson’s Five Poems and Kenneth MacMillan’s Gloria.
McBride joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in June 2015. Her repertoire with the Company includes a Flower Girl and the Lead Gypsy in Don Quixote, Columbine and one of the Nutracker’s Sisters in The Nutcracker, Rosaline in Romeo and Juliet, Snow in Alexei Ratmansky’s The Seasons, Fleur de farine (Wheat flower), Silver Fairy and Red Riding Hood in Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Trois, a little swan, the Hungarian Princess and Lead Czardas in Swan Lake, a Swirl Girl in Whipped Cream and roles in AfterEffect and Symphonic Variations.
Learn MoreABT’s 2019 Fall Season is two weeks of mixed repertory ballet performances featuring contemporary masterpieces, legendary choreographers, and our world-class roster of dancers.
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