Damian Woetzel
Damian Woetzel
Damian Woetzel is a retired Principal Dancer, formerly with the New York City Ballet where he performed from 1985 until 2008. In addition to his work at NYCB, he frequently performed internationally as a guest star and visiting artist with numerous internationally recognized companies including the Kirov Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, until his retirement from the stage in 2008...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDancer
CountryUnited States of America
ford performance unlike venue
The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail is unlike any other performance venue in the world, set with mountains and trees as a backdrop.
anywhere presented seen terms ways works
I strive to create new opportunities in terms of partnerships and new works being presented and things you haven't seen anywhere else. Also to help you see old things in ways you haven't seen them before.
ballet chinese class jonathan looked morning
When I was about 12, I was studying Chinese and ballet with my brother, and one morning Jonathan said to me, 'I don't think I'm going to go to ballet class anymore,' and I looked at him and said, 'You know, I don't think I'm going to go to Chinese class anymore.'
geared highly life
My whole life was geared toward being a highly educated person.
future limiting possibilities
There are a lot of possibilities I'm looking at for the future, but I'm very insistent on not limiting myself.
becomes people
Where a city is only focused on one aspect, it becomes a city without a soul, not a city people want to live in.
fulfilling leads mission work
Fulfilling your mission is one thing; vision is another, and having a commitment to something leads you to do better work.
advancing interested relationships society valuable
I have long been interested in exploring and advancing the valuable relationships between the arts and society.
looking options yield
I am always looking for options that yield something unexpected.
arts education general good great nations remembered
We say arts education is good for general education, but that's not the point. The arts are what great nations are remembered for. They are a mirror.
whether
As a dancer running around the world, I always questioned whether that's what I wanted to do.
That's how you live. You participate. You take risks.
ability discovered guess happen introduced lucky natural suited time
I guess I was phenomenally lucky that I was introduced to dancing because I'm suited to it. It would be very weird if you had this natural ability for something and you never discovered it. It must happen all the time.
frequently miss wish
I frequently go to the ballet, but I don't miss it in the sense that I wish I were still dancing.