Jan 21, 2015 >> Dance Revolution! Meet Wendy Whelan [VIDEO]
After gracing the stage of the New York City Ballet for 30 years, Wendy Whelan curtsied into retirement last October at age 46. Never a stranger to the stage and always eager for more, Wendy launched the Wendy Whelan New Works Initiative to commission and tour, you guessed it, new work. Her first project from the Initiative is “Restless Creature,” a traveling performance of duets by four male choreographers.
Whelan is set to perform Wednesday at the Harris Theater to a sold out house, so we had to meet up with the Prima Ballerina to learn about life after three decades at the New York City Ballet. We chat Harris Theater stageside before Wendy warms up on how she continues to embody beauty from the inside out and how that first step onto the Nutcracker stage when she was eight sealed the deal.
WATCH AS WE STEP TO THE BARRE WITH ONE OF THE GREATEST BALLERINAS OF OUR TIME >>
The epitome of the American Ballerina—Whelan’s work ethic and personality reflects directly on stage with emotive form and fearless poise. And because it’s Healthy Beauty month, we couldn’t let Wendy off the hook without taking a peek inside her beauty bag. Besides her Bunheads hairpins—a dancer’s favorite—and a personalized waist elastic from now NYCB resident choreographer Justin Beck, she’s got a small arsenal of tried and true products to keep her at her prime. >>
A. Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Creme / B. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter / C. Benefit Hello Flawless face powder / D. FACE Stockholm lipliner in Bella / E. MAC lipstick in Craving
Want more Wendy? Follow Wendy’s life @WendyW and visit her blog. Also visit HarrisTheaterChicago.org for their calendar of upcoming performances.