Jock Soto
Encyclopedia
Jock Soto is a former American ballet
dancer and current ballet instructor.
While a student at the School of American Ballet
(SAB) he danced the role of Luke in Peter Martins
’ The Magic Flute
, which was choreographed for SAB’s 1981 workshop performances. It transferred to the New York City Ballet
, and he retained his role. He joined New York City Ballet in 1981 and made his debut as Luke in The Magic Flute the following January. He was promoted to soloist
in 1984 and to principal dancer
in 1985.
Soto danced the role of a parent in the 1993 film version of The Nutcracker
, a version based on the New York City Ballet production choreographed by George Balanchine
.
He gave his farewell performance on Sunday, 19 June 2005. The program featured ballets by five different choreographers: “Dance at the Gym” from Jerome Robbins
’ West Side Story Suite
, Peter Martins
’ Barber Violin Concerto, Christopher Wheeldon
’s Liturgy
, Lynne Taylor-Corbett
’s Chiaroscuro, and the Royal Navy section of George Balanchine’s Union Jack
.
He has been a permanent member of the faculty at SAB since 1996, where he teaches partnering and technique classes to intermediate and advanced students. He also has pursued a "culinary career".
, New Mexico
, and raised in Phoenix
, Arizona
. His mother is Navajo
, his father is Puerto Rican
. Soto is openly gay. He had a long-term relationship with choreographer Christopher Wheeldon
, with whom he also had a critically lauded professional relationship. In June 2003, Soto met chef/sommelier Luis Fuentes and began a relationship with him. Soto and Fuentes were married in New York on October 14, 2011; their wedding was featured in The New York Times "Vows" column.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and current ballet instructor.
Career
Soto danced featured roles in over 40 ballets, of which more than 35 were created for him.While a student at the School of American Ballet
School of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the...
(SAB) he danced the role of Luke in Peter Martins
Peter Martins
Peter Martins is a Danish ballet dancer and choreographer. Martins was named man of the year by Danish American Society, 1980...
’ The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute (ballet)
The Magic Flute is a Ballet comique in one act, originally choreographed by Lev Ivanov to the music of Riccardo Drigo. First presented by students of the Imperial Ballet School at the school's theatre on...
, which was choreographed for SAB’s 1981 workshop performances. It transferred to the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
, and he retained his role. He joined New York City Ballet in 1981 and made his debut as Luke in The Magic Flute the following January. He was promoted to soloist
Soloist (ballet)
In ballet, a soloist is a dancer in a ballet company above the corps de ballet but below principal dancer....
in 1984 and to principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
in 1985.
Soto danced the role of a parent in the 1993 film version of The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, a version based on the New York City Ballet production choreographed by George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
.
He gave his farewell performance on Sunday, 19 June 2005. The program featured ballets by five different choreographers: “Dance at the Gym” from Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
’ West Side Story Suite
West Side Story Suite
West Side Story Suite is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster Jerome Robbins to the 1957 music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim and extracted from the eponymous musical which he had choreographed, with scenery by Oliver Smith, costumes by Irene Sharaff and lighting...
, Peter Martins
Peter Martins
Peter Martins is a Danish ballet dancer and choreographer. Martins was named man of the year by Danish American Society, 1980...
’ Barber Violin Concerto, Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon is an international choreographer of contemporary ballet. Born in Somerset, England, to an engineer and a physical therapist, Wheeldon began training to be a ballet dancer at the age of 8. He attended the Royal Ballet School between the ages of 11 and 18...
’s Liturgy
Liturgy (ballet)
Liturgy is a ballet made by New York City Ballet resident choreographer Christopher Wheeldon to music by Arvo Pärt. The premiere took place May 31, 2003 at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center...
, Lynne Taylor-Corbett
Lynne Taylor-Corbett
Lynne Taylor-Corbett is a choreographer, director, lyricist, and composer. She was born in Denver, Colorado.She works in theatre and film, and also choreographs for dance companies, both ballet and modern, and is the principal guest choreographer for Carolina Ballet...
’s Chiaroscuro, and the Royal Navy section of George Balanchine’s Union Jack
Union Jack (ballet)
Union Jack is a ballet made by New York City Ballet co-founder and founding choreographer George Balanchine to traditional British tunes, hornpipe melodies and music-hall songs, ca...
.
He has been a permanent member of the faculty at SAB since 1996, where he teaches partnering and technique classes to intermediate and advanced students. He also has pursued a "culinary career".
Personal life
Soto was born in GallupGallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and raised in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. His mother is Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
, his father is Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
. Soto is openly gay. He had a long-term relationship with choreographer Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon is an international choreographer of contemporary ballet. Born in Somerset, England, to an engineer and a physical therapist, Wheeldon began training to be a ballet dancer at the age of 8. He attended the Royal Ballet School between the ages of 11 and 18...
, with whom he also had a critically lauded professional relationship. In June 2003, Soto met chef/sommelier Luis Fuentes and began a relationship with him. Soto and Fuentes were married in New York on October 14, 2011; their wedding was featured in The New York Times "Vows" column.
External links
- Jock Soto video/interview on Plum TV
- Water Flowing Together on PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
' Independent LensIndependent LensAiring weekly on PBS through ITVS, the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens introduces new drama and documentary films made by independent filmmakers. Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard, Maggie...