To say that Herman Cornejo already has a privileged place in dance heaven is not hyperbole. The Argentine dancer has been a member of the American Ballet Theatre, the most prestigious classical ballet company in the United States, for 25 years. In this institution he has interpreted the most iconic roles in the dance repertoire, from the lovesick Romeo, from Romeo and Juliet, to the brave soldier in The Nutcracker.
And in a few days, Herman, the main dancer of this troupe, will write another page in his impressive career: he will play Pedro in “Como agua para chocolate”, a production that the ABT will premiere at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, in Costa Mesa. , and which was conceived by the English choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.
“It’s something different from what we’re used to doing,” Herman said in a recent interview. “Christopher brings this that is more based on the theatrical part.”
This work, co-produced by The Royal Ballet, recreates the story of “Like Water for Chocolate”, a successful novel written by the Mexican Laura Esquivel that tells a story in Mexico at the end of the 19th century; in it an impossible love develops between Tita and Pedro, its protagonists.
This would be the first time that Herman has played a Latino character in his career as a dancer. In the film Como agua para chocolate, a blockbuster directed by the Mexican Alfonso Arau in 1992 —based on Esquivel’s book—, the Italian actor Marco Leonardi played the role of Pedro.
During the choreography, Herman said that the company had the opportunity to speak with Laura Esquivel, who revealed secrets about her novel that are not openly seen in the text, including what each of the sisters in her story represents.
“One is conservative, one is liberal and another is Tita, who believes that things change but starting with one,” he said.
The music that accompanies this ballet is original and was written by Joby Talbot. The Pacific Symphony will be in charge of playing the pieces live at the Segerstrom performances. The Mexican Alondra de la Parra will lead this group.
Herman, 41, will wear as partner to Cassandra Trenary, who was promoted to Principal Dancer at the ABT in 2020.
Following performances in Southern California, the ABT will present this ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and will be on that stage from late June through July 1, during the ABT’s summer season at Lincoln Center. .
Herman has no plans — yet — to leave the ABT, as have a handful of Latino dancers who until a few years ago dominated the highest positions in this company, among them the Spanish Ángel Corella and the Argentinean Paloma Herrera.
“I think there are always new things to discover,” he said. “I still continue with that happiness of doing what I do, and I feel that there is much more to give; I have that goal of bringing a much larger audience to the theater, and in my case much more the Hispanic audience”.
In detail:
That: Like Water for Chocolate, with the American Ballet Theater
When: from wednesday to april 2
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
As: tickets from $29; scfta.org reports