Kevin
McKenzie
Jury member of Benois de la Danse
In 1972 the young dancer won the silver medal in the sixth International ballet competition in Varna (Bulgaria). Prior to becoming part of the American Ballet Theater, Mr.
McKenzie worked as a leading dancer in the National Ballet of Washington and the Jоffrey Ballet. In December 1979, Mr. McKenzie was promoted to soloist at the American Ballet Theater. He danced with this company until 1991.
As a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater, Kevin McKenzie danced in all leading roles of the repertoire, including Solor in “La Bayadere“, Don Jose in Carmen”, the Рrince in Michail Baryshnikov's “Cinderella“, Franz in “Coppelia“, the Gentleman With Her in “Dim Lustre“, Basil and Espada in “Don Quixote,“ Albrecht in “Giselle,“ leading roles in “The Garden of Villandry,“ “Jardin aux Lilas,“ “The Leaves Are Fading,“ “Pillar of Fire,“ “Raymonda,“ “Requiem,“ Rodeo,” Romeo and Juliet,” Sleeping Beauty,” Swan Lake”, La Sylphide,” Other Dances,” Paquita,” Sylvia,” Theme and Variations.” He was the first performer to play Amnon in Martin van Hamel's Amnon and Thamar” as well as the leading role in Clark Tippet's S. P. E. B. S. Q. S. A.”
In the course of his stage career McKenzie performed as an invited guest soloist in many large cities around the world including Paris, London,Tokyo, Havana, Moscow and Vienna.
He successfully worked with the London Festival Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Cuban National Ballet and the Universal Ballet in Seoul. In September 1989, Mr. McKenzie was named a permanent guest dancer at the Washington Ballet, and in 1991 he filled the position of Artistic Associate of this company. He also functioned as Associate Artistic Director at the same institution and as choreographer in Martin van Hamel's New Amsterdam Ballet.
In October 1992 Mr. McKenzie was named Associate Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theater. Among his choreographic accomplishments are “Groupo Zamboria” (1984) and “Liszt Etudes” (since 1991 it is entitled “Transcendental Etudes“). Both productions were created for Martin van Hamel's New Amsterdam Ballet. Other productions include Lucy and the Count” (1992) for the Washington Ballet as well as the classic “Nutcracker” (1993) and “Don Quixote” for the American Ballet Theater (in collaboration with Susan Jones).
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