A Morning in the Life of a NYCB Principal

NYCB principal Gonzalo Garcia (photo by Chris Hardy)

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that professional ballet dancers aren’t superhuman. But in reality, they’re just like us.

I mean, when you watch a breath-taking pas de deux, do you ever wonder what they ate for breakfast or if they need to buy toothpaste after work? Probably not.

That’s why we love it when dancers provide a glimpse into their very human lives. And that’s just what New York City Ballet Principal Gonzalo Garcia does in The Dancer, a new short film by Ezra Hurwitz.

The film follows Garcia through a typical morning—everything from shaving and riding the subway to warming up and dancing. And sure, we might get distracted by Garcia’s extraordinary back muscles, or by the behind the scenes shots of him in Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater. Ultimately though, we’re watching a regular NYC man go to his (not so regular) job in NYC. And that makes his dancing all the more impressive, right? Enjoy!