Marcelo Gomes All-Around Winner

July 21, 2009

American Ballet Theatre principal Marcelo Gomes received the Benois de la Danse prize for outstanding male dancer for his work in Othello and C. to C., a contemporary ballet by Jorma Elo. The hunky Brazilian joined ABT in 1997 and has danced almost every leading male role, including Romeo.

 

“It’s so nice to get recognition, and I don’t take it for granted,” Gomes says.

 

Gomes advises young dancers to maintain a good work ethic—with a dash of levity—and says he never takes himself too seriously. “I had to not be afraid of getting dirty and lying on the floor,” he says.

 

In Lar Lubovitch’s version of Othello he did indeed get dirty—the character kills his wife and himself.

 

“It was so full of emotion,” he says. “I did quite a bit of preparation for it. It was about pouring my heart out onstage.”

 

—Ariel