The Giselle files

Photograph: Johan Heckens

Blaine Hoven

Date of birth October 29, 1985
Hometown Mobile, Alabama
Training Mobile Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts
Minor league ABT Studio Company
Some big roles so far Bluebird, the Russian Prince and a Fairy Knight, The SleepingBeauty; Benno, Swan Lake; the Standard Bearer, The Green Table; Cassio, Othello; Baker’s Dozen; C. to C. (Close to Chuck); In the Upper Room
Ballet idol Mikhail Baryshnikov. Now that I’m in the company, I really look up to Marcelo Gomes.
Most consecutive pirouettes Seven or eight.
Favorite dance movie Dirty Dancing and Grease
Favorite dance reality-TV show America’s Best Dance Crew
Offstage life I love the park. I love the sun. I grew up in the South so any chance for sun I get, I’m there.
Most memorable moment onstage I fell in Polovtsian Dances. I got my foot caught in my bow and I fell from two feet in the air. It was really funny.
Giselle role Peasant Pas de Deux [with Hee Seo]. It’s probably pretty difficult because the guy has two variations; I’m not sure it will be as difficult as Bluebird staminawise—because I’ll probably be able to feel my legs after this one.

See the next dancer: Mikhail Ilyin