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Force of one: this is Alexandra Ansanelli's season to shine. The gifted New York City ballet principal talks about her passion for dance and her determined journey to center stage.

Article Excerpt
On a spring afternoon in a ballet studio high above New York's Lincoln Center, Alexandra Ansanelli and Nilas Martins are struggling. It's their first rehearsal in the "The Man I Love" pas de deux from Balanchine's Who Cares?, and Ansanelli, who has never performed the role, can't seem to rail into Martins' arms. Nearly twenty-five minutes have passed and the rehearsal hasn't progressed much beyond their entrance.

"He catches up to you and snares you," says Merrill Ashley, a former principal with New York City Ballet who is coaching the session. "It should be like you're resisting. You fall right onto your stomach." Ansanelli tries once more as Martins extends an arm to catch her at the waist. This time, she rises out of the position too quickly. "You have to wait for him to do it," Ashley explains. "He's in charge."

Ansanelli listens carefully, and nods. Ashley asks if she wants to move on to the next section. "It's up to you," she says, "go back of go ahead?" There's a noticeable silence. Finally Ansanelli says quietly, "Let's try it...

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