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Passionate partnerships: life and love at home, in the studio, and--sometimes--onstage: five couples who span the dance world from ballet to hip hop to modern share studio time, performances, and their love for dance--along with household chores and a deep commitment to each other. Each has a unique story about how dance brought them together and keeps their marriage strong.

Article Excerpt
ABT'S SOUL MATES

Stella Abrera & Sascha Radetsky

She is an exotic beauty of Philippine descent; he's as likeable and all-American as it gets. Stella Abrera, who was on the January 2004 cover as one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch," and Sascha Radetsky, who had a lead role in the feature film Center Stage, are among the most visible of the distinguished cadre of soloists at American Ballet Theatre. The two native Californians married last summer after a nine-year courtship.

The couple's life at ABT has paralleled their romantic relationship from the outset. Radetsky was 18 and a member of the studio company when Abrera, then 17, auditioned. He noticed her in the audition. "I remember trying to flirt a little bit," Radetsky says. But he says it took him "a couple of years" to persuade her to be interested in him.

The two dancers often appear onstage at the same time but not always as partners. They did Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier together in last year's Nutcracker, and among the pas de deux they especially enjoy doing together is Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort, one of their favorite ballets. Radetsky clearly relished partnering his wife in Tharp's In the Upper Room last fall at City Center. "She's such a pleasure to partner, so easy," he says. "She's super light, she's flexible, she's strong, learns quickly, is considerate of her partner. She applies herself to every role 100 percent, so she's willing to work to make things better or to change when necessary."

"The same goes for you," Abrera says, and Radetsky responds with a pleased, "Aw, shucks." Abrera adds, "I put my full trust in my partner that he's going to support me at all times. It's even easier with Sascha. There's an even higher level of trust."

Are they helpful to one another? "Sure, in so many different ways," Radetsky says. "In a very literal sense, correcting each other's dancing, in very constructive ways, obviously. We're lucky we understand what each other does so we can offer a different perspective on things." Abrera adds that their support of one another extends to helping each other through injuries and tough times at the studio.

Though sharing the stage with her life partner "is a joy," Abrera says, "it can be harder, because you're worried about yourself and you're anxious about his performance at the same time. Yet you can't really concentrate on his performance."

"Sometimes it's nice to just be a spectator and watch your counterpart do her thing," Radetsky observes.

Issues surrounding roles and promotions--Abrera was promoted to soloist in 2001, Radetsky two years later--have not affected their relationship. "I only got support. There was never any weird tension," says Abrera about her promotion. Radetsky adds, "I was so happy for her."

Now in their late 20s, the couple thinks about what might...

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