Monte-Carlo is home to a hidden jewel – a classically trained company led by an inventive and successful choreographer, Jean-Christophe Maillot. His Roméo et Juliette entered the repertoire of Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2008, and one of the company’s principal dancers, having fallen in love with his style, decided to follow him to France. Noelani Pantastico hasn’t looked back since. I caught up with her on a summer day as the company was getting ready for their annual outdoors festival on the terraces of the Casino, Les Nuits de la Danse.
Cover of the February/March 2010 issue © Pointe Magazine
Do you miss classical tutus?
Not yet. But this morning Sleeping Beauty was on. Dancing Aurora took me to a different level at Pacific Northwest Ballet. That part of my life is done, but it was positive.Where do you consider home?
I’m still finding myself. I don’t want it to be comfortable here—that was the whole reason I left Seattle.What qualities do you admire most in other dancers?
Tenacity. In Monte-Carlo, I look up to Bernice Coppieters. She still strives to make each step count. She holds the bar very high for the company.How do you prepare your pointe shoes?
It’s changed since Seattle. I have to dye my own shoes, and then I glue the insides, very lightly. We do a lot of demi-pointe work, and the shoes need to be softer for me to roll through them easily. (…)
» Read the full interview in Pointe Magazine: “Now, Voyager,” February/March 2010
