Cover of the June/July 2011 issue © Pointe Magazine

One of several Americans with The Royal Ballet, soloist Eric Underwood has become an audience favorite in London, particularly in neo-classical and contemporary repertoire. In May 2010, he and soloist Melissa Hamilton made their joint debuts in Christopher Wheeldon’s 2002 Tryst. He discussed the rehearsal process with me at the time for Pointe Magazine:

Eric Underwood: Tryst’s structure is quite unique. I had to get my head around the idea that the lead couple does not interact with the corps de ballet. The main pas de deux was created on Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope, and Jonathan coached us for the revival. Wheeldon came in to work with us after we learned the roles. It wasn’t easy trying to capture the feeling that was there originally.

There is an energy more than a specific character—Wheeldon would speak of otherwordly gods that are drawn to each other, of their magnetic relationship. The music, by composer James MacMillan, is inspired by a Scottish poem, and Wheeldon was looking for the kind of very full movement that you find in nature, like grass in the wind. (…)

» Read the full article in Pointe Magazine: “A Rendezvous with Tryst“, June/July 2011

Melissa Hamilton & Eric Underwood in Tryst © Bill Cooper