Carla Körbes' Next Step

The ballet world collectively cried its eyes out when luminous Pacific Northwest Ballet principal Carla Körbes took her last bow earlier this month. (And I do mean the WHOLE ballet world: In a brilliant move, PNB live-streamed the farewell performance, letting Carla fans near and far see her final moments onstage.) It was an unexpected blow, too. Körbes is just 33 years old, and, as we saw in that last show, very much in her dance prime.

Don’t leave us, Carla! (photo by Angela Sterling)

Well, happy news, friends: Turns out she’s not saying goodbye to the dance world entirely. Yesterday, it was announced that Körbes has been appointed associate artistic director of the L.A. Dance Project.

How cool is that? While it’s something of a surprise—Körbes hadn’t expressed an interest in directing before—in a way it makes total sense. Back in the day, Körbes danced at New York City Ballet alongside LADP founder and director Benjamin Millepied. Millepied told the New York Times that he appreciates Körbes “sensitivity and intelligence” and her “deep understanding of dance”—qualities that’ll make her an excellent director. And since Millepied is busy running the Paris Opéra Ballet these days, he needs someone awesome like Körbes to hold down the fort in L.A.

Perfection. (photo by Patrick Fraser Photography)

The only thing that makes me a teensy bit sad is that Körbes isn’t planning to dance with the company. But we do still have her performances at this summer’s Vail International Dance Festival to look forward to.

Congrats, Carla!