Marcelo Gomes in Kings of the Dance

Ballet boys are hot—especially when they’re busting out brisés in cutting-edge contemporary pieces. This month, Kings of the Dance comes to NYC

(Feb. 19–21) following a successful 10-city Russian tour in 2007–2008 and an Eastern European tour in the fall of 2009. With a lineup including David Hallberg, Jose Manuel Carreño and Marcelo Gomes, this show is a must-see. DS caught up with Gomes to chat about being one of the newest kings to join the cast. 

Dance Spirit: What makes Kings of the Dance so fun?

Marcelo Gomes:
The show is diverse and showcases the best male dancers in the world at their best. It’s dancing at its highest level.

DS: What’s it like having all these male powerhouses dancing together in one show?

MG:
It’s so inspiring. It’s been great to sit back and watch them all at work. Because there are no women in this show, the dynamic is very different. It gives us a close look at who we are as dancers. We all respect each other and what we’ve all accomplished in our careers, so there is no competition among us.

DS: You’re doing the same show night after night. How do you keep it fresh?

MG:
Each evening before a performance I set a different goal for what I am bringing to the stage. This keeps it spontaneous and fresh. Keeping up your own personal level is very important—and challenging—not only in this show, but in my life as a dancer in general.

Photo by Valentin Baranovsky